Elvis Presley - If I Can Dream ('68 Comeback Special)

Elvis Presley's performance of "If I Can Dream" during his 1968 Comeback Special is one of the most powerful moments in his career. The song, written by Walter Earl Brown, was inspired by the civil rights struggles and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. It features a soulful and emotional delivery that showcases Elvis's range and depth as an artist.

The performance is notable not only for its vocal intensity but also for the way Elvis connects with the song's message. He delivers the song with a fervor that resonates deeply with the audience, making it a standout moment of the special. The special itself marked Elvis's return to live performance after a period focused primarily on movies, and "If I Can Dream" symbolized a new, more socially conscious direction in his music.

Elvis Presley If I Can Dream ('68 Comeback Special) Lyrics

There must be lights burning brighter somewhere
Got to be birds flying higher in a sky more blue
If I can dream of a better land
Where all my brothers walk hand in hand
Tell me why, oh why, oh why can't my dream come true
Oh why

There must be peace and understanding sometime
Strong winds of promise that will blow away the doubt and fear
If I can dream of a warmer sun
Where hope keeps shining on everyone
Tell me why, oh why, oh why won't that sun appear

We're lost in a cloud
With too much rain
We're trapped in a world
That's troubled with pain
But as long as a man
Has the strength to dream
He can redeem his soul and fly

Deep in my heart there's a trembling question
Still I am sure that the answer, answer's gonna come somehow
Out there in the dark, there's a beckoning candle, yeah
And while I can think, while I can talk
While I can stand, while I can walk
While I can dream
Oh, please let my dream
Come true
Right now
Let it come true right now
Oh yeah