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.
Good Time Charlie
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said they're movin' to L.A.
There's not a soul I know around
Everybody's leavin' town
Some caught a freight, some caught a plane
Found the sunshine lead the rain
They said "This town will waste your time"
Some gotta win, some gotta lose
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Good time Charlie's got the blues
You know my heart keeps tellin' me
You're not a kid at thirty-three
Play around you'll lose your wife
Play too long you'll lose your life
Some gotta win, some gotta lose
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Some gotta win, some gotta lose
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Elvis Presley's song Good Time Charlie conveys the story of a man named Charlie who is facing the consequences of leading a hedonistic lifestyle. The lyrics begin with Charlie's world turning upside down as he realizes that everyone he knows is leaving town to move to Los Angeles. However, despite the fact that he is left alone in the town he calls his own, he still chooses to spend his days indulging in activities that waste his time. The line "this town will waste your time" takes a different meaning as Charlie seems to be the one wasting his own time by not leaving town like everyone else.
Charlie's struggles reflect the age-old debate of whether to lead a life of pleasure or purpose. The song further emphasizes the idea that one's choices have significant consequences. Although Charlie is leading a fun-filled life, the lyrics hint that this could lead to unfortunate repercussions if he doesn't change his ways. The line, "play around you'll lose your wife, play too long, you'll lose your life" emphasizes the severity of his situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's gone away
Everyone has left town
Said they're movin' to L.A.
They said they are moving to Los Angeles
There's not a soul I know around
I don't know anyone here anymore
Some caught a freight, some caught a plane
Some left by train, others by plane
Found the sunshine lead the rain
They found a better life in the sunnier place
They said "This town will waste your time"
They told me this town is a waste of time
I guess they're right, it's wasting mine
I think they're right – this town is wasting my time too
You know my heart keeps tellin' me
My heart keeps reminding me
You're not a kid at thirty-three
You're not young anymore at 33
Play around you'll lose your wife
If you cheat on your wife, you'll lose her
Play too long you'll lose your life
If you keep up your current lifestyle, it will lead to your demise
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Charlie, who lives for fun and excitement, is unhappy
Some gotta win, some gotta lose
In life, some people will succeed and some will fail
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Charlie, who lives for fun and excitement, is unhappy
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Charlie, who lives for fun and excitement, is unhappy
Some gotta win, some gotta lose
In life, some people will succeed and some will fail
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Charlie, who lives for fun and excitement, is unhappy
Good time Charlie's got the blues
Charlie, who lives for fun and excitement, is unhappy
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Danny O'Keefe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adam Townsend
I’m a huge fan of all sorts of music - but I just keep coming back to Elvis all my life - his voice is just familiar, feels like home - if you don’t like Elvis you don’t get music
Thomas Deans
Very well said indeed. Your words describe exactly right down to the "T" my own experiences as a lifelong fan of Elvis Presley's artistic legacy. Again wonderful words.
Tanya Gee
Agree
Elvira Viegas
O my darling elvis, I miss you every day and night. Please come back to me. Return to me . Will you?
Elvira Viegas
I love Elvis very much. And I miss him so much. He is very close to my heart.
joe nice
Same. I spent a lot of time at my grandparents house after school days and they always played Elvis and others. I’m a ‘00 kid but I love me some oldies
John Probert
You know it makes me sad that people don't listen to Elvis and appreciate what a fantastic voice he had.
Graeme Smellie
I gotta agree with you on that
James
You're so wrong
James
@graemesmellie5223 you are also wrong because if you listen to Elvis you definitely respect his fantastic voice that's why we listen