Elvis' version of the song Padre seems to be one you either love or hate. As written earlier, I personally like the Spanish flavored songs, so I like this one as well. I like the melody, the pathos, the "duende" Elvis puts in the song. It's not a favorite of mine, but I won't skip it when I hear it. The song has quite a history.
Parts of the melody are based on a traditional Mexican song called "La Paloma Azul" ("The Blue Dove") the origins of which are difficult to ascertain.
The song became known generally when it was used in a program of Mexican music, arranged by Carlos Chávez, in May 1940 at the New York Museum of Modern Art. Chávez included an eight-minute arrangement of the number, which was referred to as being "typical of the genre of peasant sentimental song" in the museum's press release prior to the event.
Here's a version of "La Paloma Azul" as performed by Dave Brubeck live in Mexico, 1967:
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Padre
Written by: Alain Romans and Jacques Larue in French in 1951. Paul Frances Webster wrote the English lyrics in the mid 50's.
Recorded by Elvis on Saturday, 15 May 1971.
The song was originally recorded in French by Rina Ketty in 1951 or 1952 as "Padre Don José". You might know her well known classic "J'attendrai" from 1937 as well.
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The original lyrics
Padre Don José
Padre Don José
Padre Don José
Quand tu nous as marié
Tu m'as dit que l'amour
Devait durer toujours
Tu m'as dit aussi
Qu'en priant le ciel
La joie remplit notre vie
Et qu'en étant fidèle
On garde son mari
Padre, padre
J'ai cru tout ce que tu m'as dit
Padre, padre
Pourquoi m'as tu menti ?
La fille aux yeux d'or qui me l'a volé
N'a pour Dieu que le péché
Et sans pudeur son corps
S'offre aux désirs cachés
Elle a m'a t-on dit
Dans ses lourds cheveux
Des perles et des rubis
Et donne à qui le veut
Tous ses baisers maudits
Padre, padre
Puisqu'elle garde mon mari
Padre, padre
Où est ton paradis ?
Some (like me) prefer the French version as recorded by Gloria Lasso in 1958:
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English lyrics to "Padre" were provided in the mid 1950s by Paul Francis Webster. The title changed from Padre Don José to just Padre.
Padre
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 a king
All day the birds would sing
Our hearts were full of Spring
Padre, padre, what happened to our love so true?
Padre, padre, in my grief I turn to you
Then she came along and sang him her song
And won him with honeyed lies
She of the golden eyes
Now it's my heart that cries
So I kneel and pray the hours away
And weary my heart has grown
Wondering where love has flown
Counting my tears alone
Padre, padre, what happened to our love so true?
Padre, padre, Pray for my love and me
Toni Arden had a million-seller with the number in 1958, reaching number 13 in the Billboard Hot 100. During an interview in 1958, Elvis stated that this was his favourite song.
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Teresa Brewer from her 1967 album "Texas Leather and Mexican Lace":
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Marty Robbins had a number 5 hit in 1970 with this song:
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We all know Elvis' master version. So let's listen to takes 1 and 2 for a change:
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Here's one that's remixed with a nice fitting video:
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In a Top 5, where would you put Elvis' version compared to those of the other artists?
*Some info presented was found on: http://davidneale.eu/elvis/originals/list7.html#S1411
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