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.
Don’t Be Cruel
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sitting home all alone
If you can't come around
At least please telephone
Don't be cruel to who a heart that's true
Baby, if I made you mad
For something I might have said
The future looks bright ahead
Don't be cruel to who a heart that's true
I don't want no other love
Baby it's just you I'm thinking of
Don't stop thinking of me
Don't make me feel this way
Come on over here and love me
You know what I want you to say
Don't be cruel to who a heart that's true
Why should we be apart?
I really love you baby, cross my heart
Let's walk up to the preacher
And let us say I do
Then you'll know you'll have me
And I'll know that I'll have you
Don't be cruel to who a heart that's true
I don't want no other love
Baby it's just you I'm thinking of
Don't be cruel to who a heart that's true
Don't be cruel to who a heart that's true
I don't want no other love
Baby it's just you I'm thinking of
The lyrics to Elvis Presley's song Don’t Be Cruel are a pleading message to a lover to not mistreat the singer's genuine and loyal heart. The first verse of the song describes the loneliness the singer experiences when their lover is not around. The singer begs their lover to at least call if they cannot come to see them. The chorus is an appeal to the lover to not be cruel to a heart that is true. The second verse acknowledges that the singer may have upset their lover with some words in the past, but they request to forget the past and look ahead to a brighter future together.
The bridge of the song sees the singer explicitly ask their lover not to stop thinking of them and to come over and express their love. The singer reaffirms their love for their lover and begs them to not be cruel to a heart that is true. The final verse of the song sees the singer propose to their lover, suggesting that they should walk up to the preacher and get married. The singer deeply loves their lover and is willing to commit to them fully. Throughout the song, the singer's message is clear- don't mistreat someone who genuinely loves you.
Line by Line Meaning
You know I can be found
You know where to find me
Sitting home all alone
I'm by myself
If you can't come around
If you can't visit me
At least please telephone
At least give me a call
Don't be cruel to who a heart that's true
Don't be mean to someone who loves you
Baby, if I made you mad
If I hurt your feelings
For something I might have said
Because of something I said
Please, let's forget the past
Let's not dwell on what happened before
The future looks bright ahead
The future is promising
I don't want no other love
I only want you
Baby it's just you I'm thinking of
You're the only one on my mind
Don't stop thinking of me
Please keep me in your thoughts
Don't make me feel this way
Please don't hurt me
Come on over here and love me
Come to me and show me affection
You know what I want you to say
You know what I need to hear
Why should we be apart?
We shouldn't be separated
I really love you baby, cross my heart
I truly, deeply love you
Let's walk up to the preacher
Let's get married
And let us say I do
Let's exchange vows
Then you'll know you'll have me
You'll have me forever
And I'll know that I'll have you
I'll have you always
Don't be cruel to who a heart that's true
Don't be mean to someone who loves you
I don't want no other love
I only want you
Baby it's just you I'm thinking of
You're the only one on my mind
Don't be cruel to who a heart that's true
Don't be mean to someone who loves you
Don't be cruel to who a heart that's true
Don't be mean to someone who loves you
I don't want no other love
I only want you
Baby it's just you I'm thinking of
You're the only one on my mind
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: ELVIS A. PRESLEY, OTIS BLACKWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@Ferpablo
The best!!!
@egldtv2344
Elvis is Bob Joyce now.
@nicollecoene8215
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@victormellacorrea1584
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@SOLOCONLAVERDADSV
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@debourmom
Elvis looks like he's from the future compared to most people in his time. Dude is a legend
@Price70
That's why Tom Petty said he looked at the Beatles and said I can do that but Elvis looked like a god coming out of the sea
@mmsizzlak3726
That's the most apt description for pretty much ANYONE that ever shone so bright they put the rest of us to shame... They even shine brighter than themselves... So bright we forget their flaws... And maybe that's why they're so fascinating... Bcuz they're so outta this world
@coco-te1op
Would elvis have been as successful without his looks? Almost hipnotic. . .