Elvis once sang about the Rosary

Elvis Presley was not a Catholic — he came from the Pentecostal background — but he was a devout Christian. Indeed, he was greatly influenced by gospel music, no less so than he took inspiration from rhythm & blues and country music. All of these often overlapped at the time anyway. One of Elvis’ childhood heroes, country star Red Foley (whose song “Old Shep” was young Elvis’ favorite), in 1950 recorded a song dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima.

Throughout his career, Presley put on record many gospel songs, of different backgrounds: traditional, black gospel, country gospel, and church hymns such as How Great Thou Art. With one of them, Crying In The Chapel (previously a hit for The Orioles), he had an international bestseller.

The most unusual of the lot must be Miracle Of The Rosary, which Elvis recorded for his 1972 album Elvis Now! The lyrics couldn’t be any more devout:

Oh Blessed Mother we pray to Thee

Thanks for the miracle of Your Rosary

Only You can hold back

Your Holy Son’s hand

Long enough for the whole world to understand

Hail Mary full of grace

The Lord is with Thee

Blessed are thou among women

And blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus

Oh Holy Mary dear Mother of God

Please pray for us sinners

Now and at the hour of our death

And give thanks once again

For the miracle of Your Rosary

The writer was Lee Denson, one of Elvis’ first friends. In 1961 Elvis and Lee had a rare get-together during which Lee played Miracle Of The Rosary to Elvis. The two friends never met again. It took Elvis ten years before he recorded the song; what prompted him to do it at that time seems unknown.

Gunther Simmermacher, published August 15, 2017

Adapted by the Marie de Nazareth editorial team

from: Scross