“Black Velvet” is an homage to Elvis Presley.

Alannah Myles didn’t write “Black Velvet.” Her boyfriend at the time, who was named Christopher Ward, wrote the lyrics on his lap while riding a bus to Graceland with a bunch of fans so that they could celebrate the 10th anniversary of Presley’s death. Myles remarked in 2021 that the song was a country song that was released during a period when other forms of music, such as grunge and disco, were all the rage. Because of this “against-the-grain” nature of the song, Myles also said that had the song been lousy, then no one would have remembered it.

The Tributes

The bit in the song about a “new religion” astutely notes that Presley’s legions of fans almost revered him as a god, a country boy who made good and who mesmerized the masses. The song is slow and lazy like a summer afternoon in Mississippi, and Myles coos about Presley’s music being like “white lightning,” rough, raucous, and intoxicating. The lyrics also say that Presley moved in a such a way that it always left you wanting more. Presley’s mother died at the height of his fame, and Myles sings about her being proud of her “little boy” with the charming smile and the sinful movements. She also makes the point that his delivery made it seem as if every word of every song was for you. Finally, she sadly sings that he was gone in a flash, barely 42 years of age, and pointedly asks, “What could you do?”

Chart Performance

The song was a worldwide hit in 1990, hitting No. 1 in the United States, Switzerland, Sweden, and Norway. It was also No. 2 in Germany, Austria, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. “Black Velvet” reached No. 3 in a further six countries. In the United States, the song stayed No. 1 for three consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and was simultaneously No. 1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks. The year 1990 ended with “Black Velvet” still at No. 18, which is impressive for a country song at the dawn of the era of grunge.

Other Media

The song was part of the “Final Three” on “American Idol” during that show’s famous first season in 2002. Additionally, it’s been part of television soundtracks as varied as “Fresh Off the Boat,” “New Girl,” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

Lyrics

Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell
Jimmie Rodgers on the Victrola up high
Mama’s dancin’ with a baby on her shoulder
The sun is settin’ like molasses in the sky

The boy could sing, knew how to move, everything
Always wanting more, he’d leave you longing for

Black velvet and that little boy’s smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that’ll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please

Up in Memphis, the music’s like a heatwave
White lightning, bound to drive you wild
Mama’s baby’s in the heart of every schoolgirl
“Love Me Tender” leaves ’em cryin’ in the aisle

The way he moved, it was a sin, so sweet and true
Always wanting more, he’d leave you longing for

Black velvet and that little boy’s smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that’ll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please

Every word of every song that he sang was for you
In a flash, he was gone, it happened so soon
What could you do?

Black velvet and that little boy’s smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that’ll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please

Black velvet and that little boy’s smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that’ll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please

If you please

If you please
If you please

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: David Michael Tyson / Chris Ward

Black Velvet lyrics © Into Wishin’, Ole Media Management Lp I, Wonderful Way With Words And Music, Anthem Entertainment A, Anthem Entertainment B, Bmg Apollo

Listeners that enjoy this song about Inspiration may also enjoy the song YMCA by Village People