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.
Funny How Time Slips Away
Elvis Presley Lyrics
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My, it's been a long, long time
How am I doin'?
Oh, well, I guess I'm doin' fine
It's been so long now and it seems that
It was only yesterday
Mmm, ain't it funny how time slips away?
I hope that he's doin' fine
Heard you told him, yes, baby
That you'd love him till the end of time
Well, you know, that's the same thing
That you told me
Well, it seems like just the other day
Mmm, ain't it funny how time slips away
Yeah, baby
Yeah
I gotta go now
Guess I'll see you hanging round
Don't know when though, oh, no
Never know when I'll be back in town
But I remember what I told you
That in time you're gonna pay
Well ain't it surprisin' how time slips away?
Yeah, ain't it surprisin' how time slips away?
The song "Funny How Time Slips Away" by Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires and The Imperials Quartet is a ballad that evokes a sense of nostalgia for a past love. The lyrics are a conversation between two former lovers who bump into each other after a long time. The first verse sets the tone for the entire song. The singer greets his former lover after a long time, asking how she is doing. She responds that she is doing fine, but it's been so long that it seems like yesterday since they last met. The chorus then captures this feeling of time slipping away too fast.
In the second verse, the singer asks about his former lover's new love and hopes that he's doing fine. He then comments that she had told him the same thing she told her new lover - that she would love them till the end of time. This conversation prompts the singer to reminisce about the past, and he expresses surprise at how time had slipped away.
The final verse has the singer saying his goodbyes, not knowing when he'll be back in town. He ends the conversation by reminding his former lover that she will pay the price for her actions someday, but he's surprised at how time has slipped away. The song is an ode to the bittersweet nature of past relationships and how time can change everything but also how it slips away too fast.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, hello there
The singer is acknowledging the presence of someone.
My, it's been a long, long time
The singer is commenting on the fact that they haven't seen the person in a while.
How am I doin'?
The singer is asking how they are perceived by the person.
Oh, well, I guess I'm doin' fine
The artist is providing a response to the previous question.
It's been so long now and it seems that
The artist is commenting on how the passage of time can distort one's perception of events.
It was only yesterday
The singer is emphasizing the previous point by using a cliché.
Mmm, ain't it funny how time slips away?
The singer is using a rhetorical question to convey that the passage of time can be surprising.
How's your new love?
The artist is asking about the other person's current romantic relationship.
I hope that he's doin' fine
The artist is expressing that they wish the other person's current partner well.
Heard you told him, yes, baby
The artist is implying that they have heard about the other person's relationship from other sources.
That you'd love him till the end of time
The singer is repeating a phrase that the other person has previously used to express their feelings of love.
Well, you know, that's the same thing
The artist is pointing out a similarity between the other person's behavior towards them and towards their new partner.
That you told me
The singer is referencing a prior conversation in which the other person expressed their love to them.
Well, it seems like just the other day
The singer is further emphasizing the idea that time has passed quickly.
Mmm, ain't it funny how time slips away
The singer is reiterating the surprise that they feel at the passage of time.
Yeah, baby
The artist is using an interjection to show agreement.
Yeah
The artist is using an interjection to convey affirmation.
I gotta go now
The singer is informing the other person that they need to leave.
Guess I'll see you hanging round
The singer is suggesting that they will see the other person again in the future.
Don't know when though, oh, no
The artist is unsure of when they will next see the other person.
Never know when I'll be back in town
The artist is implying that their unpredictable travels make it difficult to plan future meetings.
But I remember what I told you
The artist is reminding the other person of something that they have previously said.
That in time you're gonna pay
The singer is suggesting that the other person will experience consequences for their past actions.
Well ain't it surprisin' how time slips away?
The artist is using a rhetorical question to convey that the passage of time can be surprising.
Yeah, ain't it surprisin' how time slips away?
The singer is reiterating the surprise that they feel at the passage of time.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Willie Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chriscarlin1712
It doesn’t matter how many times I hear an Elvis song, He’s still amazing ❤
💯
@djordyvandenboorn927
The thing with elvis is , covered a lot of songs but he does it better , puts his soul in to it. And thats why he is THE KING!!!
@irisking327
No matter how many times you hear an Elvis song, its still so amazing .
@jasmineraine1516
it def is!!!
@vidkosenica3693
@Jasmine Raine elvis was on drugs he could not sing
@BjManberries
@vidko senica You hate on Elvis everywhere. What a lonely club you are in. Get out of the basement and meet people, maybe you will lose your anger. Certainly you won't be giving singing lessons.
@xenopizza10509
But like 95% of his songs are covers or interpolations (this is one of them)
@vidkosenica3693
@XenoPizza sure yes aint important--the feeling tell it all not who wrote it
@johnharris5283
I bought my first Elvis record out of my pocket money when I was 13. I am now 79 and I am still playing his songs from my extensive collection to this day.
@nhenriksen777
Walking in lock step with you John. Fan of Elvis when he was 20 or 21 yrs old.