Graceland is a large white-columned mansion and 13.8-acre (5.6 ha) estate that was home to Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. It is located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard in the vast Whitehaven community about 9 miles (14.5 km) from Downtown and less than four miles (6 km) north of the Mississippi border. It currently serves as a museum. It was opened to the public on June 7, 1982. The site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1991 and declared a National Historic Landmark on March 27, 2006. Graceland has become one of the most-visited private homes in America with over 600,000 visitors a year, behind the White House and Biltmore Estate (900,000 visitors per year).[citation needed]
Elvis Presley died at the estate on August 16, 1977. Presley, his parents Gladys and Vernon Presley, and his grandmother, are buried there in what is called the Meditation Garden. A memorial gravestone for Presley's twin brother, Jesse Garon, is also at the site.
Graceland Farms was originally owned by S.C. Toof, founder of S.C. Toof & Co., a commercial printing firm in Memphis, who was previously the pressroom foreman of the Memphis newspaper, the Memphis Daily Appeal. The grounds were named after Toof's daughter, Grace, who inherited the farm. Soon after, the portion of the land designated as Graceland today was given to her nephews and niece. It was Grace Toof's niece, Ruth Moore, who, in 1939 together with her husband Dr. Thomas Moore, built the present American "colonial" style mansion.
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".
Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, Presley moved to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family at the age of 13. He began his career there in 1954, working with Sun Records owner Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audience. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was the most important popularizer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country and rhythm and blues. RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage the singer for over two decades. Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", released in January 1956, was a number one hit. He became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll with a series of network television appearances and chart-topping records. His energized interpretations of songs, many from African American sources, and his uninhibited performance style made him enormously popular—and controversial. In November 1956, he made his film debut in Love Me Tender.
Priscilla Presley (born Priscilla Ann Wagner; May 24, 1945) is an American actress and businesswoman. She is the ex-wife of singer Elvis Presley, and the mother of singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley.
Priscilla was chairwoman of the board of Elvis Presley Enterprises from 1982 to 1998, helping to turn Graceland into a multi-million dollar tourist attraction. As an actress, Priscilla is best known for co-starring with Leslie Nielsen in the three successful Naked Gun films between 1988 and 1994, and for her five-year run playing the character Jenna Wade on the television series Dallas.
Priscilla's grandfather, Albert Henry Iversen, emigrated from Egersund in Norway to the United States in the beginning of the 1900s. He married Lorraine Davis, who was of Scots-Irish and English descent. They had three children: Albert Jr. (March 1922), James Richard (March 1924) and Anna Lillian Iversen (March 1926). Later she was called, or her name was changed to, Ann. She was called Rooney (short for Annie Rooney) as a child. At the age of 19 she gave birth to Priscilla. They both still have cousins in Norway. In a letter to the City Hall of Egersund, Ann asked for information about their relatives, and wrote that Priscilla was interested in knowing about them; Priscilla's parents then visited family members in Norway in 1992.
The Mississippi Delta was shining
Like a National guitar
I am following the river
Down the highway
Through the cradle of the civil war
I'm going to Graceland
Graceland
In Memphis Tennessee
I'm going to Graceland
Poorboys and Pilgrims with families
And we are going to Graceland
My traveling companion is nine years old
He is the child of my first marriage
But I've reason to believe
We both will be received
In Graceland
She comes back to tell me she's gone
As if I didn't know that
As if I didn't know my own bed
As if I'd never noticed
The way she brushed her hair from her forehead
And she said losing love
Is like a window in your heart
Everybody sees you're blown apart
Everybody sees the wind blow
I'm going to Graceland
Memphis Tennessee
I'm going to Graceland
Poorboys and Pilgrims with families
And we are going to Graceland
And my traveling companions
Are ghosts and empty sockets
I'm looking at ghosts and empties
But I've reason to believe
We all will be received
In Graceland
There is a girl in New York City
Who calls herself the human trampoline
And sometimes when I'm falling, flying
Or tumbling in turmoil I say
Oh, so this is what she means
She means we're bouncing into Graceland
And I see losing love
Is like a window in your heart
Everybody sees you're blown apart
Everybody feels the wind blow
In Graceland, in Graceland
I'm going to Graceland
For reasons I cannot explain
There's some part of me wants to see
Graceland
And I may be obliged to defend
Every love, every ending
Or maybe there's no obligations now
Maybe I've a reason to believe
We all will be received
In Graceland
Mississippi Delta shining like a National guitar
Paul Simon wrote that song about Graceland
While driving in his car
Mark Cohn wrote that other one
It was a big hit, it made Mark Cohn real
I'm walking in Memphis, do I really feel the way I feel?
Well, look at me, Lord, I am at Graceland
On a Saturday afternoon
I threw up last night at a rest stop
From eating cheese grits at the Waffle House
I felt like hell then, I feel alright now
I am at Graceland and I feel alright
I know that Graceland has sacred meaning
Deep, deep meaning for lots of people
For me it don't mean all that much
Okemah means more that's
Woody Guthrie's home
I don't have shrines to Elvis Presley
On the dashboard of my RV
I haven't spotted Elvis lately
In the tool section of the Wal-Mart
But I travel around the country
Playing my guitar for whoever will listen
So I'm at Graceland, I am at Graceland
I am at Graceland and I feel alright
He had the coolest shoes
He had the coolest hair
He sang the coolest songs
He made the coolest movies
He moved his hips like wheat fields waving
He was even cool in the army
Stand up - tic tic toc
The clock is on the run
Still got the taste of microwave food in my mouth
Kissing the sun
Get out
Ozone is waiting I inhale all the first world now
And then I'm ready to join the cueue again
To keep myself on overload
And day by day gets executed
Welcome to this place of struggle
Welcome to the promised dream
Inside my veal-fatting-pet I'm in control now
And then I'm back in my nice home-coccoon
I see it all I see the truth
When my beloved TV here saves again
This beautiful land
And day by day gets executed
But in my dreams - nothing is allright
My little plastic life
It pushes reality aside
Wisdom and knowledge - all wasted energy
My little garbageland
It kills me yes it kills me
Stand up - tic tic toc
The clock is on the run
Still got the taste
Of microwave food in my mouth
Kissing the sun
Get out out ozone is waiting
I inhale all the first world now
And then I'm ready to join
The cueue again
To keep myself on
In a time of loneliness
Years gone by
Time of sadness
Tried to survive
We saw a land so glorious
Far beyond the sun
Let us ride away, and we're
Touching ths sky tonight
Dreams have fallen, voices calling
And together we will spread our wings and fly
darkness falling, heroes calling
Forever for the love - forever for the flame inside
Hope has fallen, winds are calling
Once upon a time the world was in distress
But now we live in peace united - till the end
Forever in a land of grace and glory
My soul is free of pain
And the children tell us stories
That harmony remains
Forever in a land of grace and glory
My heart will live again
And the children tell us stories
That happiness remains
Watching the sky, the light
Stranger's walking, creatures talking
And return to the sun, escape from the night
Darkness falling, shadows crawling
Oh you pray to you're god and you pray
for eternal life
I can't move on
Should I let go
It's always better when you're there
But you've moved on
And let go
I'm sure it's better when you're there
It's always better when you're there
Cause Graceland's falling
And you're still calling
You make me want to fly
And you're my saviour
My favorite flavor
Take me home tonight
Cause Graceland's gone tonight
It's gone tonight
And memories of my better days
Of a world I never knew
Sweet symphonies
You were my better days
You're the world I never knew
You're the world I never knew
Cause Graceland's falling
And you're still calling
You make me want to fly
And you're my saviour
My favorite flavor
Take me home tonight
You were my better days
You were my symphony
You were my better days, better days, better days
You were my symphony
Graceland's falling
And you're still calling
You make me want to fly
And you're my saviour
My favorite flavor
Take me home tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight
The Mississippi Delta was shining
Like a National guitar
I am following the river
Down the highway
Through the cradle of the civil war
I'm going to Graceland
Graceland
In Memphis Tennessee
I'm going to Graceland
Poorboys and Pilgrims with families
And we are going to Graceland
My traveling companion is nine years old
He is the child of my first marriage
But I've reason to believe
We both will be received
In Graceland
She comes back to tell me she's gone
As if I didn't know that
As if I didn't know my own bed
As if I'd never noticed
The way she brushed her hair from her forehead
And she said losing love
Is like a window in your heart
Everybody sees you're blown apart
Everybody sees the wind blow
I'm going to Graceland
Memphis Tennessee
I'm going to Graceland
Poorboys and Pilgrims with families
And we are going to Graceland
And my traveling companions
Are ghosts and empty sockets
I'm looking at ghosts and empties
But I've reason to believe
We all will be received
In Graceland
There is a girl in New York City
Who calls herself the human trampoline
And sometimes when I'm falling, flying
Or tumbling in turmoil I say
Oh, so this is what she means
She means we're bouncing into Graceland
And I see losing love
Is like a window in your heart
Everybody sees you're blown apart
Everybody sees the wind blow
In Graceland, in Graceland
I'm going to Graceland
For reasons I cannot explain
There's some part of me wants to see
Graceland
And I may be obliged to defend
Every love, every ending
Or maybe there's no obligations now
Maybe I've a reason to believe
We all will be received
The Mississippi Delta was shining like a National guitar
I am following the river down the highway through the cradle of the Civil War
I'm going to Graceland Graceland in Memphis Tennessee I'm going to Graceland
Poorboys and pilgrims with families and we are going to Graceland
My traveling companion is nine years old the child of my first marriage
But I've reason to believe we both will be received in Graceland
She comes back to tell me she's gone
As if I didn't know that as if I didn't know my own bed
As if I'd never noticed she way she brushed her hair from her forehead
And she said losing love is like a window in your heart
Everybody sees you're blown apart everybody feels the wind blow
I'm going to Graceland Graceland in Memphis Tennessee I'm going to Graceland
Poorboys and pilgrims with families and we are going to Graceland
My traveling companions are ghosts and empty sockets ghosts and empties
But I've reason to believe we both will be received in Graceland
There is a girl in Austin Texas and she calls herself the human trampoline
Sometimes when I'm falling flying tumbling in turmoil I say this is what she means
She means we're bouncing into Graceland
And I see losing love ss like a window in your heart
Everybody sees you're blown apart everybody feels the wind blow
And I'm going to Graceland in Memphis Tennessee I'm going to Graceland
For reasons I cannot explain some part of me wants to see Graceland
And I may be obliged to defend every love every ending
Or maybe there's no obligations now
Maybe I've a reason to believe we all will be received in Graceland
Standing there holding hands in the middle of the night
With my thousand closest friends I was
Standing there with my velvet Elvis in the candlelight
I heard a whisper in the wind
Graceland is not far away
You can see it through the eyes of faith
Graceland, if you reach out your hand
I can take you to the pearly gates
And you can see the real Graceland
Kneeling there
I dropped my painting and I said a little prayer
I asked the King into my heart
Kneeling there
I found the place where true life lives and
People love you like you are
He's the king of rock 'n' roll
But He's the King of everything
He's got records
He's got streets of gold
He's the craze, but He's not here to entertain
He died for fame, He died for souls
The mississippi delta was shining
Like a national guitar
I am following the river
Down the highway
Through the cradle of the civil war
I'm going to graceland
Graceland
In memphis tennessee
I'm going to graceland
Poorboys and pilgrims with families
And we are going to graceland
My traveling companion is nine years old
He is the child of my first marriage
But I've reason to believe
We both will be received
In graceland
She comes back to tell me she's gone
As if I didn't know that
As if I didn't know my own bed
As if I'd never noticed
The way she brushed her hair from her forehead
And she said losing love
Is like a window in your heart
Everybody sees you're blown apart
Everybody sees the wind blow
I'm going to graceland
Memphis tennessee
I'm going to graceland
Poorboys and pilgrims with families
And we are going to graceland
And my traveling companions
Are ghosts and empty sockets
I'm looking at ghosts and empties
But I've reason to believe
We all will be received
In graceland
There is a girl in new york city
Who calls herself the human trampoline
And sometimes when I'm falling, flying
Or tumbling in turmoil I say
Oh, so this is what she means
She means we're bouncing into graceland
And I see losing love
Is like a window in your heart
Everybody sees you're blown apart
Everybody sees the wind blow
In graceland, in graceland
I'm going to graceland
For reasons I cannot explain
There's some part of me wants to see
Graceland
And I may be obliged to defend
Every love, every ending
Or maybe there's no obligations now
Maybe I've a reason to believe
We all will be received
It's been thirty days,
Since I've been without you
And it feels okay
Till I think about you
Cause you don't call anymore
There's no shoulder to fall on anymore
So tell me, That you will be on you're way
Tell me, that you're coming back someday
And maybe, I'll make it on my own.
Maybe I'll never know
Just tell me how far to go, to Graceland
What I really need,
Is the closure that you won't give to me,
I still have my regrets
I got you out of my heart,
But you're still stuck in my head.
So tell me, That you will be on you're way
Tell me, that you're coming back someday
And maybe, I'll make it on my own.
Maybe I'll never know
Just tell me how far to go, to Graceland
To Graceland
Now it's been a year
Never thought that I could think so clear,
But I saw you today,
And I fell short of all I wanted to say
Cause damn your words,
Damn this town and damn your ways.
Maybe I'll never know,
Is it too far to go, To Graceland
Well, we took off like a sabre jet for Graceland one night.
Gonna raise The King; it'd be a hell of a fight.
To re-incarnate and re-animate his mortal remains.
What good is a king if he ain't go no brains?
As long as he can sing that song "Suspicious Minds" or the "Milkcow Blues Boogie" that would be just fine.
Well, we took off like a sabre jet for Tennessee.
Pulled up to Graceland; pulled out my skeleton key.
Gonna find out where he's burried; gonna dig him up, and throw his remains on the back of the truck.
Perform some kind of voodoo-type ritual thing, and sit back and laugh while we watch him sing.
Well, his bones came to life and they moved pretty well,
but the rest of him was scattered 'tween heaven and hell.
Then he fell to the ground in a pile of white dust, kind of pointing the direction of Las Vegas.
There was a smell in the air like leather and sweat, and we took off for Nevada like a sabre jet.
I wish I lived in Graceland
But I only had one day
A postcard from the main land
is all I have today
Forty thousand million
and a Rolls Royce engine
couldn't take me anywhere
Yes, I tried with aspirin
and a nice calm weekend
but my heart has left me here
I wish I had that skin tan
that you are born into
They'd see me as a warm man
just like they're seeing you
Forty thousand million...
I drown in my drool
Over all the goodies that they get
I drown in a pool
In a pool of my own sweat
Forty thousand million...