A fiery, soulful surge of hope and redemption “I Got a Feelin’ in My Body” by Elvis Presley
“I Got a Feelin’ in My Body” is a stirring, gospel-inflected anthem in which Elvis Presley channels a deep yearning for deliverance and a future free from sorrow a song of spiritual uplift wrapped in 1970s soul-rock energy.
Recorded on December 10, 1973, at Stax Studios in Memphis, the track was part of sessions that would feed into what became Elvis’s 1974 album Good Times. The song was written by Dennis Linde, the same composer behind Elvis’s later hit “Burning Love,” and its gospel-tinged lyrics draw heavily on Biblical imagery invoking stories like the Exodus and Daniel in the lion’s den to deliver a message of faith, resilience, and hope.
Though “I Got a Feelin’ in My Body” appeared on Good Times in 1974, it did not hit the charts immediately. Its broader recognition came in July 1979, when it was released posthumously as the B-side of the single “There’s a Honky Tonk Angel (Who’ll Take Me Back In).” That record soared to #6 on the U.S. Billboard Country Singles Chart, and also reached #5 on the Cash Box Country chart, giving the song an unexpected second life years after its creation.
From the first bars, the arrangement sets a tone of urgency and spiritual fervor. The instrumentation with driving bass, rhythmic guitar work, and soulful backing vocals fuses rock, gospel, and a touch of funk, reflecting the evolving soundscape of the early ’70s while honoring Elvis’s roots in gospel and soul. Elvis’s vocal delivery brims with conviction; when he repeats “I got a feelin’ in my body,” there’s a sense of both weariness and righteous hope, as though he’s calling out to higher powers for release, comfort, and renewal.
Lyrically, the song resonates with themes of deliverance and faith “When Moses walked the children out of Egypt land … He’s gonna walk beside us,” eases into a chorus anticipating “our lucky day.” The references to Daniel in the lion’s den suggest endurance under trial, faith in adversity, and the promise of spiritual shelter. The repeated exhortation to “lift your eyes up … Heaven stands before you, gates are open wide / Shelter for the weary, comfort for the weak” offers solace, hope and an almost communal redemption a sanctuary for tired souls.
The meaning of the song goes deeper than a simple plea for deliverance. In the context of Elvis’s life in the early 1970s a period marked by personal struggles, a search for meaning, and a return to his gospel roots “I Got a Feelin’ in My Body” serves as a spiritual confession as much as a musical statement. It’s an expression of longing for relief from pain, of hope that sorrow can be shed, and of faith that redemption remains possible even when the world seems dim. The urgency in the music and lyrics feels like a prayer uttered in a late-night room, or a quiet plea rising from a weary soul.
Over time, the song has gathered a devoted following among fans who appreciate this less-celebrated, spiritually charged side of Elvis. Even though it’s not among his most famous hits, many regard it as one of his most powerful performances from the 1970s a raw, heartfelt blend of soul, gospel, and rock that reveals the depth of his musical and emotional range.
For listeners who remember the late 1970s or have lived through challenging times, “I Got a Feelin’ in My Body” often evokes a sense of catharsis a recognition that sorrow can yield to hope, that spiritual longing can find expression in music. Elvis’s voice, full of both pain and promise, becomes a companion on nights when faith is fragile and comfort is needed.
In the end, Elvis Presley’s “I Got a Feelin’ in My Body” stands out as a profound testament to resilience, faith, and the redemptive power of music. It’s a song that echoes beyond its charts and release dates a heartfelt conviction that, even in darkness, there burns a light strong enough to guide weary hearts home.