Elvis' version of So Glad You're Mine

A follow up to my topic on My Baby Left Me...

This topic is about another Arthur Crudup song Elvis covered; So Glad You're Mine.

Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
Crudup's original version was released as a single in 1946 by RCA Victor.

arthurcrudup-sogladyouremine.jpg

A transcript of the lyrics as written by Arthur Crudup:

My baby long and tall
Shaped like a cannonball
Everytime she loves me
Lord you can hear me squall
She cried, Ooo-wee
I believe I'll change my mind
She said, I'm so glad I'm living
I cried, woo darling and I'm so glad you're mine

My baby loves me
She loves me right
She loves me laid down
In her loving arms all night
She cried, Ooo-wee
I believe I'll change my mind
She said, I'm so glad I'm living
I cried, woo child and I'm so glad you're mine

Yeah man!

My baby loves me
Loves me with a thrill
And I believe she tryin' get nobody killed
She cried, Ooo-wee
I believe I'll change my mind
She said, I'm so glad I'm living
I cried, woo child and I'm so glad you're mine

My baby loves me
She loves me tight
You can have me screamin’, Lord
And crying all night
I believe I'll change my mind
She said, I'm so glad I'm living
I cried, woo child and I'm so glad you're mine

Elvis Presley
Elvis recorded his rendition of the song at the third session for RCA on January 30, 1956. Both versions differ substantially. Not only in sound, but also lyrically. See below.

The lyrics sung by Elvis:

My baby's long and tall
Shaped like a cannonball
Say everytime she loves me
Lord, you can hear me squall
She cried, Ooo-wee
I believe I'll change my mind
She said I'm so glad I'm living
I cried I'm so glad you're mine

My baby knows just how
To treat me right
Gives me plenty lovin’
Morning, noon, and night
She cried, Ooo-wee
I believe I'll change my mind
She said I'm so glad I'm living
I cried I'm so glad you're mine

When my baby does what she does to me
I climb the highest mountain
Dive in the deepest sea
She cried, Ooo-wee
I believe I'll change my mind
She said I'm so glad I'm living
I cried I'm so glad you're mine

My baby's lips are red
And sweet like wine
And when she kisses me
I get high every time
She cried, Ooo-wee
I believe I'll change my mind
She said I'm so glad I'm living
I cried I'm so glad you're mine

Notice that in Elvis' version the last three verses are almost completely re-written. Did Steve Sholes/RCA consider Crudup's original lyics too risqué and asked for a re-write? And if so, who performed the task?

It is also possible Elvis 'borrowed' those lines from another song by Crudup or some other artist.

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No idea, but would be interesting to find out. "My baby's long and tall, shaped like a cannonball" must be the most ridiculous lyrics even in a rock n roll song, though!

What would long and tall and shaped like a cannonball actually look like? If she's long and tall, there's no way she can be shaped like a connonball.

I'm so confused.

What would long and tall and shaped like a cannonball actually look like? If she's long and tall, there's no way she can be shaped like a connonball.

I'm so confused.

Exactly! Either one or the other.

There are some lyric sites online that state that the lyrics say "long and tall, she's like a cannonball", which makes more sense - but is clearly NOT what is sung by either singer, nor is it what's printed on sheet music either.

I guess sometimes lyrics don't have to make literal sense: this is a woman of emotional and physical contradictions. The author is struggling to convey what this woman means to him, what she does to him.

Making sense or not, it's a fabulous lyric!

What would long and tall and shaped like a cannonball actually look like? I

I've always heard "shake like a cannonball"....

brilliant song........

No idea, but would be interesting to find out. "My baby's long and tall, shaped like a cannonball" must be the most ridiculous lyrics even in a rock n roll song, though!

Maybe so but it works wonderfully with Elvis's measured vocal and songs production. The song is a classic!!

Great topic, David. No one has claimed credit for those lyrics, which, tho "cleaned up," are more elegant and smooth - sexy/smooth. Elvis did "One Night," according to an original writer, so it is possible.

I think it came up once before, and I posted a clip of "Olive Oil" (sp?) from Popeye. I think they shot her out of something! (I'm on mobile. Will check later.) She WAS shaped like a cannon ball in the cartoon. They stretched her out.

rjm

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Last edited by rjm on Sun Oct 28, 2012 10:22 am, edited 2 times in total.

Yup. Look at around 3:40 and there on . . .

"My baby's long and tall, shaped like a cannon ball . . ." Or anything else! There are cannons! And she changes shape!

And I won't tell you how it ends!

rjm

Last edited by rjm on Sun Oct 28, 2012 10:22 am, edited 1 time in total.

David, I do have some answers for you (but not all), but I'm not at home at the moment.

I'll try and post when I get home next week.

Well, here's something. A Crudup version with a third set of lyrics! And these were clean enough Elvis could certainly have used them without a problem. If the timing of this recording is prior to Elvis's recording, and that's not clear. (Yeah, seems like he did a record called "Fire Blues" in the early '60s, and this appears part of it. Interesting, anyway. He didn't do Elvis's lyrics, but still toned down the lyrics.)

rjm
P.S. -- Elvis: