About The Song
“In the Ghetto” is a 1969 song recorded by Elvis Presley and written by Mac Davis. The song tells the story of a poor child born in the ghetto who grows up to be a criminal and is eventually killed in a street fight. The song was a major hit released in 1969 and has since become one of Presley’s most popular songs.
The song was originally titled “The Vicious Circle” and was written by Davis in 1968. Davis was inspired to write the song after seeing a news report about a young man who had been killed in a gang shooting in Chicago. Davis said that he wanted to write a song that would “show the pain and suffering of people living in the ghetto” and that he hoped the song would “make people think about the cycle of poverty and violence that is so common in the inner city.”
Presley recorded the song in March 1969 at American Sound Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. The song was produced by Chips Moman and was released in April 1969. The song was a major hit, reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 2 on the R&B chart. The song was also a critical success, with many reviewers praising Presley’s powerful vocals and the song’s poignant lyrics.
“In the Ghetto” is one of Presley’s most important and influential songs. The song has been covered by many artists, including Tupac Shakur, Michael Jackson, and Neil Young. The song has also been the subject of much discussion and debate, with some critics arguing that it is a racist and insensitive song. However, others have defended the song, arguing that it is a powerful and important statement about the social and economic problems of the inner city.