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.
Any Way You Want Me
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or weak as a willow tree,
Anyway you want me,
Well that's how I will be.
I'll be as tame as a baby,
Or wild as the raging sea,
Anyway you want me,
In your hands my heart is clay,
To take and hold as you may.
I'm what you make me, you've only to take me,
And in your arms I will stay.
I'll be a fool or a wise man,
My darling you hold the key,
Yes, anyway you want me,
Well that's how I will be,
I will be.
The lyrics of Elvis Presley's song "Any Way You Want Me" suggest a willingness to compromise and a willingness to be fluid in order to meet the needs of a significant other. The song is an ode to dedication and loyalty in the face of uncertainty, especially when it comes to love. The opening lines "I'll be as strong as a mountain, or weak as a willow tree" speak to the idea that the singer will adapt to any circumstance, whether holding firm or bending and swaying, depending on the direction in which love or infatuation takes them.
The song goes on to suggest that the singer will play multiple roles in the relationship, from being as "tame as a baby" to as "wild as the raging sea" thereby suggesting a willingness to meet their partner's needs emotionally and romantically. The lyrics "In your hands my heart is clay, To take and hold as you may" further reinforce this idea of vulnerability and the singer's willingness to adapt themselves to suit the needs of their partner.
The overall message of the song is that the singer is willing to be whatever their partner needs them to be. Whether a foolish and naive person or a wise and learned one, the singer's only goal is to ensure their partner's happiness. It's a song about selflessness, compromise, and a dedication to another person’s happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be as strong as a mountain,
I can be as resilient as a towering mountain
Or weak as a willow tree,
Or as fragile as a weeping willow
Anyway you want me,
Whatever way you desire me,
Well that's how I will be.
shall I be as per your wishes.
I'll be as tame as a baby,
I can be meek and mild like a newborn child.
Or wild as the raging sea,
Or as tempestuous as the stormy ocean
In your hands my heart is clay,
I entrust you with the power over my heart
To take and hold as you may.
To hold, cherish, or mold it as you will
I'm what you make me, you've only to take me,
I am who you shape me to be, all you have to do is have me
And in your arms I will stay.
As long as you have me close to you, I will remain content.
I'll be a fool or a wise man,
I'll act as a foolish or wise man
My darling you hold the key,
My love, you possess the power to choose
Yes, anyway you want me,
Yes, no matter the way you choose for me,
Well that's how I will be,
I will be exactly as you wish.
I will be.
That's for sure.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AARON SCHROEDER, CLIFF OWENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@janna7207
I was 15 years old and in a very sad life when I first heard Elvis-He became a close friend through his music my entire life--I am 78 years today and still miss him. My favorite songs are his gospel music. I will think of him on the very day I die.
@Sivlelvis
Are you still with us my dear? I wanted to ask you a question about being alive when Elvis first came on the scene?
@lachinagarcia3206
This is beautiful, thanks for sharing and I have yet to get into his gospel music, so thank you for that too. God bless you ❤
@thetruthwillsetyoufree9209
Gabor Maté brought me here.
What a sad song disguised as a love song. Elvis sings it perfectly.
@maluribeiro68
Me too! :) Self-hate song ...
@robertkristiansen3085
Me to
@klattalexis
Me too!
@doktormcnasty
Correct!
@evieblessed
Same x
@SuperMailman30
No one will ever be able to top this guy! The BEST ever!! There is a reason he is called "The King Of Rock-N-Roll".