Elvis on the Radio Steel Guitar in My Soul
The KLF Lyrics


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As the snow flies
On a cold and grey Chicago morn
And a poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto
And his mother cries
Cause if there's one thing that she don't need
It's another hungry mouth to feed
In the ghetto
As the snow flies...
As the snow flies...
As the snow...
As the snow flies...
As the snow flies
On a cold and grey Chicago morn




And a poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto

Overall Meaning

The KLF's song "Elvis on the Radio Steel Guitar in My Soul" is a poignant reflection on poverty, social inequality, and the cycle of deprivation in parts of America's inner cities. The lyrics, particularly those of the chorus, evoke a deep sense of melancholy and despair, as they describe a cold and grey Chicago morning, where a baby is born to a distressed mother in the ghetto. The snow that falls outside symbolizes the harshness and bleakness of the environment in which the child is to grow up.


Despite the mother's love and concern for her child, she is unable to provide for it adequately due to her financial constraints. The line "Cause if there's one thing that she don't need, it's another hungry mouth to feed" highlights the grim reality of poverty, where even the basic necessities of life such as food are hard to come by. The repetition of the lines "As the snow flies" and "In the ghetto" emphasizes the cyclical nature of poverty, suggesting that generations of families are trapped in this vicious cycle, with little hope of change.


Overall, The KLF's "Elvis on the Radio Steel Guitar in My Soul" is a haunting and thought-provoking ballad that forces listeners to confront the grim realities of inner-city poverty in America. It is a powerful reminder of the systemic issues that give rise to poverty and the urgent need for social and economic reform to break the cycle of deprivation.


Line by Line Meaning

As the snow flies
The snow falls heavily, symbolizing the gloomy situation and the sense of hopelessness looming around.


On a cold and grey Chicago morn
The morning is bleak and lifeless in Chicago, adding to the somber atmosphere of the song.


And a poor little baby child is born
A mother gives birth to a baby, but it does not bring joy or hope. Instead, it only adds to the burdens of an already difficult life.


In the ghetto
The baby is born in the ghetto, an impoverished and troubled neighborhood with limited opportunities and resources.


And his mother cries
The mother is filled with despair and sadness, overwhelmed by the hardship of raising another child in such a dire environment.


Cause if there's one thing that she don't need
The mother is struggling to make ends meet and provide for the children she already has.


It's another hungry mouth to feed
She cannot afford to feed another child, adding to her woes and making her feel helpless and trapped.


As the snow flies...
The snow continues to fall, emphasizing the unrelenting harshness of life in the ghetto.


As the snow flies...
The snowfall persists, indicating that the hardships faced by the people in the ghetto are not going away anytime soon.


As the snow...
The snow is a metaphor for the many challenges and obstacles that the people in the ghetto face every day.


As the snow flies...
The snowfall accentuates the bleakness and despair of the scene, making it even more poignant and heartbreaking.




Writer(s): Ernest Drummond William Copyright: Zoo Music Ltd.

Contributed by Jordyn P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@canecreek00

This Album was our anthem of 1990, after we had been to all raves and our ears couldn't take music anymore we'd put on KLF chillout and play it over and over again. Without doubt the greatest post party album ever made. Its sad i sold my vinyl version on Ebay some years back, i originally bought KLF chillout along with KLF space (both vinyl) from Austin records in Middlesbrough brand new for £5 each, those were the days when music was exciting.

@JanacMeena

"when music was exciting"

@upfullsounds3116

Absolutely yes... Loved it.. it was like a wonderful, mysterious pillow after the rave and the drugs. Magical

@manteausacre2292

1¹❤❤

@pippawaldron9909

Many a strange night and sunrise to this album... I loved it so much that when I went into labour with my eldest I took it into hospital to listen too... complete did the midwives heads in!!!!

@rxhx

plz come back into all that energy and make me feel alive

@sw1rls

just genius

@jackrabbitslim059

This is and has been my mp3 alarm in my phone for the last 5-6 years. I wake up to this track every morning. Beautiful...

@doctorquid

As a capsule from 10years later: get it! We love you.

@squick1842

Never done acid or been to a rave. But ive listened to this since the 00's. I can see myself sitting in a house with cool british kids after a rave and listening to this.

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