Love Me Tender, a Singable Picture Book

Posted by: Sing Books with Emily on: August 23, 2011

• In: Cabaret | Case for Singable Books | Heartfelt Musings | Singable Book Title | Singable Picture Book Video | Song History | SPB List for Special Occasion | Vocal Tracks
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Love Me Tender
Words Elvis Presley, Vera Matson (credited),  Ken Darby (uncredited)
Music by George R. Poulton
Illustrated by Tom Browning

I have fallen INSTANTLY in LOVE with “Love Me Tender.”  Matching the book with the song, I wonder, “Where has this been all my life?”

An adaptation of a Civil War era song “Aura Lee,” (by George Poulton) read an interesting wiki article about the song, “Love Me Tender,” here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Me_Tender_(song)
I’m fascinated by the song’s authorship, attributed to Elvis and the actual songwriter’s wife, but, in actuality, the adapted lyrics were written by Ken Darby.

Elvis singing “Love Me Tender” in his famous televised 1968 comeback concert:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBOtPvrluhU

Sing with Elvis and the lyrics, here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y-bd3aDMGA

Wow, Norah Jones sings a terrific version:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlFgTQjScvE

Find a brief history, guitar chords, and musical analysis of the song, here:
http://www.masaoka.info/analysis/reharmonization/love_me_tender.html

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LOVE ME TENDER
Words Elvis Presley (credited), Vera Matson (credited),  Ken Darby (uncredited)
Music by George R. Poulton

Love me tender, love me sweet,
Never let me go.
You have made my life complete,
And I love you so.

Love me tender, love me true,
All my dreams fulfill.
For my darlin’ I love you,
And I always will.

Love me tender, love me long;
Take me to your heart.
For it’s there that I belong,
And we’ll never part.

Love me tender, love me true,
All my dreams fulfill.
For my darlin’ I love you,
And I always will.

Love me tender, love me dear,
Tell me you are mine.
I’ll be yours through all the years,
Till the end of time.

Love me tender, love me true,
All my dreams fulfill.
For my darlin’ I love you,
And I always will.

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Hear “Aura Lee,” the song upon which “Love Me Tender” is based:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvBAu0JO9G4

An informative wiki article about “Aura Lee,” (including lyrics and sheet music cover images) here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aura_Lea

AURA LEE  was written in 1861 with Words by W.W. Fosdick and Music by George Poulton

It is worth taking the time to read the gorgeous lyrics of “Aura Lee.”  The words are so beautiful (especially paired with the sweet, simple, lovely tune), it is surprising that no one has illustrated a book for them.  “Aura Lee” is a new addition to my wish list of songs to be illustrated!

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Tags: Aura Lee, Elvis Presley, George Poulton, Ken Darby, Tom Browning, Vera Matson