About The Song
“Eli’s Coming” was written by Laura Nyro and first recorded by her in 1967 for her album Eli and the Thirteenth Confession, released in 1968. Three Dog Night covered the song, releasing it on June 11, 1969, as a single from their second album Suitable for Framing on Dunhill Records.
The track peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying there for two weeks, and reached No. 8 on the Canadian RPM Singles chart. It spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Top 100, with its chart debut on October 25, 1969. The song was also performed on the ABC-TV program ‘American Bandstand’ that same month.
The recording took place in Los Angeles, produced by Gabriel Mekler, with Cory Wells on lead vocals and the band’s signature harmonies. The session featured Jimmy Greenspoon on keyboards, Michael Allsup on guitar, and a piano outro in the 45rpm mono mix, though absent in the album version. The track runs 2:40 on the single and 2:43 on the album.
Suitable for Framing, released in 1969, peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200. The song joined other Nyro compositions in the Top 10 that year, including “And When I Die” by Blood, Sweat & Tears and “Wedding Bell Blues” by The 5th Dimension, highlighting her influence as a songwriter.
The lyrics portray a warning about a man named Eli, a heartbreaker returning to town, with lines like “Eli’s comin’, hide your heart, girl.” Nyro’s original version suggested a female perspective, possibly a plea to herself or a friend, building from a quiet warning to aggressive harmonies. Three Dog Night adapted it into an upbeat rock number.
The band, formed in 1967 by Chuck Negron, Cory Wells, and Danny Hutton, was known for covering songs by outside writers. Wells noted in an interview that they aimed to make unpalatable songs commercial, calling “Eli’s Coming” a “great, upbeat, ‘come-and-see-me’ record” for concerts.
A live version appeared on Captured Live at the Forum in 1969. The song has been covered by artists like Don Ellis, The Friends of Distinction, and The Nylons, and featured in the TV series Sports Night. It remains a classic from their 21 Billboard Top 40 hits between 1969 and 1975.
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Lyric
Eli’s comin’
Eli’s comin’ (Eli’s a-comin’)
Well you better hide your heart, your loving heart
Eli’s a-comin’ and the cards say a broken heartEli’s comin’, hide your heart, girl
Eli’s comin’, hide your heart, girl
Girl, Eli’s a-comin’, you better hide
Girl, Eli’s a-comin’, you better hide
Girl, Eli’s a-comin’, you better hide
Girl, Eli’s comin’, hide your heart, girl (hide it)
You better, better hide your heart
Eli’s comin’, better walkWalk but you’ll never get away
No, you’ll never get away from the burnin’ a-heartache
I walked to Apollo by the bay
Everywhere I go though, Eli’s a-comin’ (she walked but she never got away)
Eli’s a-comin’ (she walked but she never got away)
Eli’s a-comin’ and he’s comin’ to get ya (she walked but, she walked but)
Get down on your knees (she walked but she never got away)