The song was written in 1984 by Cave along with Barry Adamson (who plays drums on the track) and Mick Harvey (who plays bass). Using biblical imagery, the song describes the birth of Elvis Presley during a heavy storm in Tupelo, Mississippi.[1] The song is loosely based on the John Lee Hooker song of the same title, which also focuses on a flood in the same town. The "looky looky yonder" motif that is featured in the song is derived from a song of the same name recorded by Lead Belly, usually found as part of a medley which Cave himself covered under the title "Black Betty" on Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' third album, Kicking Against the Pricks. "Tupelo" was released on 29 July 1985.[citation needed]
"Tupelo"'s B-side, "The Six Strings That Drew Blood", was recorded in March 1985 at Trident Studios in London and was a re-recording of a song Cave originally recorded with the Birthday Party during the Mutiny EP sessions in 1982. The original version of the song is included on the Birthday Party's Mutiny/The Bad Seed compilation album.
The song was ranked number 5 among the "Tracks of the Year" for 1985 by NME.[2] In 2020, Far Out ranked the song number six on their list of the 20 greatest Nick Cave songs,[3] and in 2023, Mojo ranked the song number four on their list of the 30 greatest Nick Cave songs.[4]
