Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American sin… Read Full Bio ↴Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".

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.

Hands Off
Elvis Presley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Keep your hands off of her
She don't belong to you
Keep your hands off of her
She don't belong to you
She's mine, o mine, no matter what I do
She's long, lean and lanky
Tadadadaadaaa
Hands off of her, she don't belong to you

She's mine, o mine, no matter what I do

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Elvis Presley's song Hands Off is a clear message to anyone trying to lay hands on the woman he loves. It starts with a repetition of the phrase 'Keep your hands off of her, she don't belong to you' emphasizing on the need for others to respect his relationship. The singer then goes ahead to assert his ownership of the woman, saying 'She's mine, o mine, no matter what I do.' The next line describes the physical attributes of the woman with the phrase 'She's long, lean and lanky,' indicating that the woman is beautiful and probably the envy of many.

The song seems to be one of jealousy and possession, with the singer making it clear that he will do anything to keep hold of his lover. It also portrays the era's societal norms regarding relationships, where men were supposed to be dominant and protective of their partners. However, it could also be interpreted as a song of love where the singer is simply expressing his undying love and devotion to his lover.

Overall, Elvis Presley's Hands Off is a song that conveys a message of ownership and protection, with the lyrics expressing the singer's desire to keep his lover from unwanted attention and asserting his dominant position over her.

Line by Line Meaning

Keep your hands off of her
Do not touch the woman

She don't belong to you
She is not your property

Keep your hands off of her
I am warning you again not to touch her

She don't belong to you
She is not yours to claim

She's mine, o mine, no matter what I do
I consider her as mine, no matter what may happen

She's long, lean and lanky
She is tall, slender and graceful

Tadadadaadaaa
This line represents a musical interlude and has no meaning

Hands off of her, she don't belong to you
Once again, I request you to refrain from touching her as she is not yours

She's mine, o mine, no matter what I do
I will always consider her as mine, despite any obstacles

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JAY MCSHANN, PRISCILLA BOWMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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