“I Forgot to Remember to Forget” is a classic country and rockabilly song originally performed by Elvis Presley. It was released as a single in 1955, with “Mystery Train” on the flip side, and later included in various Elvis compilation albums. The song was written by Stan Kesler and Charlie Feathers and has become one of Elvis’s iconic tracks, showcasing his early rockabilly sound.
The lyrics of the song revolve around heartbreak and the struggle to forget a past romantic relationship. The narrator laments about forgetting to remember to forget his former lover, expressing the difficulty of moving on and letting go of the memories. The song’s catchy melody and Elvis’s soulful delivery contributed to its popularity, making it a favorite among fans of rockabilly and early rock and roll music.
“I Forgot to Remember to Forget” played a significant role in shaping Elvis Presley’s early career and cemented his reputation as a versatile and talented performer. It remains a timeless piece in the history of rock and roll, continuing to be appreciated by music enthusiasts around the world.
Did You Know?
Elvis didn’t want to record this song because he thought it was too Country, so drummer Johnny Bernero from Memphis was added to the mix. Up until this time there was only Scotty Moore on guitar, Bill Bass on bass and Elvis on rhythm guitar. This added an uptempo beat – Elvis liked it and recorded the song, which became a Country hit. >>
This is one of just 10 songs Elvis recorded for Sun Records, where he got his start. The song was also recorded by Sun artists Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.
The song was written by Charlie Feathers and Stan Kesler. The latter had already written Presley’s “I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone” when he had the idea for this tune “At that time, I was on the kick of catchy titles,” Kesler recalled. “When I began to think about that phrase, it just expanded into ‘I forgot to remember to forget her.’ From there, I started working on it, and it all fell together.”
This was Elvis’ first #1 on any chart. It arrived at the top of the Country tally on February 25, 1956 and stayed there for two weeks.
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Lyrics
Let’s sing along with the lyrics!
I forgot to remember to forget her,
I can’t seem to get her off my mind.
I thought I’d never miss her,
But I found out somehow
I think about her almost all the time.
The day she went away
I made myself a promise
That I’d soon forget we ever met.
But something sure is wrong,
‘Cause I’m so blue and lonely.
I forgot to remember to forget.The day she went away
I made myself a promise
That I’d soon forget we ever met,
Well, but something sure is wrong,
‘Cause I’m so blue and lonely.
I forgot to remember to forget.