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.
Britches
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo-di-o-di-o
Never trust no gal in britches
No-di-o-di-o
If you had a sense of this here horse
You would have known it by now of course
Who wears the britches is the boss
That's a gal, that's a gal in britches
Don't mess with a gal in britches
Yo-di-o-di-o
No feminine gal wears britches
No-di-o-di-o
She'll beg you to come to the country dance
You ride twenty miles for the big romance
She shows up in her brother's pants
What'd you expect from a girl in britches
Yo-di-o-di-o-i-ay, It's none of my misfortune
Yo-di-o-di-o-di-ay, Just thought you'd like to know
Don't marry no gal in britches
Yo-di-o-di-o
You'll never know which is which's
No-di-o-di-o
She'll put a halter through your nose
Have you cooking and washing clothes
While she goes chasing them buffaloes
Bet your boots, that's a gal in britches.
The song "Britches" by Elvis Presley is a cautionary tale about not trusting and getting involved with a woman who wears pants or britches, as it symbolizes that she is taking on masculine qualities and may not be trustworthy. The lyrics use a playful and humorous tone to describe the potential dangers of getting involved with women who defy traditional gender roles.
The first verse admonishes that one should never trust a woman in britches, as she is likely to be the boss and not follow expected gender norms. The second verse warns against getting involved with such a woman, even if she invites you to a country dance, as she may show up in her brother's pants instead of a dress. The final verse advises against marrying a woman in britches, as she may put a halter through your nose and have you doing all the cooking and cleaning while she goes off chasing buffaloes.
The use of the word "yo-di-o-di-o" throughout the song adds to the playful and lighthearted feel of the lyrics. Overall, the song can be interpreted as a reflection of the conservative societal attitudes towards gender roles in the 1950s, as well as a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the changing roles of women during that time.
Line by Line Meaning
Beware of a gal in britches
Be cautious of a woman who wears pants.
Yo-di-o-di-o
N/A
Never trust no gal in britches
Do not trust a woman who wears pants.
No-di-o-di-o
N/A
If you had a sense of this here horse
If you were familiar with horses,
You would have known it by now of course
You would already know that the person who wears pants is the one in charge.
Who wears the britches is the boss
The person who wears pants is the one in charge.
That's a gal, that's a gal in britches
Specifically, a woman who wears pants is in charge.
Don't mess with a gal in britches
Do not interfere with a woman who wears pants.
She'll beg you to come to the country dance
She will invite you to a dance in the countryside.
You ride twenty miles for the big romance
You will travel a long distance for a romantic encounter.
She shows up in her brother's pants
She arrives wearing her male sibling's clothing.
What'd you expect from a girl in britches
What else would you anticipate from a woman who wears pants?
Yo-di-o-di-o-i-ay, It's none of my misfortune
N/A
Yo-di-o-di-o-di-ay, Just thought you'd like to know
Just thought you should be aware.
Don't marry no gal in britches
Do not marry a woman who wears pants.
You'll never know which is which's
You will never know who is really in charge.
She'll put a halter through your nose
She will control you like a farm animal.
Have you cooking and washing clothes
She will have you do domestic tasks.
While she goes chasing them buffaloes
Meanwhile, she will pursue whatever interests her.
Bet your boots, that's a gal in britches.
Certainly, a woman who wears pants will behave in this manner.
Lyrics © RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: SHERMAN EDWARDS, SID WAYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Deb H.
This song totally goes with the movie, and dang, his voice does sound awesome! No matter what he sang, oh, oh OH!! Love it!
Chelsa Brinkman
My very first album included this song and “Frankfort Special,” and at four years old, I was hooked on Elvis! This song is SO antiquated 😆, but it’s how most men felt at the time!
CBSEye
Clever and well done, but now find the ORIGINAL outtake and blow our minds! Elvis Forver!
Birgit Jachmann
wow thank you Maurice for this beautiful movie from Elvis ,he is forever sweet !!!
elizalove
Elvis Presley Always!!🌹😊💦 ♡ ♪♫ • ᴷˡˢˢᵉˢ
bernadette primault
beautiful country
Audrey Zimmerman
Oh such a cute catchy song
feinstei
What a shame that the cut out songs have never been found. What a great project for the collectors "Follow That Dream" label... An uncut "Flaming Star" BluRay with all of the cut-out songs restored.
Graeme Smellie
Now that would be fantastic shame it's not been done