Song of the Day 9/24: Gillian Welch, “Elvis Presley Blues”

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings released this song on her second album, “Time (The Revelator),” and the sparse arrangement and their muted harmonies perfectly captures the sad ending of a legend whose greatest triumphs were long behind him.

The song is much admired but seldom covered. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, even playing it acoustic, gave it more of a rock ‘n’ roll feel.

The song’s last verse, with its reference to the legend of John Henry, spells out its melancholy message of obsolescence, making it a perfect vehicle for the aging hip-shaker Tom Jones on his 2015 “Long Lost Suitcase” LP. Jones sang this a cappella before his producer backed it with what sounds like the steam drill that lost to John Henry.