About the song
Few recordings in **Elvis Presley’s** vast catalog command the sweeping emotional gravity of **“An American Trilogy.”** Released in 1972 and often performed during the final years of his career, this song stands as a testament not only to **Presley’s** vocal range and interpretive power but also to his deep, if sometimes conflicted, engagement with the American identity. By weaving together three separate songs—**“Dixie,” “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,”** and **“All My Trials”**—Presley creates something both musically unique and symbolically resonant: a stitched-together portrait of a nation divided, striving, and spiritual.
**“An American Trilogy”** begins with **“Dixie,”** a song long associated with the American South. Elvis doesn’t sing it with bombast or jingoism; instead, there’s a note of sadness and nostalgia in his voice, suggesting the loss and longing tied to the Southern experience. He then shifts to **“All My Trials,”** a Bahamian lullaby that became a staple of folk protest music during the civil rights era. This portion feels almost like a prayer, a solemn moment of reflection, grounding the piece in suffering and endurance. Finally, Presley bursts into **“The Battle Hymn of the Republic,”** elevating the mood with soaring vocals and the backing of a full choir. The shift is dramatic and emotionally cathartic, like a storm breaking into sunlight.
What makes **Elvis’s** interpretation so striking is the sincerity with which he approaches each section. He doesn’t try to smooth over the tensions between the songs; instead, he embraces them, allowing the contradictions to speak for themselves. In doing so, he presents **“An American Trilogy”** as more than just a medley—it becomes a microcosm of American history, marked by division and hope, by sorrow and triumph.
This performance, especially in his live shows from the early ’70s, often brought audiences to their feet. And it’s easy to see why. In **“An American Trilogy,”** **Elvis Presley** channels the weight of a nation’s past through his own deeply expressive voice, creating a powerful, almost spiritual experience. It’s a reminder of the complex beauty and pain embedded in the American story—and a glimpse into the heart of an artist who, despite all his fame and myth, never stopped searching for something true.
Video
Lyrics
One, two
One, two, three, four
We’ve got to patch it up baby
Before we fall apart at the seams
We’ve got to patch it up baby
We can’t let time unravel our dreams
Let’s go back and touch the past
One more night is all I ask
Get that feeling, that old feeling, feelin-eelin’
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
We got to patch it up baby
Let’s sweep out all the cobwebs in our hearts
We’ve got to patch it up baby
Before indifference pulls us apart
Don’t let a good love die
Let’s give it just one more try
With that feeling, that old feeling, feelin-eelin’
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
With a whole lotta love
