About The Song
Released in 1971, “Tomorrow Never Comes” arrived at a time when Elvis was experiencing a career resurgence. He’d returned to his roots in Memphis, Tennessee, and was churning out critically acclaimed country-tinged albums. This particular song, however, wasn’t an original composition. It was a cover of a lesser-known tune written by country songwriter Ernest Tubb. But in Elvis’s hands, “Tomorrow Never Comes” transcended its humble beginnings to become a powerful ballad about the fleeting nature of love and the sting of unfulfilled promises.
The song opens with a slow, melancholic melody, setting the stage for the narrator’s tale of heartbreak. The lyrics paint a picture of a love that’s been long-awaited, a love that seems just out of reach. “Oh, tomorrow never, never comes,” Elvis sings, his voice a low rumble that carries the weight of longing. “Many weeks now have I waited, Oh, many long nights have I cried,” he continues, each word heavy with the pain of unrequited love.
“Tomorrow Never Comes” isn’t a song about anger or resentment. It’s a song about quiet desperation, about the yearning for a love that may never materialize. The narrator, played so convincingly by Elvis, clings to the hope that “tomorrow” will finally bring the happiness he craves. But the constant refrain, “Oh, tomorrow never comes,” hangs in the air like a dark cloud, casting doubt and leaving the listener with a sense of poignant sadness.
Elvis Presley’s “Tomorrow Never Comes” is a song that resonates with anyone who has ever experienced the sting of unfulfilled promises. It’s a reminder to cherish the present moment, for “tomorrow”, as the song so poignantly reminds us, is never guaranteed.
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