Today’s song is ‘Suspicious Minds’. It is a 1969 song that Elvis Presley sang. It was written by Mark James. It became a hit in 1969 and became one of the most notable hits of Presley's career.
"Suspicious Minds" was one of the singles that revived Presley's chart success in the U.S., following his ’68 Comeback Special’. It was his eighteenth and last Number 1 single in the United States. ‘Rolling Stone’ ranked it Number 91 on their list of the ‘500 Greatest Songs of All Time’.
When Mark James heard the track the day after it was recorded, he initially thought it sounded too slow. When he later heard the embellished version, he said he was ‘blown away’. In later years, whenever Elvis saw James, he would cross the room to say ‘Hello’.
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This song deals with that thorny subject of an emotion that I have fortunately never held in any degree to harm a relationship; that of jealousy, but which I have seen ruin many a good relationship during my earlier professional years working in the role of Marriage Guidance Counsellor.
Let me say from the outset that when we deeply hold love for another person, they may be times when we feel a bit of jealousy within our relationship. Such feelings are natural when held in small measure. However; such a small amount can be like putting a pinch of salt on our food to enhance the savour. Beware though, too much salt (jealousy) will spoil one’s pleasure and under certain circumstances, can be life-threatening to the body (the relationship).
All love of anything good and healthy is worthy of preserving. It often helps when we consider being in love as being in a state of grace; as something that is not the means to anything, but rather, an end in itself. When our love reflects the need to possess, then it is not love that is being expressed. When expressing true love, we exercise our thoughts and actions in selfless behaviour, whereas in jealousy there is more self-love than love.
There are many wives, husbands, partners and lovers out there who check their partner’s mobile contacts or sneak a look in their address book in a bid to keep tabs on them. Partners that commit this form of jealousy are merely acting as a control freak who slays the thing they love under the pretence of keeping love alive. It is a disease of a mind where trust has long ago vacated. In fact, a look through any history will show you how ‘jealousy’ has been the wickedest of any passion. It has proved to be the mother of tragedies, murder and wars.
And yet, reprehensible though it is, ‘jealousy’ is something rather to be pitied than blamed, as it's very first victims are those who harbour the feeling, as they start to believe they are losing control. And herein lies the clue! Not being the jealous type is to be a loving, trusting and confident person who does not fear to lose the love of their partner anytime they move out of sight or beyond arm’s reach.
I have often been asked if opposites attract as Sheila and I are opposites in so many ways but have sufficient similarities that happily complement our life together. It is good to be different, to have one’s own space, money and interests even from one’s lifelong partner and soul mate. Whereas in establishing and maintaining good relationships, some compatibilities undoubtedly assist. Having irreconcilable beliefs, widely different values and a rowing boat that travels ‘one way only’ will never work, however strong the physicality of your relationship is in the beginning.
Unless these important aspects of you both can comfortably sit alongside each other and arrive back home together holding hands, forget ever getting into that relationship in the first place as it is doomed to end in tears and disaster.
Do you have a ‘suspicious mind’?
Love and peace Bill xxx
"Suspicious Minds" was one of the singles that revived Presley's chart success in the U.S., following his ’68 Comeback Special’. It was his eighteenth and last Number 1 single in the United States. ‘Rolling Stone’ ranked it Number 91 on their list of the ‘500 Greatest Songs of All Time’.
When Mark James heard the track the day after it was recorded, he initially thought it sounded too slow. When he later heard the embellished version, he said he was ‘blown away’. In later years, whenever Elvis saw James, he would cross the room to say ‘Hello’.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
This song deals with that thorny subject of an emotion that I have fortunately never held in any degree to harm a relationship; that of jealousy, but which I have seen ruin many a good relationship during my earlier professional years working in the role of Marriage Guidance Counsellor.
Let me say from the outset that when we deeply hold love for another person, they may be times when we feel a bit of jealousy within our relationship. Such feelings are natural when held in small measure. However; such a small amount can be like putting a pinch of salt on our food to enhance the savour. Beware though, too much salt (jealousy) will spoil one’s pleasure and under certain circumstances, can be life-threatening to the body (the relationship).
All love of anything good and healthy is worthy of preserving. It often helps when we consider being in love as being in a state of grace; as something that is not the means to anything, but rather, an end in itself. When our love reflects the need to possess, then it is not love that is being expressed. When expressing true love, we exercise our thoughts and actions in selfless behaviour, whereas in jealousy there is more self-love than love.
There are many wives, husbands, partners and lovers out there who check their partner’s mobile contacts or sneak a look in their address book in a bid to keep tabs on them. Partners that commit this form of jealousy are merely acting as a control freak who slays the thing they love under the pretence of keeping love alive. It is a disease of a mind where trust has long ago vacated. In fact, a look through any history will show you how ‘jealousy’ has been the wickedest of any passion. It has proved to be the mother of tragedies, murder and wars.
And yet, reprehensible though it is, ‘jealousy’ is something rather to be pitied than blamed, as it's very first victims are those who harbour the feeling, as they start to believe they are losing control. And herein lies the clue! Not being the jealous type is to be a loving, trusting and confident person who does not fear to lose the love of their partner anytime they move out of sight or beyond arm’s reach.
I have often been asked if opposites attract as Sheila and I are opposites in so many ways but have sufficient similarities that happily complement our life together. It is good to be different, to have one’s own space, money and interests even from one’s lifelong partner and soul mate. Whereas in establishing and maintaining good relationships, some compatibilities undoubtedly assist. Having irreconcilable beliefs, widely different values and a rowing boat that travels ‘one way only’ will never work, however strong the physicality of your relationship is in the beginning.
Unless these important aspects of you both can comfortably sit alongside each other and arrive back home together holding hands, forget ever getting into that relationship in the first place as it is doomed to end in tears and disaster.
Do you have a ‘suspicious mind’?
Love and peace Bill xxx
