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.
G.I.Blues
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
with a view of the beautiful Rhine
They give us a room
with a view of the beautiful Rhine
Gimme a muddy old creek
in Texas any old time
I've got those hup, two, three, four
From my G.I. hair to the heels of my G.I. shoes
And if I don't go stateside soon
I'm gonna blow my fuse
We get hasenpfeffer
and black pumpernickel for chow
We get hasenpfeffer
and black pumpernickel for chow
I'd blow my next month's pay
for a slice of Texas cow
We'd like to be heroes,
but all we do here is march
We'd like to be heroes,
but all we do here is march
And they don't give the Purple Heart
for a fallen arch
I've got those hup, two, three, four
occupation G.I. Blues
From my G.I. hair to the heels of my G.I. shoes
And if I don't go stateside soon
I'm gonna blow my fuse
The frauleins are pretty as flowers
But we can't make a pass
The frauleins are pretty as flowers
But we can't make a pass
Cause they're all wearin' signs saying:
"Keepen sie off the grass"
I've got those hup, two, three, four
occupation G.I. Blues
From my G.I. hair to the heels of my G.I. shoes
And if I don't go stateside soon
I'm gonna blow my fuse
Elvis Presley’s “GI Blues” is a melancholic song that is somewhat of an ode to the difficulties and frustrations of being a G.I. (General Infantry) soldier overseas. The song’s overall theme is about the emptiness, boredom, and yearning for their homeland that soldiers often experience. The opening lines of the song describe the soldier’s quarters, with views of the Rhine river, and express their desire for a muddy creek in Texas to remind them of home. The mention of hasenpfeffer and black pumpernickel for meals enforces their feelings of being away from what they know and love.
The song also touches on the expectations of soldiers to be heroes and the irony of how they can only muster marching. The thought of wanting to make a pass at the pretty frauleins only to be met with roadblocks meant to show that there is a clear divide between them and the locals. This ultimately goes back to the loneliness and isolation that they feel despite being surrounded by life. Elvis Presley’s voice, as always, conveys the necessary emotion, from longing to frustration, that makes this song a masterpiece.
Line by Line Meaning
They give us a room
With a view of the beautiful Rhine
We are given a room with a picturesque view of the Rhine river.
Gimme a muddy old creek
In Texas any old time
I prefer a dirty creek in Texas at any moment over this beautiful view.
I've got those hup, two, three, four
Occupation G.I. Blues
From my G.I. hair to the heels of my G.I. shoes
And if I don't go stateside soon
I'm gonna blow my fuse
I am feeling the monotony and tedium of my G.I. life deeply and desperately need to go back home.
We get hasenpfeffer
And black pumpernickel for chow
We get hasenpfeffer
And black pumpernickel for chow
I'd blow my next month's pay
For a slice of Texas cow
Our meals consist of rabbit stew and black bread, and I would give up my entire month's salary to have a taste of Texas beef.
We'd like to be heroes,
But all we do here is march
We'd like to be heroes,
But all we do here is march
And they don't give the Purple Heart
For a fallen arch
We aspire to do something heroic or honorable in the army, but all we actually do is walk, and even if we get injured, it's not significant enough to receive a medal for it.
The frauleins are pretty as flowers
But we can't make a pass
The frauleins are pretty as flowers
But we can't make a pass
Cause they're all wearin' signs saying:
"Keepen sie off the grass"
The women here are beautiful, but we aren't allowed to flirt with them since they have strict rules against fraternizing with soldiers.
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC
Written by: ROY C. BENNETT, SID TEPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joanne26
Hello from England
I was 12 when ELVIS died. He WAS and STILL is my HERO.
ELVIS as we know got so FED UP with the films as they were becoming the "SAME OLD STORYLINES" but they made MONEY because the FANS were paying to go and see them. Such different times and different people and watching some of these videos it makes me think of the time that has passed since - 55 + years.
EVERY song from EVERY film is my FAVOURITE. ELVIS could sing a Nursery Rhyme and i would love it.
It was just the way he was - A PHENOMENON - he had bucket loads of CHARISMA
EVERY person who saw the films would come out of the cinema HAPPY. All ELVIS wanted to do was make people HAPPY.
@calderjack7818
This isn't a once in a generation artist, he's once in a millennium!!
@georgiakritikos4955
THEY DEFINEETLY USED elvis! 100% LABELED THE KING!
@lynnelovett8999
Elvis fans miss you Elvis. Happy 88th Birthday. RIP.
@Fred-wy4ix
We played this during my days in The United States Army back in the 70:s.
Never got tired of it.
@rogerjetters2269
I love the movie G I BLUES. And I loved Elvis Presley then now and forever. Sincerely, Karen Jetters ❤️
@christakulikowski7567
Elvis - the most handsome, loveable soldier with that GOLDEN VOICE and wonderful to see him moving to the music! I LOVE every movie of him - they are such good entertainment - just because of him, that's for sure! Am 71 and still love him tremendously. Grateful forever to him for every song he produced. They make me happy and lift me up each day.
@user-gd9ot8bc2o
А родилась в России.. В 1966году!!!и сейчас.. В 2023году..Яего Абожаю!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@dianeleone1634
Distant memories. My brother born in the late 40's and me, mid 50's.. He would belt out Elvis songs in the shower. Wear his hair slicked back, play the piano to Elvis tunes.. All his buddies too. Then Vietnam, then marriage and the style changed but forever in our hearts. Elvis💕💕💕
@priestessthea
That is so very well described and poignant. 🙏
@user-ue4gm4ib6b
Обожаю песни и танцы Элвиса Пресли ! Много десятилетий он радует своим творчеством миллионы людей , котопых восхищает истинный талант Короля рок-н- ролла Элвиса Пресли ! Спасибо каналу и Ютубу ! ❤❤❤