Back in 1968, something important was happening in America. It was a time when things were changing a lot, but there were also a lot of problems. People were fighting for equal rights, during the Civil Rights movement. Two very important leaders were killed. First, Martin Luther King, who fought for fairness and equal rights for black people. Then, two months later, Senator Robert Kennedy, who also cared a lot about treating everyone fairly, was also killed.

These events made Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll, really sad and upset. Elvis wanted to do something to honor these leaders and share his feelings with the world.

So, while he was working on his special TV show called "Elvis," he had a long talk with his director and friends. They talked about the assassinations and how Elvis wished the world could be a better place. The director thought Elvis had a powerful voice and an important message to share. So together, they wrote a song called If I Can Dream.