"In the Ghetto" (first called "The Vicious Circle") is a 1969 song written by Mac Davis and recorded by Elvis Presley. It was released in 1969 as part of Presley's album From Elvis in Memphis and also came out as a single, with "Any Day Now" as the other song on the single.
Background
The lyrics to the song were written by country music singer-songwriter Mac Davis. Elvis Presley's version of the song was recorded in the key of B flat. "In the Ghetto" was recorded during Presley's session for his From Elvis in Memphis album at the American Sound Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. This was Presley's first recording session after his 1968 comeback special, Elvis. Other songs recorded during this session included "Suspicious Minds," "Kentucky Rain," and "Don't Cry Daddy," which was also written by Mac Davis.
The song was published by Gladys Music, Inc., Elvis Presley's publishing company. It was Presley's first Top 10 hit in the United States in four years, reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 in Canada. It was also his first UK Top 10 hit in three years, peaking at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The song reached number 1 on Cashbox and number 8 on the Easy Listening chart. It was a number-one hit in West Germany, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, and on the Irish Singles Chart.
Lyrical content
A boy is born to a mother who already has more children than she can care for in a poor neighborhood in Chicago. As he grows up, he does not have enough resources and begins to engage in illegal activities during his teenage years. As an adult, he buys a gun and steals a car to commit a series of crimes, but he is killed soon after. The song ends with another child being born in the same neighborhood on the same day, suggesting that this newborn may face the same challenges, continuing the pattern of poverty and violence.
Cover versions
After Elvis Presley, many other artists have performed the song. Dolly Parton sang the song on her 1969 album My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy. Songwriter Mac Davis recorded his own version for his 1970 album Song Painter. Candi Staton included the song on her 1972 self-titled album and released it as a single that year. The single reached No. 12 on the R&B chart and No. 48 on the US chart. In 1991, Norman Cook released a dance version of the song with his group Beats International. The version reached No. 44 on the UK chart. In 1996, the hip-hop group Ghetto People, who were similar to the Fugees, had a top ten hit in Germany with a version of the song. They recorded it with local singer Detlef Malinkewitz. At the time, Malinkewitz used the stage name L-Viz. Because of this, some UK broadcasters mistakenly credited the recording to El Vez.
Gospel artist Reverend James Cleveland recorded a gospel version of the song. In 1975, he won his first Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards. The award was for his 1974 album In the Ghetto, which he performed with the Southern California Community Choir.
After Mac Davis passed away, Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker recorded a duet version of the song to honor him. The duet was released on November 11, 2020, after a live performance at the 54th Annual Country Music Association Awards.
The song "In the Ghetto" was covered by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds as their debut single. It was recorded at Trident Studios in London and released as a 7-inch single on June 18, 1984. The single included the B-side "The Moon Is in the Gutter." It reached No. 84 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 1 on the UK Independent Singles Chart. Although the single was not originally on an album, it was later added to the CD reissue of the band’s first album, From Her to Eternity.