About the song
In 1972, Elvis Presley set the music world ablaze with Burning Love, a high-energy rock anthem that reminded fans the King still had the fire that had made him a global icon in the 1950s. Released at a time when Presley was primarily known for his ballads and Las Vegas performances, Burning Love reignited his rock ’n’ roll spirit and became one of his last major hits during his lifetime.
The song was written by Dennis Linde, a talented Nashville songwriter known for his quirky lyrics and distinctive style. Initially offered to other artists, Burning Love landed in Presley’s hands through producer Felton Jarvis. At first, Elvis was hesitant—by the early ’70s, he had largely shifted toward more soulful, gospel, and dramatic ballads—but once he stepped into the studio, his performance was nothing short of electric. Backed by a driving rhythm section, sharp guitar riffs, and his trademark vocal power, Presley delivered a track bursting with energy and charisma.
Released on August 1, 1972, Burning Love made an immediate impact on the charts. It soared to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Presley’s highest-charting single since Suspicious Minds in 1969. On the Billboard Easy Listening chart, it reached No. 36, while in the UK it climbed into the Top 10. The song also became his final Top 10 pop hit in the United States during his lifetime, marking the end of an era while proving that his voice and stage presence still commanded mass appeal.
Musically, Burning Love was a departure from much of Presley’s early ’70s output. The arrangement leaned heavily into rock, with Reggie Young’s lead guitar providing the fiery hook that drove the song. Elvis’s vocal delivery combined grit and passion, perfectly matching the song’s lyrics about the uncontrollable heat of romantic desire—“Your kisses lift me higher / Like the sweet song of a choir.” It was an unapologetic celebration of love’s intensity, wrapped in the irresistible energy of classic rock ’n’ roll.
The song’s legacy was further cemented by Presley’s live performances. Most famously, Burning Love was featured in his 1972 concert film Elvis on Tour, where he performed it wearing his signature white jumpsuit. The crowd’s reaction—cheers, dancing, and thunderous applause—reflected how much fans had missed seeing Elvis rock with this kind of fervor. The track later became a staple in his setlists through the mid-1970s, often serving as a high-energy highlight of his shows.
Over the decades, Burning Love has remained one of Presley’s most recognizable songs. It has appeared in numerous films, commercials, and television shows, introducing new generations to the King’s music. In 2007, it was even selected by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.” For many fans, it stands as proof that even in the later years of his career, Elvis could still ignite the stage and deliver a performance as passionate and powerful as any in his early rock days.
Video
Lyrics
Lord Almighty, I feel my temperature risin’, mmm
Higher, higher, it’s burning through to my soul
Girl, girl, girl, girl, you’re gonna set me on fire
My brain is flamin’, I don’t know which way to go, yeah
Your kisses lift me higher
Like a sweet song of a choir
You light my mornin’ sky with burning love, mmm
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, I feel my temperature risin’, mm
Help me, I’m flamin’, I must be a 109, mmm
Burnin’, burnin’, burnin’ and nothing can cool me, yeah
I just might turn into smoke, but I feel fine
‘Cause your kisses lift me higher
Like the sweet song of a choir
And you light my mornin’ sky with burning love
It’s comin’ closer, the flames are now lickin’ my body, mm
Won’t you help me? I feel like I’m slippin’ away
It’s hard to breathe, and my chest is a-heavin’, mmm, hmm
Lord, have mercy, I’m burning a hole where I lay, yeah
Your kisses lift me higher
Like the sweet song of a choir
You light my morning sky with burning love
With burning love (a hunk, a hunk of burning love, ah)
I’m just a hunk, a hunk of burning love (ah)
I’m just a hunk, a hunk of burning love, ah (ah)
A hunk, a hunk of burning love, ah (ah)
A hunk, a hunk of burning love, ah (ah)
A hunk, a hunk of burning love (ah)
Just a hunk, a hunk of burning love, ah (ah)
A hunk, a hunk of burning love, ah, ah (ah)
I’m just a hunk, a hunk of burning love
