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.
Are You Lonesome Tonight? (6Pm
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you miss me tonight?
Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Does your memory stray to a brighter sunny day
When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?
Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare?
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
I wonder if you're lonesome tonight
You know someone said that the world's a stage
And each must play a part
Fate had me playing in love with you as my sweet heart
Act one was when we met, I loved you at first glance
You read your line so cleverly and never missed a cue
Then came act two, you seemed to change, you acted strange
And why, I'll never know
Honey, you lied when you said you loved me
And I had no cause to doubt you
But I'd rather go on hearing your lies
Than to go on living without you
Now the stage is bare and I'm standing there
With emptiness all around
And if you won't come back to me
Then they can bring the curtain down
Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me, dear, are you lonesome tonight?
Elvis Presley's song, Are you Lonesome Tonight, is a sentimental piece about the regret and pain felt after a relationship ends. The lyrics start with a series of questions, asking if the significant other is feeling as lonely and sorry about the separation as the singer is. The vivid imagery of an empty, lifeless room with chairs in the parlor and a vacant doorstep brilliantly emphasizes this emotion. The singer then reminisces about the good times spent with their partner and how their love had blossomed during act one of their relationship, only to suffer a tragic ending in act two.
The lyrics also highlight the themes of love, romance, and drama. The reference to "the world's a stage" suggests that relationships are a form of theatre where the two partners play the leading roles. The song is also an interpretation of Shakespearean tragic love stories, where the couple's love has an unfortunate ending. The lyricist cleverly uses metaphors, allusions, and imagery to convey the pain and sorrow that come with lost love.
Overall, the song is an ode to love and heartache, beautifully delivered with Elvis Presley's deep, soulful voice, and the iconic melody. The lyrics leave an indelible mark on the listener's heart, making them empathize with the singer's plight.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you lonesome tonight
I'm curious if you're feeling lonely right now
Do you miss me tonight?
Do you feel the absence of my presence tonight?
Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Do you regret the fact that we separated from each other?
Does your memory stray to a brighter sunny day
When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?
Do you recall with fondness the good times we shared together?
Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare?
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Do you feel a sense of emptiness in your surroundings and imagine me being there?
Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Are you experiencing heartache and would you like me to return to your life?
I wonder if you're lonesome tonight
You know someone said that the world's a stage
And each must play a part
I ponder if you're feeling lonely and I recall the saying that life is like a stage and everyone has a role to play
Fate had me playing in love you as my sweet heart
Act one was when we met, I loved you at first glance
You read your line so cleverly and never missed a cue
Destiny led me to love you and when we first met, I fell for you instantly
You played your role so well, never missing a beat
Then came act two, you seemed to change and you acted strange
And why I'll never know
Honey, you lied when you said you loved me
And I had no cause to doubt you
But in the next act, you seem to have changed and behaved oddly
I don't know the reason for your change
You deceived me when you professed your love and I had no reason to disbelieve you
But I'd rather go on hearing your lies
Than go on living without you
Now the stage is bare and I'm standing there
With emptiness all around
And if you won't come back to me
Then make them bring the curtain down
Despite your lies, I'd rather have you with me than live a life without you
Now that everything's over, my surroundings feel empty and meaningless
And if you won't return to me, just let the show come to an end
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Roy Turk, Lou Handman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@paulcheton9802
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@tinapapp7136
❤💕🎸AWESOME PRECIOUS🌹ELVIS PRESLEY🌹.❤TY💛.💜
@shaneelvisgaronpresley-gra7888
I have been waiting a long time for video footage from the 1968-69 dinner shows that launched The Vegas Years. I have heard song clips but no footage. I have one complete show on CD from a box set (Close-Up) or (Elvis Vagas box set). These are a 4 Cd set.
@shaneelvisgaronpresley-gra7888
I was heree on July 24, 2023.