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 popularβand 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.
15.It's Now or Never
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come hold me tight
Kiss me my darling
Be mine tonight
Tomorrow will be too late
It's now or never
My love won't wait
With your smile so tender
My heart was captured
My soul surrendered
I'd spend a lifetime
Waiting for the right time
Now that you're near
The time is here at last
It's now or never
Come hold me tight
Kiss me my darling
Be mine tonight
Tomorrow will be too late
It's now or never
My love won't wait
Just like a willow
We would cry an ocean
If we lost true love
And sweet devotion
Your lips excite me
Let your arms invite me
For who knows when
We'll meet again this way
It's now or never
Come hold me tight
Kiss me my darling
Be mine tonight
Tomorrow will be too late
It's now or never
My love won't wait
It's now or never
My love won't wait
It's now or never
My love won't wait
It's now or never
My love won't wait
The lyrics of Elvis Presley's song "It's Now or Never" speak about the urgency of love and the importance of seizing the moment to express one's feelings. The first stanza sets the tone for the song with its urgent plea to not delay the expression of love. The second stanza speaks of the moment when the singer first fell in love and how his heart and soul were immediately captured by the object of his affection. The third stanza uses a metaphor of a willow and an ocean to express the depth of emotion and potential devastation that can come from losing true love. The final chorus reiterates the need to act in the present moment to avoid the regret of lost love.
The song is significant because it was based on a classical Italian song "O Sole Mio" which was written in 1898 by Eduardo di Capua. However, the English lyrics were written by Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold. Elvis Presley had always wanted to record an Italian song and finally recorded "It's Now or Never" in 1960. The song went on to become one of his biggest hits in the UK, spending eight weeks at number one.
The melody and chord progression of "It's Now or Never" are based on the traditional Neapolitan ballad "O Sole Mio". It has been covered by various musicians and artists, including Julio Iglesias, Andrea Bocelli, and Michael BublΓ©. Notably, the song has soundtracked various Hollywood movies throughout the years.
Line by Line Meaning
It's now or never
This is the moment of truth, act now or forever lose the opportunity
Come hold me tight
Embrace me and don't let go
Kiss me my darling
Show me your affection, let your lips meet mine
Be mine tonight
Be with me, spend the night and give me a chance to love you
Tomorrow will be too late
Delaying this decision will cost us dearly, there will be no second chances
My love won't wait
I cannot wait any longer, my heart is bursting with love for you
When I first saw you
From the moment I laid eyes on you
With your smile so tender
Your soft and gentle smile
My heart was captured
You stole my heart with your charm
My soul surrendered
I am completely in love with you, body and soul
I'd spend a lifetime
I was willing to wait endlessly
Waiting for the right time
Hoping for the opportune moment to finally be with you
Now that you're near
Now that I have you close to me
The time is here at last
This is the moment I have been waiting for
Just like a willow
Similar to the way a willow tree would weep
We would cry an ocean
Our tears would fill an entire ocean if we lost each other
If we lost true love
If our love were to fade away
And sweet devotion
And the deep care and commitment we have for each other
Your lips excite me
The mere thought of your lips on me fills me with excitement
Let your arms invite me
Welcome me into your embrace, show me your affection
For who knows when
It's impossible to tell when we might have this chance again
We'll meet again this way
We may never meet again like this, let's make it count
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Wally Gold, Aaron Schroeder, Eduard Di Capua
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juancamacho5746
It's now or never
Come, hold me tight
Kiss me, my darling (Ooh)
Be mine tonight
Tomorrow will be too late (Ah, ah, ah)
It's now or never (Ooh)
My love won't wait
When I first saw you
With your smile so tender
My heart was captured
My soul surrendered
I've spent a lifetime
Waiting for the right time
Now that you're near
The time is here, at last
It's now or never (Ah, ah, ah, ah)
Come, hold me tight (Ah, ah, ah, ah)
Kiss me, my darling (Ooh)
Be mine tonight
Tomorrow will be too late (Ah, ah, ah, ah)
It's now or never (Ooh)
My love won't wait
Just like a willow
We would cry an ocean
If we lost true love
And sweet devotion
Your lips excite me
Let your arms invite me
For who knows when we'll meet again
This way
It's now or never (Ah, ah, ah, ah)
Come, hold me tight (Ah, ah, ah, ah)
Kiss me, my darling (Ooh)
Be mine tonight
Tomorrow will be too late (Ah, ah, ah, ah)
It's now or never (Ooh)
My love won't wait
@lukassuris2000
It's Now Or Never]
It's now or never,
come hold me tight
Kiss me my darling,
be mine tonight
Tomorrow will be too late,
it's now or never
My love won't wait.
When I first saw you
with your smile so tender
My heart was captured,
my soul surrendered
I'd spend a lifetime
waiting for the right time
Now that your near
the time is here at last.
It's now or never,
come hold me tight
Kiss me my darling,
be mine tonight
Tomorrow will be too late,
it's now or never
My love won't wait.
Just like a willow,
we would cry an ocean
If we lost true love
and sweet devotion
Your lips excite me,
let your arms invite me
For who knows when
we'll meet again this way
It's now or never,
come hold me tight
Kiss me my darling,
be mine tonight
Tomorrow will be too late,
it's now or never
My love won't wait.
@Hellwyck
Che bella cosa na jurnata 'e sole
N'aria serena doppo na tempesta
Pe' ll'aria fresca pare gia' na festa
Che bella cosa na jurnata 'e sole
Ma n'atu sole
Cchiu' bello, oi ne'
'O sole mio
Sta 'nfronte a te
'O sole, 'o sole mio
Sta 'nfronte a te
Sta 'nfronte a te
Quanno fa notte e 'o sole se ne scenne
Me vene quase 'na malincunia
Sotto 'a fenesta toia restarria
Quanno fa notte e 'o sole se ne scenne
Ma n'atu sole
Cchiu' bello, oi ne'
'O sole mio
Sta 'nfronte a te
'O sole, 'o sole mioβ¦
@cathytrottier8944
There was only 1 Elvis, we will never have that privilege ever again. Thank you God for giving him to the world.
@HerbertCarlisle4123
Hello Cathy, how are you doing? how is everything over there?
@deecaliqu4733
I agree completely.
@Rachel123888
One of the best Elvis songs ever. Does anyone agree?
@Amedeo78VB
Yeah !!! Gimme five !!! ;-)
@johnw2328
Without doubt one of the very best from the best π
@jtgreen1347
hb
@jackcannon9154
+Rachel Jennings I Agree. However I would characterize it as his best - not one of his best.
@joditorres2686
lol agree
@denisenaicker1233
A God sent Angel. This voice is from heaven. Never to be matched again