"Don't Cry Daddy" was written by Scott Davis and recorded by Elvis Presley on January 15 and 21 1969 and released as a single. The rhythm track was laid down on 15 January and Elvis' vocal overdub on the 21st. Some speculate that it is a consolation song considering that Elvis's father became a widower upon the death of his wife in 1958. The song reached #6 in the U.S. and #8 in the U.K.
Live recordings were made during his second season in Las vegas during February 1970 and several of these have been released however during the Dinner show on 13 August 1970 at the International Hotel he recorded a version which led seamlessly into In The Ghetto.
Lisa Marie Presley rerecorded this as a duet with her fathers voice in 1997 for an Elvis tribute concert. The recording was not for commercial use. The song created renewed interest in her as a recording artist. It displayed the huskey timbre in her voice. The duet portion on the original recording was done by Ronnie Milsap.
[edit] Concept
The song takes place in the mind of the husband of the wife and mother that had just passed. The characters are the father, the mother, one of his unnamed children, and a young child named Tommy. The young child tells his father not to cry saying they will find a new "mama." He is speaking to his dad to play with him and his brother as done when the children were younger.
