Live August 2007 version
Warm black asphalt
South of nowhere
I'm going there under a dirty cotton sky
When the rain comes round
I roll my window down
I lift my face to heaven
And wash these tears from my eyes
I'm just looking for some inspiration
Looking for something to rock my soul
I'm looking for a brand new destination
I'm looking for Elvis down a Memphis road
I'm looking for Elvis
I remember
All those Septembers
The pledges of allegiance
The prayers of trust
I slept on those beds of hope and promise
Woke up choking on cheap paint and carnival dust
So where are you now
With all those illusions
Fallen dreams and charity
If faith restores you
And truth delivers
Then don't tell me that I'm standing
When I'm on my knees
I'm just looking for some inspiration
Looking for something to rock my soul
I'm looking for a brand new destination
I'm looking for Elvis down a Memphis road
I'm looking for Elvis (looking for Elvis)
I'm looking for Elvis down a Memphis road
I'm looking for Elvis (I'm looking for Elvis)
You've got to give yourself over now
Roll like a river stone
There's mud in the water
Gravel in the dust
Work a little harder, lord
Sing a little stronger
Stand up and deliver
If you want my trust (my trust)
Ah my trust (my trust)
Ah my trust
West of Babylon
East of Eden, now
Breathing in these winds of change
I'm gonna rise up from these ashes
Gonna rise up and find the truth again
I'm just looking for some reparations
Looking for love to soothe my soul
I'm at the crossroads of my destination
I'm looking for Elvis down a Memphis road
I'm looking for Elvis (looking for Elvis)
I'm looking for Elvis down a Memphis road
I'm looking for Elvis (looking for Elvis)
I'm looking for Elvis down a Memphis road
I'm looking for Elvis (looking for Elvis)
I'm looking for Elvis down a Memphis road
(Hey!)
You've gotta give yourself over now
Roll like a river stone
There's mud in the water
Gravel in the dust
Work a little harder, lord
Sing a little stronger
Stand up and deliver
If you want my trust
Give yourself over now
Roll like a river stone
There's mud in the water
Gravel in the dust
(Hey!)
(Hey!)
(Hey!)
(Whoah!)
(Whoah!)
(Whoah!)
(Whoah!)
(Whoah!)
Train I ride, sixteen coaches long
Oh, yeah
The above lyrics are for the live August 2007 performance of LOOKING FOR ELVIS at Convention Hall in Asbury Park, NJ, with Patti Scialfa. This live version was recorded by Dave O'Donnell and mixed by Bob Clearmountain. It features Bruce Springsteen as part of the Whack Brothers Rhythm Section, playing harmonica and singing a shout out (the parts above in bold) through a bullet mic. At the end of the song Patti Scialfa sings a line from Junior Parker's (and Elvis Presley's hit) MYSTERY TRAIN. This live August 2007 version of LOOKING FOR ELVIS was released on the various artists album Elvis Viva Las Vegas: Original Soundtrack in 2008.
On 18 Sep 2007, ABC aired Elvis Viva Las Vegas, a new Elvis Presley television special that chronicles Presley's life during the Vegas years with the focus on his music, his style and his legacy. The documentary features rarely-seen footage of Elvis performing in Las Vegas, interviews with those closest to him, and performances by some of today's stars doing their interpretations of the Elvis songs that had the most influence on them. Included are Bruce Springsteen's official studio version of VIVA LAS VEGAS playing over the opening credits and footage of Patti Scialfa's live August 2007 version of LOOKING FOR ELVIS.
A soundtrack album for the documentary was released in January 2008 and features these performances as well as original masters by Elvis. The album opens with the Springsteen track and concludes with the Scialfa one. An expanded version of the documentary was released on home video (DVD and Blu-ray) in August 2008.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the help.
List of available versions of LOOKING FOR ELVIS on this website:
LOOKING FOR ELVIS [Patti Scialfa's album version]
