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Padre
Words & Music: LaRue/ Hebster/ Romans
The day that we wed
You blessed us and said
May heaven bestow you grace
There in that holy place
We shared our first embrace
Our cottage was small but richer than all
The palaces of the king
All day the birds would sing
Our hearts were filled with spring
Padre, padre
What happened to our love's so cruel
Padre, oh padre
In my grief I turn to you
Then he came along
And sang her his song
And won her with honey lies
He of the fiery eyes
Now it's not her that cries
So I will pray
The hours away
And weary my heart has grown
Wondering where love has flown
Counting my beads alone
Padre, oh padre
Please tell me how such things can be
Padre, oh padre
Pray for my love and me
Recorded: 1971/05/15, first released on Elvis (Fool)
Reactions
The vocal performance is outstanding, certainly one of the big bombastic ballads of the seventies. Elvis was in such good voice in ‘71 he could sing anything and make it sound great as demonstrated on this song.
A song that has its flaws but really could have been a classic had it not been badly recorded. Elvis you can hear almost strain his voice as well. Wasted opportunity.
This hyper-melodramatic ballad is performed like a rock'n'roll song by the band. Elvis himself sounds so whiny, he tries so hard to sound emotional, his vocals sounds like a parody.
And then the ending. ... god, this fuxxing ending where he, with all the engagement he has to offer, sings the wrong note ... it's hurts in the ears and it is funny as hell at the same time.
A strange recording. A guilty pleasure of mine.
It ain't that bad really.
The Elvis (Fool) LP would have excelled with the inclusion Burning Love, Always on My Mind and Separate Ways and the omission of Padre. I found the 1999 Burning Love CD too much of a revision.
Elvis sang this one at home for many years. It's not a favourite of mine, but Elvis must've really liked it.
This is such a marvelous song and Elvis' rendition of it was terrific. But, Toni Arden's rendition of this song is the best.
If it weren't for the distortion aka over recorded (too much volume gain) in the studio as to Elvis' voice track, this song might be something. I have the FTD releases "I Sing All Kinds" and "Elvis aka the Fool" double CD release with added (and corrected versions) of this song and if one looks at the liner notes on the "Elvis/Fool" FTD issue you'll see notes about said distortion which also includes "Love The Life I Lead". It's a shame, as this song makes me cringe every time I listen to it and it's not because of Elvis and his singing, it's due to the absolute sloppy recording process which was done. An absolute shame.
Not on my playlists so I have just given it a spin before giving my opinion and while not a classic is a lot better than Sylvia, which has its followers. I like the instrumental backing but Elvis seems vocally stretched at times and seemingly in a hurry to get the song over and done with as soon as possible.. - 3 stars (just) from me.
I like this a lot, my wife doesn't, maybe that is the case with this song, it divide the listeners in two.
Would have been a half baked song to begin with, but it was so poorly recorded aka distortion on his recorded voice that I have to rate it a #1; at least from a quality standpoint.
Over the years i have heard many a fan voice there dislike for this song. At one time i was very much part of this group. All that changed when one day FTDs I Sing All Kinds dropped through my letterbox. Into my CD player the disk went and as the track approached i was already to hit the skip button. I am now so pleased that i let the song progress as i almost missed the chance to hear what i now believe is a gem of a track. Love the vocal on this one and what a superb ending as Elvis voice rises. Now one i play often.
I like the song ok but Elvis's voice is definitely straining in this and I think that's what tests most listeners' loyalty. Sure he hits all the right notes and the ending is very poweful but it sounds like a rough vocal rather than the finished polished effort he would normally deliver. It has a similar vocal sound to Love Me Love the Life I lead, another song I like but the vocal sails a bit close to the wind at times. He was meant to redo it in a later session but never did. Padre may have been the same.
Far from "one of the worst songs Elvis ever recorded" or "terrible", but a bombastic, over the top rendering of a romantic / religious song (think "Where Did They Go, Lord"). Elvis really seemed to like this type of song in the early 70's as he gave us the before mentioned "Where Did They Go, Lord", "Heart Of Rome" and "Rags To Riches". None of the these are classics, none are bad. A leftover song that found it's way on to Elvis' worst non-soundtrack LP "Elvis (Fool)".
I think I heard it once and that was enough for me.
I really do think it is one of the worst songs Elvis ever recorded. I think it is as much unlistenable as any other bad soundtrack songs. Dominic is even less painful than Padre to my ears.
I know that many Elvis fans don't like this song, but I like it a lot !
It's an OK song. Nothing more. I can listen to it if I'm in the mood.
awsome gospel song from elvis and really emotinal version too..an Elvis classic and well sung by elvis.(how some so-called "Elvis Fans" can slag this great song off i do not fathom?-maybe they hate God or relgion or something??)whatever elvis fans reasons for hating this song it doesn't rettract from the fact it is a classic performance and a very meaningfull and heartfelt performance from Elvis.(i rest my case!!.)
the dramatic operatic vocals show the skill Elvis had to sing various styles..
Padre & Mama have been retired from my CD player.
Sorry, but this one i skip, one of the very few.
I heard and discovered for the first time, while listening to the LP He Walks Beside Me. That album contains all those great inspirational songs, like How great thou art and If I can dream. Then I heard this song, and it blew my away. I thought it was great, especially the powerful ending. Very good vocals by Elvis, and should be more known
This song doesn't do it for me.
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