“No More” is a version of “La Paloma” recorded by Elvis Presley singing it in Blue Hawaii, a 1961 musical film set in the state of Hawaii and starring Elvis Presley. The screenplay by Hal Kanter was nominated by the Writers Guild of America in 1962 in the category of Best Written American Musical. The movie opened at no. 2 in box office receipts for that week and despite mixed reviews from critics, finished as the 10th top-grossing movie of 1961 and 14th for 1962 on the Variety national box office survey, earning $5 million. The film won a fourth place prize Laurel Award in the category of Top Musical of 1961.
“La Paloma” is a popular song, having been produced and reinterpreted in diverse cultures, settings, arrangements, and recordings over the last 140 years. The song was composed and written by the Spanish composer of the Basq regionSebastián Iradier (later Yradier) after he visited Cuba in 1861. Iradier may have composed “La Paloma” around 1863, just two years before he died in Spain in obscurity, never to learn how popular his song would become.
The influence of the local Cuban habanera gives the song its characteristic and distinctive rhythm. Very quickly “La Paloma” became popular in Mexico, and soon spread around the world. In many places, including Afghanistan, Mexico, Spain, Hawaii, the Philippines, Germany, Romania, Zanzibar, and Goa it gained the status of a quasi-folk song. Over the years the popularity of “La Paloma” has surged and receded periodically, but never subsided. It may be considered one of the first universal popular hits and has appealed to artists of diverse musical backgrounds.
By Elvis Presley
“La Paloma” – 4 variations
Lyrics
No more do I see the starlight caress your hair No more feel the tender kisses we used to share I close my eyes and clearly my heart remembers A thousand good-byes could never put out the embers
Darling I love you so and my heart forever Will belong to the memory of the love that we knew before Please come back to my arms, we belong together Come to me let’s be sweethearts again and then let us part no more.
No more do I feel the touch of your hand on mine
No more see the lovelight making your dark eyes shine Oh how I wish I never had caused you sorrow But don’t ever say for us there is no tomorrow
Darling I love you so and my heart forever Will belong to the memory of the love that we knew before Please come back to my arms, we belong together Come to me let’s be sweethearts again and then let us part no more.