Calling Elvis

"Calling Elvis"
Single by Dire Straits
from the album On Every Street
B-side	Iron Hand Millionaire Blues
Released	1991
Format	CD
Genre	Roots rock
Length	4:24 / 6:26 (album version)
Label	Vertigo
Writer(s)	Mark Knopfler
Dire Straits singles chronology
"Your Latest Trick" (1986) "Calling Elvis" (1991) "Heavy Fuel" (1991) Calling Elvis track listing "Calling Elvis" (1) Iron Hand (2 On Every Street track listing "Calling Elvis" (1) On Every Street (2) )

"Calling Elvis" is a song written by Mark Knopfler and performed by Dire Straits. It first appeared on the final studio album by the band, On Every Street (1991). It was released as the first single from that album, peaking at number 21 in the United Kingdom, and was included on the 2005 compilation The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations. A live version of the song also appears on the 1993 live album On the Night.

The music video was directed by Gerry Anderson of Thunderbirds fame and includes several members of the band represented in marionette form.

The song is about an Elvis fan who believes Elvis Presley still to be alive, making references to many of his songs, including Heartbreak Hotel, Love Me Tender, Don't Be Cruel and Return to Sender, and the popular expression Elvis has left the building. Mark Knopfler has been quoted as saying the idea came to him one day when he left his phone off the hook and his brother-in-law tried repeatedly to get a hold of him. Upon finally doing so, the brother-in-law remarked Mark was harder to get a hold than Elvis.

Track listing

1. "Calling Elvis"
2. "Iron Hand"
3. "Millionaire Blues"