"My Happiness" - Belated Happy Birthday to Elvis

Yesterday would have been Elvis Presley's 76th birthday. And there is no better birthday tribute to Elvis than the first single he ever recorded, "My Happiness," a song he sang as birthday present to his mother. It was recorded at Sun Records in July 1953, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Whenever I think of Elvis I prefer not to think of the overweight and addicted man who collapsed in the bathroom in 1977. I've heard more "Elvis died taking a s__" jokes than I ever need to hear in my lifetime. I instead think of the young Elvis, whose voice and style brought so much happiness to so many people.

And this is totally dorky, but I once intended to teach a lesson of parasitism to my Living Environment classes, adapting the lyrics of "Don't Be Cruel." Here it is:

You know I can be found,
Intestines all arot,
If you can't come around,
at least eat a lot
Don't be cruel to a pest that's true.

Baby, if I made you sick
for blood I might have sucked,
Please, let's forget the past,
the future looks bright ahead,
Don't be cruel to a pest that's true.
I don't want no other host,
Baby it's just you I'm feeding off.

Don't stop eating for me,
don't make me starve this way,
Come on over here and feed me,
you know what I want you to say.
Don't be cruel to a pest that's true.
Why should we be apart?
I really need your blood, cross my heart.

Let's walk up to the doctor
and let us say you’re sick,
Then you'll know you'll have me,
and I'll know that I'll have you,
Don't be cruel to a pest that's true.
I don't want no other host,
Baby it's just you I'm feeding off

Don't be cruel to a pest that’s true.
Don't be cruel to a pest that’s true.
I don't want no other host,
Baby it's just you I'm feeding off. 

So Happy Birthday to the King!