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Only the Strong Survive

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(Gamble / Huff / Butler)

Information:
Only the Strong Survive (Mercury 72898) was a million-seller and number one rhythm & blues hit for Jerry Butler in early 1969. It peaked at #4 on the Hot 100 chart. The song was written by Butler, Kenny Gamble, and Leon Huff.

Elvis recorded Only the Strong Survive at American Sound Studios in Memphis on February 20, 1969, just a few weeks after Butler recorded the original version.

Lyrics:
 

I remember my first love affair
Somehow or another the whole darn thing went wrong
My mama had some great advice
So I thought I'd put it into words of this song
I can still hear her sayin'

Boy, oh, I see you're sittin' out there all alone
Cryin' your eyes out 'cause the woman that you love is gone
Oh, there's gonna be, there's gonna be a whole lot of trouble in your life
Oh, so listen to me, get up off your knees 'cause only the strong survive
That's what she said, only the strong survive, only the strong survive,
Oh, you've got to be strong, you'd better hold on
Don't go all around with your head hung down
Well, I wouldn't let that little girl
No, I wouldn't let her know that she made me feel like a clown
There's a whole lot a girls lookin' for a good man like you
Oh, but you'll never meet 'em if you give up now and say your life is through
And she said, only the strong survive, only the strong survive,
You've got to be a man, you've got to take a stand

Only the strong survive, only the strong survive,
Oh, you've got to be strong, you'd better hold on
'Cause only the strong survive
Only the strong survive, only the strong survive,
Well, you've got to be a man, you've got to take a stand
'Cause only the strong survive, only the strong survive

Only the strong survive, only the strong survive...

Where it was released:

Released for the fist time on From Elvis in Memphis »

LPs/CDs:

- From Elvis In Memphis (1969) »

- The Legendary Recordings of Elvis (1979) »

- The Memphis Record (1987)

- From Nasvhille to Memphis – The Essential 60’s Masters (1993)

- Are You Lonesome Tonight (1997)

- Artist of the Century (1999)

- Suspicious Minds (1999)

- Best of Artist of the Century (2000)

- Too Much Monkey Business (2000) - FTD »

- From Elvis in Memphis; Promised Land; Moody Blue (2001)

- Memphis Sessions (2001) – FTD »

– From Elvis in Memphis (2013) - FTD »

– From Elvis at American Sound Studios (2013) - FTD »

– American Sound 1969 (2019) - FTD »

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