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.
Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do!
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A whole lot o' loving to do
Come on baby, to make a party takes two
Oh yes I've got a lot o' living to do
A whole lot o' loving to do
And there's no one who I'd rather do it with-a than you
There's a moon that's big and bright in the milky way tonight
So baby, time's a wasting
A lot of kisses I ain't been tasting
I don't know about you but I'm gonna get my share
Oh got a lot o' living to do
A whole lot o' loving to do
Come on baby, to make a party takes two
Oh yes I've got a lot o' living to do
A whole lot o' loving to do
And there's no one who I'd rather do it with-a than you
There's a balmy little breeze
That's whistling through the trees
And it's telling you to pitch a little woo with me
Why don't you take a listen
You'll never know what you've been missing
Cuddle up a little closer and be my little honey bee
Oh got a lot o' living to do
A whole lot o' loving to do
Come on baby, to make a party takes two
Oh yes I've got a lot o' living to do
A whole lot o' loving to do
And there's no one who I'd rather do it with-a than you
You're the prettiest thing I've seen
But you treat me so doggone mean
Ain't you got no heart, I'm dying to hold you near
Why do you keep me waiting
Why don't you start co-operating
And the things I say are things you want to hear
Oh got a lot o' living to do
A whole lot o' loving to do
Come on baby, to make a party takes two
Oh yes I've got a lot o' living to do
A whole lot o' loving to do
And there's no one who I'd rather do it with-a than you.
The lyrics to Elvis Presley's Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do! are all about seizing the moment and making the most of one's time on earth. Presley sings about the need to enjoy life and love as much as possible, and encourages his partner to join him in this endeavor. He reminds his partner that there is a lot to explore during their time on earth, and they should indulge in every flavor of life, including love, kisses, and partying. Presley uses the imagery of a moon that is shining big and bright in the sky, but his partner seems to not notice it. He is asking his partner to take note of the beauty around them and to not waste any time experiencing all that life has to offer.
The lyrics not only speak to the urgency of living but also about the frustration that arises when one's partner does not reciprocate feelings. Presley is telling his partner to stop playing coy and to start cooperating, he is also questioning why his partner keeps him waiting and treating him mean when he is dying to hold her near. He implores her to give him a chance by listening to him and indulging in his request to be closer. The song is a joyful and boisterous call to enjoy every moment of life and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yes I've got a lot o' living to do
I have so much to experience in life and I won't let anything hold me back
A whole lot o' loving to do
I also have a lot of love to give to someone special in my life
Come on baby, to make a party takes two
I want to have a good time with you and we need to work together to make it happen
And there's no one who I'd rather do it with-a than you
Out of everyone in the world, you are the one I want to share my experiences and love with
There's a moon that's big and bright in the milky way tonight
There's something amazing happening out there, but you don't seem to be interested in it
But the way you act you never would know it's there
You are missing out on the wonders of the world because you are not paying attention
So baby, time's a wasting
Life is short, and we need to make the most of it while we can
A lot of kisses I ain't been tasting
There are so many things in life that I have yet to experience, like kissing you
I don't know about you but I'm gonna get my share
I am going to take advantage of life's opportunities and make the most of them
There's a balmy little breeze
The environment around us is ideal for something special to happen
That's whistling through the trees
The wind is beckoning us to do something adventurous
And it's telling you to pitch a little woo with me
The wind is encouraging us to be intimate and romantic
Why don't you take a listen
Listen to what the world is trying to tell us and seize the moment
You'll never know what you've been missing
If you don't take a chance, you will never know what you could have experienced
Cuddle up a little closer and be my little honey bee
Let's get close and intimate with each other and enjoy the sweetness of life together
You're the prettiest thing I've seen
I find you incredibly attractive and desirable
But you treat me so doggone mean
You are not being kind or considerate towards me and it hurts
Ain't you got no heart, I'm dying to hold you near
Don't you have any love in your heart? I am yearning for physical and emotional closeness with you
Why do you keep me waiting
I am tired of waiting for you to reciprocate my feelings and affection
Why don't you start co-operating
It's time for you to start putting effort into our relationship
And the things I say are things you want to hear
I am expressing my thoughts and feelings in a way that shows I care about you and value our relationship
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Aaron Schroeder, Benjamin Weisman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bill Arnold
1957 - Got to No.17 in the Charts.
john parkinson
EXCELLENT_- - - - It does not get any better than this
j