The Significance of "If I Can Dream" in Elvis's Journey

The narrative behind the song “If I Can Dream” has gained traction since the release of the 2022 film.

As one of the most recognized figures from the South, Presley felt that the assassination of King in Memphis “reinforced everyone's darkest fears about the South.”

Less than two months after King's death, Presley returned to Hollywood on June 3 to start rehearsals for his 1968 TV special.

Just two days later, on June 5, U.S. Senator Robert Kennedy was shot, with his death occurring the following day.

As depicted in the film, the impact of Robert Kennedy's assassination, occurring so soon after King’s, was transformative for Elvis.

The story continues: Presley spent an entire night with the show's director, Steve Binder, and friends, discussing the assassinations and possible responses.

Binder requested the show's Musical Director, Billy Goldenberg, and songwriter Earl Brown, to craft a song that would express Presley's emotions for the special's closing number.

While Presley's manager preferred a Christmas song to conclude the special, Binder believed a new piece addressing the violence of 1968 would hold greater significance. Colonel Tom Parker, Presley's manager, dismissed the song after hearing the demo, claiming, “This isn’t the type of song for Elvis.”

Upon hearing the song, Elvis responded, “Let me give it a shot, man.”

“If I Can Dream” was recorded on June 23, 1968—just 17 days following Robert Kennedy's death. The initial performance was so moving that band members felt “blown away.”

At least one band member remarked, “Elvis has never sung with such intensity. He truly seems to mean every word.”

Yet, Elvis was determined to refine it further.

After the other musicians had left, he delivered “an even more remarkable performance” while re-recording the vocal parts. Presley, whose spirituality was deeply rooted in his faith, requested the lights to be dimmed and knelt on the concrete floor.

He insisted on reviewing every take before settling on one. He then told Binder, “I will never sing another song I don't believe in. I refuse to act in any film that does not resonate with me.”

This moment signified a complete departure from the profitable but formulaic films of the 1960s, marking his return to live performances and a series of new hits. “If I Can Dream” debuted at the end of the December 3 TV special and was also released as a single in late November, reaching the pop charts for 13 weeks and peaking at number 12. The B-side, “Edge of Reality,” also gained new attention through the 2022 film.

The Message of "If I Can Dream" Reflects King's Vision

Jerry Schilling, a longtime friend of Elvis, who accompanied Lisa Marie Presley to the Grammys shortly before her passing in 2023, believes that “Elvis is a co-writer of this song. It embodies his genuine feelings.”

The song serves as a reminder of King's renowned “I Have a Dream” speech delivered on August 28, 1963, where he envisioned a future “when all of God’s children, Black men and white men, Jews, and Gentiles, Protestants, and Catholics, will join hands and sing the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.”

In a similar vein, the song expresses: “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?”

King also envisioned a future where “my four little children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

“If I Can Dream” asserts, “We are caught in a world burdened by pain, but as long as a man has the strength to dream, he can redeem his soul and soar.”

The film illustrates that Elvis had a rebellious phase in the 1950s before serving in the Army in 1958, during which Colonel Tom Parker attempted to reshape his image to be more “all-American.”

From 1960, following his military service, until 1969, Presley starred in 27 feature films, most of which lacked the daring spirit of his earlier works from 1956 to 1958. The 1968 comeback special marked a return to those edgier roots.

The 2022 film condenses his entire acting career into a montage, despite his aspiration to become a respected actor like James Dean. While he became the highest-paid actor of his time, many films followed a familiar formula aimed at maximizing profits.

His more notable performances were found in earlier, more serious films that often did not fare as well commercially.

Google Trends data reveals a surge in interest for the song after the release of the 2022 film, with search levels remaining tripled compared to the previous year.

Priscilla Presley Cherishes "If I Can Dream"; A Fresh Version for the 2022 Film

In 2017, Priscilla Presley, Elvis's only wife and mother of Lisa Marie Presley, stated that “If I Can Dream” and “An American Trilogy” are her top two Elvis songs.

The Italian band Måneskin produced a new rendition for the 2022 Elvis film, with lead singer Damiano Davi asserting that “If I Can Dream” remains just as relevant today as it was in 1968.

Davi remarked, “The message of the song is very contemporary: ‘If I can dream of a better land. Where all my brothers walk hand in hand.’ It speaks of unity, peace, freedom, and happiness, arriving at the perfect moment.”