Who Are You (Who Am I?) – Elvis Presley

Introduction

Elvis Presley’s soulful ballad, “Who Are You (Who Am I?)”, transcends its 1968 film origin, “Speedway,” to become a timeless meditation on self-discovery and the masks we wear. Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the song’s origins lie in Leiber’s fascination with Carl Jung’s concept of the “shadow,” the hidden part of ourselves.

The song opens with a haunting melody, mirroring the protagonist’s disorientation. The lyrics, delivered in Elvis’s signature baritone, paint a picture of a man grappling with existential questions: “Who are you, who am I? Why am I here, what’s my aim?” He searches for meaning in the faces he passes, wondering if they too share this inner turmoil.

The chorus, a powerful plea for clarity, becomes an anthem for anyone who’s ever felt lost: “Tell me, tell me what I’m supposed to do, is there a reason for all this pain?” The repeated “Who are you?” echoes a universal yearning for self-knowledge and purpose.

The song takes a turn as the protagonist confronts his reflection, questioning the “stranger in the glass.” He grapples with the personas he presents to the world, wondering if they’ve overshadowed his true self. This introspective journey culminates in a desperate plea for guidance: “Show me a way, lead me out of the night.”

Though released amidst the cultural upheaval of the late 60s, “Who Are You (Who Am I?)” transcends its era. It speaks to the timeless human struggle to find our place in the world, to reconcile our internal selves with the masks we wear for the world. With its raw emotion and poignant lyricism, the song continues to resonate with listeners today, reminding us that the search for self-discovery is a journey we all share.

Video

Lyrics

I left my home up in the hill far behind me
I left my wife with unpaid bills, she can’t find me
I’m trying out the world for size, find that it’s not paradise, it’s lonely
Now for twenty days and twenty nights I’ve been alone
And that ain’t right without her

City ways are strange to me, I can’t make it
For it’s not like it ought to be, I can’t take it
Gotta face the truth one day, man can’t always run away from trouble
No, now for twenty days and twenty nights I’ve been a fool
And that ain’t right, without her

One day soon I’m going back, where she still minds me
And then out of line and off the track, but that’s behind me
I fooled around and did it well, but I just couldn’t ring the bell , without her, no
It’s taken twenty days and twenty nights to prove me wrong and make her right
Twenty days and twenty nights I was wrong and she was right, all along

Oh, I miss her
Oh, how I miss her, oh how I miss her, oh how I miss her