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.
Green Green Grass of Home
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Interesting Facts ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I step down from the train
And there to meet me is my mama and papa
Down the road, I look and there runs Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home
Arms a'reaching, smiling sweetly
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home
The old house is still standing
Though the paint is cracked and dry
And there's that old oak tree that I used to play on
Down the lane I walk and with my sweet Mary
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home
Then I awake and look around me
At four gray walls that surround me
And I realize that I was only dreaming
For there's a guard and there's a sad old padre
Arm and arm, we'll walk at daybreak
Again I'll touch the green, green grass of home
Yes, they'll all come to see me
In the shade of that old oak tree
As they lay me 'neath the green, green grass of home
Elvis Presley's song Green Green Grass of Home is a tale of nostalgia for a simpler life and the loss of freedom. The song is about a prisoner who, after being locked up for a long time, has a dream of returning to his hometown, where he is greeted by his loving family and friends. He reminisces about the good old days when he used to play under the old oak tree with his sweetheart, Mary. However, in the end, he realizes that it was all just a dream, and he is still trapped in his prison cell.
The lyrics evoke a sense of longing for the past, for the familiar, and for the things that make us feel alive. The green, green grass of home represents all that is natural, beautiful, and free. The prisoner's dream is a reflection of his desire for freedom, both physical and emotional. The imagery used in the song is striking, with hair like gold and cherries, cracked and dry paint, sad old padre, and the green, green grass of home itself, all of which creates a vivid picture in the listener's mind.
Interesting Facts about the Song "Green Green Grass of Home":
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
The old home town looks the same
As I arrive from my journey, I see that my hometown hasn't changed a bit
As I step down from the train
At this moment, I get off the train to finally reach home
And there to meet me is my mama and papa
As I walk out of the station, my mom and dad are waiting for me
Down the road, I look and there runs Mary
As I walk down the road, I see Mary running towards me
Hair of gold and lips like cherries
Mary has gorgeous golden locks and her lips are as red as cherries
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home
It's so refreshing to feel the lush green grass of my hometown
Yes, they'll all come to meet me
Everyone I know will come to meet me
Arms a'reaching, smiling sweetly
They'll have open arms and smiling faces
The old house is still standing
My childhood home remains standing
Though the paint is cracked and dry
But the paint on its walls is peeling and flaky now
And there's that old oak tree that I used to play on
And there's the oak tree I spent countless hours playing on in my yard
Down the lane I walk and with my sweet Mary
As I stroll down the lane, Mary walks beside me lovingly
Then I awake and look around me
Suddenly, I wake up and realize it was all just a dream
At four gray walls that surround me
I find myself enclosed by four dull walls
And I realize that I was only dreaming
And then it hits me that my previous happiness was an illusion
For there's a guard and there's a sad old padre
I see a guard and an unhappy priest
Arm and arm, we'll walk at daybreak
The next morning the guard and the priest will escort me for execution
Again I'll touch the green, green grass of home
I will only be able to touch the green grass of home again when I'm buried under it
Yes, they'll all come to see me
All the people in my life will come to see me dead
In the shade of that old oak tree
My last resting place will be under the old oak tree
As they lay me 'neath the green, green grass of home
As I'm placed in the ground, covered with green grass and soil
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Curly Putman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elvista
Not sure why I feel like my heart is breaking every time I hear Elvis sing.....and I bawl my eyes out 😭
What a man, what a voice. RIP, EP ❤
Anzacian
Many brilliant versions have been sung over the decades by famous singers and each of them own it for they are your brilliant favourites and have to be respected. Elvis sings all his songs from the depth of his soul. The emotion and mournful tone in Elvis distinguished voice really makes you feel the sadness in a mans story. Never felt that with the other versions. Thank you Elvis🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️
Agenor G. Oliveira
😃😃😃😃
Melon Goh
OMG!!!! Listening to this song again after so many years.. This is the first Elvis Presley song I've heard when my dad played this song so very often when I was a little girl. Whenever I hear this song, I can't help but think of my dad.
Brenda York
So glad Elvis done this song!!! Best version ever sang!!!!
Marion Laurence
Agree Brenda - totally amazing......................
Ian Benn
Absolutely ❤
Andy Smith
Best by far. This guy sang these sort of songs better than any other person ever. Bloody brilliant 👍
Harold Williford
The great Elvis Presley what a voice touchEd by the hand of God
Michael Parker
His voice is fine with grace and softness. This song brings tears to my eyes, it touches my soul with memories ❤️