Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family when he was 13 years old. His music career began there in 1954, recording at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audience. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was a pioneer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country music and rhythm and blues. In 1955, drummer D. J. Fontana joined to complete the lineup of Presley's classic quartet and RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage the singer for more than two decades. Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was released in January 1956 and became a number one hit in the United States. With a series of successful network television appearances and chart-topping records, he became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, made him enormously popular—and controversial.
In November 1956, Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender. Drafted into military service in 1958, Presley relaunched his recording career two years later with some of his most commercially successful work. He held few concerts however, and guided by Parker, proceeded to devote much of the 1960s to making Hollywood movies and soundtrack albums, most of them critically derided. In 1968, following a seven-year break from live performances, he returned to the stage in the acclaimed television comeback special Elvis, which led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours. In 1973, Presley gave the first concert by a solo artist to be broadcast around the world, Aloha from Hawaii. Years of prescription drug abuse severely compromised his health, and he died suddenly in 1977 at his Graceland estate, just 42 years of age.
Presley is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century. Commercially successful in many genres, including pop, country, blues, and gospel, he is the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music. He won three competitive Grammys, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36, and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame.
Teddy Bear
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put a chain around my neck, and lead me anywhere
Oh, let me be (oh, let him be)
Your teddy bear
I don't want to be your tiger
'Cause tigers play too rough
I don't want to be your lion
I just want to be, your teddy bear
Put a chain around my neck and lead me anywhere
Oh, let me be (oh, let him be)
Your teddy bear
Baby, let me be, around you every night
Run your fingers through my hair
And cuddle me real tight
Oh, let me be (oh, let him be)
Your teddy bear
I don't want to be your tiger
'Cause tigers play too rough
I don't want to be your lion
'Cause lions ain't the kind you love enou-ou-ou-ough
Just want to be, your teddy bear
Put a chain around my neck and lead me anywhere
Oh, let me be (oh, let him be) your teddy bear
Oh, let me be (oh, let him be) your teddy bear
I just want to be your teddy bear (ooh)
The song "Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley is a love song that compares the singer to a teddy bear. The song is sweet and cute, which makes it extremely relatable and easy to understand by people of all ages. The lyrics tell the story of a man who is asking a woman to treat him like a teddy bear. He is ready to be held, cuddled and loved by the woman he loves. The singer compares himself with a teddy bear that can be held and played with at any time. He is so deeply in love with the woman that he wants to remain close to her all the time. He wants to be around her every night and wishes for her to be fond of him like he is of her.
The refrain "I don't want to be your tiger, 'cause tigers play too rough, I don't want to be your lion, 'cause lions ain't the kind you love enough" explains the singer's desire to be the type of lover the woman wants – a gentle and loving companion. He doesn't want to be an aggressive lover like a tiger because it will hurt her. Similarly, he doesn't want to be a strong lover like a lion because she might not be satisfied with him. He wants her to view him as a cute and cuddly teddy bear, which is what she needs in a lover.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh baby let me be, your lovin' teddy bear
Elvis is asking his lover to let him be the affectionate teddy bear they cuddle with every night.
Put a chain around my neck, and lead me anywhere
Elvis wants to be committed to his lover like a teddy bear on a leash, willing to follow them wherever they go.
Oh let me be (oh let him be)
Elvis emphasizes his desire to be the teddy bear his lover adores and cherishes.
I don't want to be your tiger
Elvis doesn't want to be an aggressive or dominant partner.
'Cause tigers play too rough
He doesn't want to cause any harm or distress to his lover.
I don't want to be your lion
Elvis also doesn't want to be perceived as arrogant, aloof or detached from his lover.
'Cause lions ain't the kind you love enough
He knows that lions aren't typically cherished or adored as teddy bears are.
I just want to be, your teddy bear
Elvis clearly states that he only wants to be his lover's snuggly and huggable teddy bear.
Put a chain around my neck and lead me anywhere
He asks to be tied and taken along with his lover wherever they go, a sign of his extreme devotion.
Baby let me be, around you every night
Elvis wants to be around his lover every night as their constant companion.
Run your fingers through my hair
He also wants his lover to be affectionate towards him like a partner would be with their teddy bear, running their hands over them.
And cuddle me real tight
He wants to be held closely and lovingly like a stuffed bear.
Just want to be, your teddy bear
Elvis repeats his desire to be his lover's teddy bear, their loyal and beloved companion.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bernie Lowe, Kal Mann
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheRealForrestGeorge
Oh baby let me be, your lovin' teddy bear
Put a chain around my neck, and lead me anywhere
Oh let me be (oh let him be)
Your teddy bear
I don't want to be your tiger
'Cause tigers play too rough
I don't want to be your lion
'Cause lions ain't the kind you love enough
I just want to be, your teddy bear
Put a chain around my neck and lead me anywhere
Oh let me be (oh let him be)
Your teddy bear
Baby let me be, around you every night
Run your fingers through my hair
And cuddle me real tight
Oh let me be (oh let him be)
Your teddy bear
I don't want to be your tiger
'Cause tigers play too rough
I don't want to be your lion
'Cause lions ain't the kind you love enou-ou-ou-ough
Just want to be, your teddy bear
Put a chain around my neck and lead me anywhere
Oh let me be (oh let him be) your teddy bear
Oh let me be (oh let him be) your teddy bear
I just want to be your teddy bear (ooh)
@Carol-kf9xg
Oh baby let me be
Your lovin teddy bear
Put a chain around my neck
And lead me anywhere
Oh let me be (oh let him be)
Your teddy bear
I don't wanna be a tiger
Cause tigers play to rough
I don't wanna be a lion
Cause lions ain't the kind
You love enough
I just wanna be
Your teddy bear
Put a chain around my neck
And lead me anywhere
Oh let me be (oh let him be)
Your teddy bear
Baby let me be
Around you every night
Run your fingers through my hair
And coddle me really tight
Oh let me be (oh let him be)
Your teddy bear
I don't wanna be a tiger
Cause tigers play to rough
I don't wanna be a lion
Cause lions ain't the kind
You love enough
Your teddy bear
Put a chain around my neck
And lead me anywhere
Oh let me be (oh let him be)
Your teddy bear
Oh let me be (oh let him be your teddy bear)
I just wanna be your teddy bear (uhh)
@GigaChadlovesandcares
Don’t be sad that Elvis passed, be happy that he lived to give us these beauties for free.
@lloydplacido1315
@@chink3327❤
@collette9008
I've finally realized that, after being an Elvis fanatic for 60+ years, ALL of his songs are my favorites ! 😍 🤴 forever ♥️.
@koko-pu5vn
Same.
@legendarypug8883
It’s been about 70 years and Elvis is still the king
@mochi5915
I love Elvis's music so much ♡♡
@oliviaannejohnson9689
I love this song so much that I’m constantly humming it
@lynells3060
One of Elvis' best songs...iconic ! Miss him so. Hard to believe it will be 40 years this August since his passing. RIP Elvis.
@collette9008
August 8, 1977. It will be 46 years since he finally left us. 😪😢💔
@davidrocker1654
His voice and talent need no comment. One of Elvis' best songs! And it reminds us of childhood moments.