About the song
Few songs in the history of popular music possess the emotional depth and enduring beauty of **_Unchained Melody – Elvis Presley_**. Though originally composed by Alex North with lyrics by Hy Zaret in 1955, the song has seen countless interpretations over the decades. Yet, there’s something profoundly stirring about the version delivered by **Elvis Presley**, even if it came relatively late in his career. When Elvis took to the piano in Rapid City, South Dakota, in June 1977 — just two months before his untimely death — and performed **_Unchained Melody_**, it wasn’t merely a rendition; it was a soul-baring farewell.
This particular performance has since taken on a life of its own. With his voice soaring and quivering in equal measure, Elvis captured the raw vulnerability of the lyrics. “Oh, my love, my darling, I’ve hungered for your touch…” takes on a haunting poignancy when sung by a man who, by that point, was visibly tired yet deeply connected to the music that had shaped his life. There is an unfiltered honesty in his delivery — a sense that he was singing not just to an audience, but from the deepest recesses of his being.
What sets **_Unchained Melody – Elvis Presley_** apart from other versions is this tension between power and fragility. While the Righteous Brothers’ 1965 version may be the most widely recognized, Elvis brings a distinctly personal interpretation. His voice, though not as smooth as it once was, is rich with pathos and seasoned with a lifetime of both triumph and hardship. The live recording, complete with his own piano accompaniment, strips the song down to its emotional core.
For many listeners, this track is more than just music — it’s a moment frozen in time. It reminds us not only of Elvis’s greatness as a performer but also of his humanity. **_Unchained Melody – Elvis Presley_** stands as one of the King’s final gifts to the world: imperfect, beautiful, and unforgettable.
Video
Lyrics
Oh, my love, my darling
I’ve hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me
Lonely rivers flow
To the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea
Lonely rivers cry
Wait for me, wait for me
I’ll be coming home, wait for me
Oh, my love, my darling
I’ve hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me
