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 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 © BUDDE MUSIC FRANCE, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Elvis Presley, Otis Blackwell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
木倉谷哲也
Lyrics:
You know I can be found
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
Please, let’s forget my past
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
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 stay
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
Truth Hitman
Nobody ever could sing this song like Elvis. Not even the person who wrote it, Otis Blackwell.
Salvatore Ianni
The greatest B side of all time! I think this would make a great topic for the next "hits archives". Do a year-by-year listing of B-sides only and put them all together in one playlist. You can start with this song.
Captain Easychord
One of the greatest pairings of rock 45s, Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog
Jim Hilliker
This is my favorite Elvis Presley record. I never get tired of hearing this recording.
TheLeonhamm
Totally Perfect Pop - along with its B side .. a real classic. It is also one of my all-time favourite records. Oooh! Oooh! Oooh! ;o)
Again, please.
Terry Hillig
Elvis conquers the world
Jenney Ryan
Elvis is true heaven!!
Lar M
Samuel Hui , the king of Hong Kong Cantopop, has a great version of this hit in the late 1970's.
Roy and Jacqueline
...and that's why we call him
"The king of Rock n Roll"
🕺🤴🎵💝👑😎
💛💙💛💙💛💙
🥰🇯🇲🏴🕊️🔥✝️
toastmann1
Great song