Janelle McComb of Tupelo, Mississippi was a
good friend to Elvis and his family for many years. On several
occasions Elvis asked her to lend her unique talents to record
his feelings in verse. “The Priceless Gift”, a birthday poem for
his daughter Lisa, was one of those occasions. Lisa’s copy is
displayed at Graceland. Here, from its author is the story of
how the poem was created:
In the latter part of ‘71, I was visiting Graceland. Lisa was
pushing her baby buggy through the hall, and I said to Elvis,
“Can you imagine? She is soon going to be four years old. What
are you going to give her for her birthday?”
Elvis paused and said “I don’t
know - she’s all we have - she is our most prized possession. I
want Lisa to know what the important things in life are. Money
is not important - it is fleeting and all this is just vanity.”
He said “A lot has happened through the years. Do you remember,
when we left Tupelo, all we had was a little trunk on top of the
car.”
We talked and laughed for an
hour or more reminiscing about his childhood, about his mother
cooking, about how his grandmother wore an apron, and about the
song “Precious Memories”, which was sung at his mother’s
funeral. He said “Those early values that my parents taught me
are still my values, and I want my child to know them.”
“Mrs. McComb,” Elvis said, (he
always addressed me as “Mrs. McComb” when he was talking to me,
but always autographed things to me as “Janelle”.) “do you think
you could take your pen and write something for me to give my
little girl to tell her what the real values of life are,
because I may not always be around.”
“In other words,” I said, “you
want to give her ‘the priceless gift’.”He said “That’s right, and be
sure to sign it ‘Daddy’.”
I said “Well, Elvis, I’ll try.”
I went home and wrote the poem.
When I brought it back to Elvis at Graceland, he was so touched
and pleased when he read it, he ran up the stairs two at a time
to hide it until Lisa’s birthday. When he came back down crying,
I asked him to sign my copy of the poem. He signed it, then with
his elbow attempted to wipe the tears off the paper and smeared
his signature. He said “Oh, Mrs. McComb, I’ve ruined your copy.”
“No,” I said, “someday those
teardrops will be just as priceless as this poem is to you.”
The Priceless Gift
Birthdays are
always special
as your fourth one comes to you
and I wondered what I’d give you
Just anything wouldn’t do.
I thought of
childish treasures
to hang upon your wall
Yet nothing seemed appropriate
or none I could recall.
Money seemed so
cold and fleeting
Bought treasures go so fast
And I wanted a gift to please you
And one that would also last.
You know you’re
sort of special
You are really all we’ve got
You’re Mama’s bit of heaven
And Daddy’s tiny tot.
I closed my eyes
- the years rolled by
And I slowly found my way
To a shadowed corner in the attic
T’ was a link to my yesterday.
I raised the lid to a frayed old trunk
And there a priceless treasure lay
A tattered apron with strings still tied
And I knew I heard her say -
“Son, I’m now just a precious memory
But don’t ever forget one thing
I always tried to guide your life
With these worn out apron strings.
They guided a man
named Lincoln
As he steered the ship of State
It’s the only gift I gave you
That will never go out of date.
Apron strings
changed the course of
History as great men felt their tug
They followed sons onto battle fields
Without the slightest shrug.
They guided both
kings and beggars
Through harmony and strife
Son, you surely must have felt their tug
For how God has blessed your life.
I bowed my head
and said a prayer
For I knew God had surely touched
A tattered old trunk so tucked away
And an apron that had meant so much.
So Lisa, I give
you the “Priceless Gift”
That surpasses all other things
A whole lifetime of love for you
She tied in her apron strings.
Daddy
©1971 Janelle McComb
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