Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American sin… Read Full Bio ↴Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".

Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family when he was 13 years old. His music career began there in 1954, recording at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audience. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was a pioneer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country music and rhythm and blues. In 1955, drummer D. J. Fontana joined to complete the lineup of Presley's classic quartet and RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage the singer for more than two decades. Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was released in January 1956 and became a number one hit in the United States. With a series of successful network television appearances and chart-topping records, he became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, made him enormously popular—and controversial.

In November 1956, Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender. Drafted into military service in 1958, Presley relaunched his recording career two years later with some of his most commercially successful work. He held few concerts however, and guided by Parker, proceeded to devote much of the 1960s to making Hollywood movies and soundtrack albums, most of them critically derided. In 1968, following a seven-year break from live performances, he returned to the stage in the acclaimed television comeback special Elvis, which led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours. In 1973, Presley gave the first concert by a solo artist to be broadcast around the world, Aloha from Hawaii. Years of prescription drug abuse severely compromised his health, and he died suddenly in 1977 at his Graceland estate, just 42 years of age.

Presley is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century. Commercially successful in many genres, including pop, country, blues, and gospel, he is the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music. He won three competitive Grammys, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36, and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame.

Where Could I Go But to the Lord
Elvis Presley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Living below in this old sinful world
Hardly a comfort can afford
Striving alone to face temptation so
Now won't you tell me

Where could I go but to the Lord
Where could I go oh where could I go
Seeking the refuge for my soul

Needing a friend to save me in the end
Won't you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord

Life here is grand with friends I love so dear
Comfort I get from God's own word
Yet when I face that chilling hand of death
Won't you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord

Where could I go but to the Lord
Where could I go oh where could I go
Seeking the refuge for my soul
Needing a friend to save me in the end

Won't you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord

Overall Meaning

Elvis Presley's song "Where Could I Go But To The Lord" is a heartfelt expression of the singer's reliance on his faith in God as a source of comfort and guidance. The opening lines of the song emphasize the challenges of living in a world filled with temptation and sin. The singer acknowledges that he cannot face these challenges alone and turns to God as his only source of support.

The chorus of the song repeats the question "Where could I go but to the Lord?" as a refrain. The singer is searching for a refuge for his soul and a friend to save him in the end. The verses of the song provide context for this inquiry by describing the joys of life on earth, the comfort of God's word, and the inevitability of death.

This song speaks to the fundamental human need for hope and a sense of purpose. Elvis Presley's heartfelt delivery of the lyrics conveys the depth of his personal faith and the importance it held in his life.

Line by Line Meaning

Living below in this old sinful world
Living in a world that is full of sin and suffering

Hardly a comfort can afford
It’s hard to find comfort and peace

Striving alone to face temptation so
Trying to fight against temptations by oneself

Now won't you tell me
Asking for advice

Where could I go but to the Lord
There is nowhere else to turn to but God

Where could I go oh where could I go
Asking the same question again for emphasis

Seeking the refuge for my soul
Looking for a safe place to protect one's soul

Needing a friend to save me in the end
Requiring a friend who can save me in the end

Won't you tell me
Asking for advice

Where could I go but to the Lord
There is nowhere else to turn to but God

Life here is grand with friends I love so dear
Life is good with dear friends around