The Greatest Oldies Music

Oldies Musics

Elvis Presley – Old Shep

Introduction

Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, is renowned for his electrifying performances and chart-topping hits. However, there’s one song in his vast repertoire that touches the soul in a different way – “Old Shep.” In this article, we delve into the heartfelt ballad that showcases a different side of Elvis, exploring the origins and a fascinating ‘Did You Know?’ section about both the song and the artist himself.

Did You Know?

1. The Origin of “Old Shep”:

“Old Shep” is a touching tribute to a faithful canine companion, written by Red Foley and Arthur Willis in 1933. The song recounts the heartbreaking story of a young boy and his loyal dog, Shep, who eventually grows old and is put down, leaving the boy devastated. Elvis Presley’s rendition adds a poignant twist to this classic tale.

2. Elvis’s Connection to the Song:

Elvis Presley’s love for animals, especially dogs, was no secret. He had a deep affection for his own dogs and often spoke about them during interviews. “Old Shep” resonated with Elvis on a personal level, as he had experienced the loss of a beloved pet.

3. A Rare Gem in Elvis’s Discography:

“Old Shep” is unlike many of Elvis’s famous rock and roll hits. It’s a soulful, country-infused ballad that showcases his versatility as an artist. The song was recorded in 1956 and remains a cherished piece of Elvis’s musical legacy.

4. Elvis’s Humanitarian Side:

Elvis’s involvement with animal welfare organizations and his commitment to rescuing stray dogs were lesser-known facets of his life. “Old Shep” is a reminder of his compassion for animals and his dedication to their well-being.a

Video

Lyrics: Old Shep

When I was a lad
And old Shep was a pup
Over hills and meadows we’d stray
Just a boy and his dog
We were both full of fun
We grew up together that wayI remember the time at the old swimmin’ hole
When I would have drowned beyond doubt
But old Shep was right there
To the rescue he came
He jumped in and then pulled me outAs the years fast did roll
Old Shep he grew old
His eyes were fast growing dim
And one day the doctor looked at me and said
I can do no more for him JimWith hands that were trembling
I picked up my gun
And aimed it at Shep’s faithful head
I just couldn’t do it
I wanted to run
I wish they would shoot me instead

He came to my side
And looked up at me
And laid his old head on my knee
I had struck the best friend that a man ever had
I cried so I scarcely could see

Old Shep he has gone
Where the good doggies go
And no more with old Shep will I roam
But if dogs have a heaven
There’s one thing I know
Old Shep has a wonderful home

 

Related Post

Some of the most powerful photographs of Elvis Presley were never taken under the spotlight. They were captured after the applause had faded. In the early hours of January 15, 1973, following the historic Aloha from Hawaii concert, a few candid images showed Elvis standing beside producer Marty Pasetta. There was no audience left to impress, no cameras broadcasting to the world. Only two men sharing a quiet moment after making television history. Looking at those photographs today, what stands out is not triumph, but peace. Elvis appears relaxed, almost relieved, as though he had just answered a question he had carried inside for years.

In the early hours of August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley quietly looked in on his daughter one last time. According to Lisa Marie Presley, he stopped by her room, gently told her to go back to sleep, and kissed her goodnight before leaving. Neither of them could have known it would be their final goodbye. Just hours later, Graceland was filled with panic, and a little girl who adored her father found herself standing at the edge of a loss no child should ever have to understand.

HE LOOKED LIKE ELVIS. BUT HE WAS MUCH MORE THAN THAT. Some families inherit photographs. The Presley family inherited a face that seemed to carry history itself. When Benjamin Keough appeared in public, people often fell silent. The resemblance to his grandfather, Elvis Presley, was astonishing. Lisa Marie Presley once admitted, “Ben does look so much like Elvis.” Even musicians at the Grand Ole Opry reportedly became emotional when they saw him, telling Lisa Marie they felt as though Elvis had walked back into the room.

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Country

FIFTY THOUSAND SOULS HELD THEIR BREATH AS THE HAT CAME OFF, MARKING A FAREWELL THAT TRANSCENDED MUSIC. The only other time the world saw this moment was at the Grand Ole Opry during the funeral of George Jones. Back then, Alan Jackson stood before the legend’s casket and removed his hat—not as a performer, but as a man paying respects to the greatest voice he’d ever known. It wasn’t for the crowd; it was for the music. Tonight at Nissan Stadium, the silence that fell over 50,000 people wasn’t just a lull between tracks—it was a heavy, sacred stillness. Alan stood alone under the lights, gazing out at the faces of generations who had grown up in the glow of his songs. They were the ones who sang the choruses back to him at the top of their lungs, the ones who kept his records spinning through every heartbreak and every joy of the last four decades. Slowly, his hand rose. The hat came off. It wasn’t a rehearsed finale or a grand gesture for the cameras. It was a raw act of gratitude directed at the people who stood by him when the tremors of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease made the stage harder to navigate. They didn’t come to see a spectacle; they came to honor the man whose voice helped raise them. While the legends waiting in the wings—George Strait, Carrie Underwood, and the rest—would soon join him to bridge the gap between their history and his legacy, for this single heartbeat, everything stopped. Alan just stood there, hat in hand, offering a final, quiet salute to the people who made him who he is. It was a goodbye delivered with the same humble, unpretentious soul he’s carried since he first walked into Nashville.

Country

A NINE-YEAR-OLD WITNESSED A MOTHER GET LYNCHED BY TOWN GOSSIP — TWENTY YEARS LATER, HE TURNED THAT TRUTH INTO A MUSICAL RECKONING. The PTA had decided Mrs. Johnson was a disgrace, circulating whispers about her hemline, her lifestyle, and her fitness as a mother. They thought they could shame her into silence or exile, but they drastically underestimated the woman they were targeting. She didn’t retreat. She walked straight into that PTA meeting wearing a miniskirt and proceeded to dismantle the town’s moral high ground. She started calling out the names of the hypocrites in the room: Bobby Taylor, who made passes while his wife was away; the men with secrets like Mr. Baker; the self-righteous neighbors like Widow Jones and Mr. Harper. Tom T. Hall, who had been a nine-year-old boy watching this play out in Olive Hill, Kentucky, carried the weight of that defiance for two decades. When he finally put pen to paper, it became a lightning rod. When Jeannie C. Riley—a Nashville secretary just trying to find her break—stepped into the booth to record “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” the song didn’t just chart; it exploded. It became a historic anthem, making her the first woman to ever hit No. 1 on both the pop and country charts, moving six million copies along the way. It was a massive victory for the truth. In the end, the song proved what the town learned the hard way: the people who point the loudest fingers are usually the ones with the most to hide.

Country

THE MIRACLE INDY FEEK ASKED FOR HAS FINALLY COME TO LIGHT. Indiana Feek, the young girl who has captured the hearts of country music fans for over a decade, is officially on the road to a long, full life. Rory Feek confirmed that the high-stakes open-heart surgery to repair the hole she was born with was a success—the obstruction is cleared, the repair is holding, and the medical team is confident in a complete recovery. For those who have followed the Feek family’s story since the passing of Joey, Indy has felt like one of their own. The hours leading up to the surgery were marked by the small, precious details of childhood: playing Uno, tending to her new doll, Rosemary, and listening to the rhythm of a tambourine. Then came the heavy reality of the operating room, where Rory and his wife, Rebecca, handed their daughter over to the surgeons while friends who had traveled all the way from Waco stood vigil in prayer. The relief of the outcome doesn’t erase the intensity of the aftermath. Waking up in the ICU, frightened and in pain, Indy let the tears flow at the sound of her father’s voice—a moment of vulnerability that mirrored the raw relief of her parents. Just days ago, Indy had looked at her papa and pleaded, “I don’t want the surgery. I want the miracle.” Today, the Feek family is holding onto that miracle with gratitude. As Indy begins the difficult process of healing, the request remains simple: keep lifting this brave girl up as she recovers.

Country

A STAGE PACKED WITH KINGS AND QUEENS, ALL BOWING TO THE MAN WHO HELD THE LINE. Look at that stage at Nissan Stadium right now and you’re looking at the Mount Rushmore of modern country—George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs, Eric Church, Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert. But look closer, and you’ll realize something remarkable: they aren’t here to promote themselves. They are here as the choir. When those titans of the industry stepped up to belt out “Pop a Top,” they weren’t just singing a classic; they were paying a debt. Think about the gravity of this: artists who can sell out stadiums on their own are standing there as backup singers. Why? Because they know who kept the soul of this music alive when the suits tried to polish it into something unrecognizable. Alan Jackson didn’t just rack up 35 No. 1s and move 75 million records; he kept the genre honest. He kept it country when it was arguably at its most vulnerable. Tonight, in front of 50,000 screaming fans, the biggest voices in the business are doing the one thing Alan never asked them to do: they’re pouring it all back into him. They aren’t just honoring a career; they’re safeguarding a legacy, reminding the world that while artists may come and go, the man who stayed true to the music is the one who defined the path for everyone else.