About the Song
“One Night,” a soulful composition, initially found success as an R&B hit for Smiley Lewis in 1956 before achieving greater commercial acclaim through Elvis Presley’s rendition in 1958. The journey of Presley’s recording, however, faced hurdles due to reservations from both his manager and record company concerning the suggestive lyrics.
Presley’s determination to embrace the song persisted. During his spare moments on the set of “Loving You,” he worked on refining the lyrics, transforming the provocative “One night of sin is what I’m now paying for” into the more palatable “One night with you is what I’m now praying for.” Crediting Anita Steinman as an additional co-writer alongside Dave Bartholomew and Pearl King, Presley recorded this revised version on February 23, 1957, at Radio Recorders in Los Angeles.
Released as a single in October 1958, the song soared to No. 4 on Billboard’s singles chart, further solidifying Presley’s musical legacy. It was issued as a double A-side with “I Got Stung” and achieved the remarkable feat of reaching number one twice on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, “One Night” claimed the fourth position on the pop singles chart and secured the tenth spot on the R&B chart. Notably, it became the UK’s 1000th number-one single upon its re-release in January 2005, marking a significant milestone in its enduring popularity.
On February 12, 1959, “One Night” achieved another milestone, becoming the first song to top the Irish Music Charts Top 10 when published in the Evening Herald.
The song’s unique lyrical construction, noted by rock critic Pete Johnson for its triple negative with the phrase “I ain’t never did no wrong,” adds an intriguing linguistic layer to its artistic significance.
The recording session featured a talented lineup:
- Scotty Moore on guitar
- Elvis Presley, contributing lead guitar and vocals
- Bill Black on bass
- D.J. Fontana on drums
- Dudley Brooks on piano
- The Jordanaires providing vocals
This ensemble, under Presley’s direction, contributed to the timeless appeal of “One Night,” marking it as a classic in the annals of music history.
Video
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
One night with you
Is what I’m now praying for
The things that we two could plan
Would make my dreams come true
[Verse 2]
Just call my name
And I’ll be right by your side
I want your sweet helping hand
My love’s too strong to hide
[Chorus]
Always lived, very quiet life
I ain’t never did no wrong
Now I know that life without you
Has been too lonely too long
[Verse 1]
One night with you
Is what I’m now praying for
The things that we two could plan
Would make my dreams come true
[Chorus]
Always lived, very quiet life
I ain’t never did no wrong
Now I know that life without you
Has been too lonely too long
[Verse 1]
One night with you
Is what I’m now praying for
The things that we two could plan
Would make my dreams come true