Recording
"Don't Be Cruel" was the first song that Presley's song publishers, Hill and Range, brought to him to record.[3] Blackwell was more than happy to give up 50% of the royalties and a co-writing credit to Presley to ensure that the "hottest new singer around covered it".[1]
Presley recorded the song on July 2, 1956 during an exhaustive recording session at RCA studios in New York City.[1] During this session he also recorded "Hound Dog", and "Any Way You Want Me".[3] The song featured Presley's regular band of Scotty Moore on lead guitar (with Presley usually providing rhythm guitar), Bill Black on bass, D.J. Fontana on drums, and backing vocals from the Jordanaires. The producing credit was given to RCA's Steve Sholes, although the studio recordings reveal that Presley produced the songs in this session by selecting the song, reworking the arrangement on piano, and insisting on 28 takes before he was satisfied with it.[1] He also ran through 31 takes of "Hound Dog".[3]
[edit] Release
The single was released on July 13, 1956 backed with "Hound Dog".[1] Within a few weeks "Hound Dog" had risen to #2 on the Pop charts with sales of over one million.[3] Soon after it was overtaken by "Don't Be Cruel" which took #1 on all three main charts; Pop, Country, and R 'n' B.[1] Between them, both songs remained at #1 on the Pop chart for a run of 11 weeks tying it with the 1950 Anton Karas hit The Third Man Theme and the 1951/1952 Johnnie Ray hit Cry for the longest stay at number one by a single record until 1992's smash "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men. By the end of 1956 it had sold in excess of four million copies.[1][3]
Presley performed "Don't Be Cruel" during all three of his appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show in September 1956 and January 1957.[1]
[edit] Legacy
"Don't Be Cruel" went on to become Presley's biggest selling single recorded in 1956, with sales over six million by 1961.[1] It became a regular feature of his live sets until his death in 1977, and was often coupled with Jailhouse Rock or Teddy Bear during performances from 1969.[1]
Many artists including Billy Swan, Cheap Trick, The Judds, Merle Haggard, John Lennon, Jerry Lee Lewis, Neil Diamond, and Jackie Wilson have recorded the song. Presley was said to be so impressed with Wilson's version that he would later incorporate many of Wilson's mannerisms into future performances.[1]
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 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 a heart that's true
I don't want no other love
Baby it's just you I'm thinking of, mmh
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 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 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 a heart that's true
Don't be cruel to 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 fairly straightforward in their meaning. The song is essentially a plea from the singer to their lover, asking them not to be cruel to a heart that is true. The singer is alone and hoping that their lover will come around or at least call, rather than leaving them to sit home alone. The lyrics were written by Otis Blackwell and were inspired by his own experience of being left alone by a lover. The song is not only a plea for love but also a promise of loyalty; the singer promises that they don't want any other love except the one they are thinking of.
The lyrics also touch on the subject of forgiveness. The singer apologizes for anything they might have done to make their lover mad and asks for them to forget the past and focus on the future. The song ends with a suggestion of marriage, with the singer proposing that they walk up to the preacher and get married so they can be together forever.
Line by Line Meaning
You know I can be found
I am always available and present.
Sitting home all alone
I am lonely and waiting for you.
If you can't come around
If you can't physically be here with me right now.
At least please telephone
Please call me to let me know you are thinking of me.
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true
Please be kind to me because I truly love you.
Baby, if I made you mad
If I upset you in any way.
For something I might have said
Because of something I said that was unintentional.
Please, let's forget my past
Let's move on from any mistakes I made previously.
The future looks bright ahead
We have a positive future ahead of us.
I don't want no other love
I don't want anyone else but you.
Baby it's just you I'm thinking of, mmh
You are the only one on my mind.
Don't stop thinking of me
Continue to remember me and our love.
Don't make me feel this way
Don't make me feel uncertain or unwanted.
Come on over here and love me
Come to me and show me love.
You know what I want you to say
You know what words I need to hear from you.
Why should we be apart?
There is no reason for us to be separated.
I really love you baby, cross my heart
I truly and genuinely love you.
Let's walk up to the preacher
Let us get married and start our life together.
And let us say I do
Let us make a commitment to each other.
Then you'll know you'll have me
You will know that I am fully committed to you.
And I'll know that I'll have you
I will know that we will be together forever.
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true
Please be kind to me because I truly love you.
I don't want no other love
I don't want anyone else but you.
Baby it's just you I'm thinking of
You are the only one on my mind.
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true
Please be kind to me because I truly love you.
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true
Please be kind to me because I truly love you.
I don't want no other love
I don't want anyone else but you.
Baby it's just you I'm thinking of
You are the only one on my mind.
Lyrics ยฉ BUDDE MUSIC FRANCE, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Elvis Presley, Otis Blackwell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aminalli7209
I was fortunate to be part of this generation
@collette9008
Anything he sang was pure gold. Always will be. Been a fanatic for 60+ years. Elvis 4 ever ! โฅ๏ธ ๐๐คด
@joannaspinelli559
Oh yeah
@ricardomoraes8422
Shure bethoven Mozart chopin and Elvis..
@janice5528
Yes, I agree... Me too more than 65 years...
@lisadempsey9259
Omg my dad loved him so much we buried him wearing his Elvis belt buckle
@carolynroberts1123
ELVIS was ONE OF A KIND, never be ANOTHER ELVIS !
@jeffwilson3502
i love it volce are song is a great musician Elvis How have been listening to Elvis
@frankfrank142
The King of Music & Entertainment.
@wendyromero9488
Elvis will remain the King of Rock and Roll !!! Super Special Man !!