Introduction
“Clean Up Your Own Backyard” is a 1969 single by Elvis Presley, released on June 17, 1969, through RCA Victor. Written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange, the song was featured in the MGM film The Trouble with Girls (and How to Get into It). Despite its release as a single, it was not included on any studio album but was later featured on the budget RCA Camden album Almost In Love. The song achieved moderate commercial success, reaching #35 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #21 on the UK Singles Chart, and was certified Gold by the RIAA in March 1992 for sales exceeding 500,000 copies in the U.S.
Musically, “Clean Up Your Own Backyard” is a country-influenced track that stands out in Elvis’s catalog for its direct and satirical lyrics. The song critiques societal hypocrisy through characters like a “back porch preacher,” a “drugstore cowboy,” and an “armchair quarterback,” each embodying moral self-righteousness and judgmental behavior. The recurring chorus, “Clean up your own backyard,” serves as a call for personal accountability and self-reflection before passing judgment on others.
The song’s anachronistic elements, such as references to “armchair quarterbacks,” which were not coined until the advent of television sports broadcasting decades later, contrast with the film’s 1920s setting, highlighting the song’s modern sensibilities.
“Clean Up Your Own Backyard” remains a notable example of Elvis Presley’s ability to blend social commentary with his musical prowess, delivering a timeless message about the importance of introspection and personal responsibility.