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.
18
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a man in New Orleans
Who plays rock and roll
He's a guitar man
With a great big soul
He lays down a beat
Like a ton of coal
He goes by the name of King Creole
You know he's gone, gone, gone
Jumpin' like a catfish on a pole
You know he's gone, gone, gone
Hip-shaking King Creole
When the king starts to do it
It's as good as done
He holds his guitar
like a Tommy gun
He starts to growl
From way down his throat
He bends a string
And that's all she wrote
You know he's gone, gone, gone
Jumpin' like a catfish on a pole
You know he's gone, gone, gone
Hip-shaking King Creole
Well, he sings a song about a crawdad hole
He sings a song about a jelly roll
He sings a song about meat and greens
He sings some blues about New Orleans
You know he's gone, gone, gone
Jumpin' like a catfish on a pole
You know he's gone, gone, gone
Hip-shaking King Creole
Well, he plays something evil
Then he plays something sweet
No matter what he plays
You got to get up on your feet
When he gets the rockin' fever
Baby, heaven sakes
He don't stop playin'
'Till his guitar breaks
You know he's gone, gone, gone
Jumpin' like a catfish on a pole
You know he's gone, gone, gone
Hip-shaking King Creole
You know he's gone, gone, gone
Hip-shaking King Creole
The song "King Creole" by Elvis Presley & The Jordanaires is a tribute to a rock and roll guitarist in New Orleans who goes by the name of King Creole. The lyrics of the song describe the energy and talent of King Creole, who has a great big soul and can lay down a beat like a ton of coal. Elvis describes King Creole's signature guitar move as holding it like a Tommy gun and growling from deep within his throat. When he plays, it's as good as done and the listeners can't help but get up on their feet and start jumping like a catfish on a pole. King Creole is so passionate about his music that he won't stop playing till his guitar breaks.
The song is an excellent representation of the rock and roll genre and its energy. It captures the essence of the 1950s music scene, where talented musicians would play in clubs and attract crowds of people who were looking for a good time. The lyrics are simple yet effective in painting a vivid picture of how King Creole moves and what kind of music he plays. Elvis's signature vocals and the Jordanaires' harmonies add to the overall appeal of the song and make it an instant classic.
Line by Line Meaning
King Creole
This song is about a man who goes by the name of King Creole.
There's a man in New Orleans
There is a man in the city of New Orleans.
Who plays rock and roll
This man plays a style of music known as rock and roll.
He's a guitar man
He is a skilled musician who primarily plays the guitar.
With a great big soul
He has a lot of passion and energy when he performs.
He lays down a beat
He sets a rhythm for his music.
Like a ton of coal
The rhythm he creates is strong and heavy, like a heavy object.
He goes by the name of King Creole
This musicians stage name is King Creole.
You know he's gone, gone, gone
It is clear that he is completely absorbed in his music.
Jumpin' like a catfish on a pole
He is moving energetically, perhaps in a similar way to the way a catfish jumps when caught on a fishing line.
Hip-shaking King Creole
This line is a way of identifying and emphasizing the musicians stage name, King Creole.
When the king starts to do it
When King Creole begins to perform, it is something special to witness.
It's as good as done
There is a sense of inevitability and completion when he begins to play.
He holds his guitar like a Tommy gun
He has a firm grip on his guitar and uses it as if it were a weapon, like a Tommy gun.
He starts to growl
His singing style includes a deep, guttural sound.
From way down his throat
The growling sound comes from deep within him.
He bends a string
He changes the pitch of a string on his guitar by bending it.
And that's all she wrote
This line means that he has done everything that was necessary to create the perfect piece of music.
Well, he sings a song about a crawdad hole
One of the songs he performs is about a place called a crawdad hole.
He sings a song about a jelly roll
He also sings a song about a dessert called a jelly roll.
He sings a song about meat and greens
Another one of his songs is about food, specifically meat and greens.
He sings some blues about New Orleans
One of his songs is a blues song that is about New Orleans.
Well, he plays something evil
He performs music that sounds dark or sinister.
Then he plays something sweet
He also plays music that is gentle or pleasant to listen to.
No matter what he plays
Regardless of what type of music he is performing.
You got to get up on your feet
This line suggests that his music is so good that it will move you to dance or stand up and move your body.
When he gets the rockin' fever
When he really gets into his music and begins to perform more passionately.
Baby, heaven sakes
This is an expression commonly used to indicate that something is surprising or impressive.
He don't stop playin'
He persists in his music and does not take a break.
'Till his guitar breaks
He continues to play music until his guitar breaks.
Hip-shaking King Creole
This line is repeated to emphasize the musicians stage name, King Creole.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marli Silva
A morte mais trágica foi do meu Jesus ele morreu no meu ou seja em nosso lugar !! Ele é o meu rei amado , obrigada Jesus por esse sacrifício que nunca saberei o preço e nem a dor que suportou em meu lugar ..🙏🙌🏻🙏
Roberto Gonçalves Junior
Amém, querida amiga e irmã em Jesus Cristo!🙌😢😭😞
Transi Hernandez Periañez
Que tristeza más grande,me acuerdo como si fuera ayer,yo era una niña de diez años cuando me dijeron ha muerto Elvis,ha sido y será por siempre el Rey,una voz y un físico prodigiosos,triste final para un genio,por si fuera poco ahora su niña,antes su nieto, ojalá hubiera otra vida donde poder encontraros y estar juntos en un mismo abrazo, siempre en nuestro recuerdo y en nuestro corazón,sigues vivo con tu música ,y como he dicho antes,serás por siempre el Rey❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Gercilio Antônio
Essa música na voz de elvis é simplesmente maravilhosa não tem como ouvir e não se emocionar ela transmite um sentimento real
maykon rodrigues
@Ronivaldo Tavares a música foi gravada pela primeira vez por Brenda Lee não pelo Elvis.
Marcio Fidelis
J
Odair José pires
eu tenho um sonho de conhecer a mansão do Elvis
Odair José pires
Concordo plenamente com você
Mimica Jovanovic
Prevod na srpski
Luzia de Fatima Eroico
Elvis não morreu , apenas ele fez a passagem , amo demais