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.
Harbour Lights
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They only told me we were parting
Those same old harbour lights
That once brought you to me.
I watched the harbour lights
How could I help it?
Good-bye to golden nights
Beside the silvery seas.
I long to hold you dear,
And kiss you just once more.
But you were on the ship,
And I was on the shore.
Now I know lonely nights
For all the while my heart keeps praying
That someday harbour lights
Will bring you back to me.
In Elvis Presley's song Harbour Lights, the singer describes the painful experience of watching the harbour lights signaling the departure of a loved one. The lights that were once a symbol of hope and happiness when they brought the loved one to him are now a painful reminder of their separation. The singer is unable to contain his tears as he watches the lights, knowing that his loved one is on the ship and he is left behind on the shore. He longs to hold and kiss them one last time but it is not possible. The singer then expresses his loneliness, praying that one day the same harbour lights will bring the loved one back to him.
The song explores the universal theme of love and separation. The imagery of the harbour lights and the silvery seas evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing, creating a melancholic atmosphere. The lyrics convey the pain of separation and the hope that love will eventually reunite the lovers. The song is a beautiful representation of how love can survive through difficult times and the power of hope in bringing people back together.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw the harbour lights
I caught a glimpse of the lights in the area where boats dock
They only told me we were parting
The sight of the harbour lights suggested that our connection was coming to an end
Those same old harbour lights
The sight of the harbour lights was familiar to me
That once brought you to me.
In the past, the harbour lights marked the arrival of someone special to my life
I watched the harbour lights
I kept my eyes fixed on the lights by the docks
How could I help it?
There was no way I could avoid feeling overwhelmed by the sight of the harbour lights
Tears were starting.
The image of the harbour lights moved me to tears
Good-bye to golden nights
I was bidding farewell to happy memories
Beside the silvery seas.
Which took place against the backdrop of a serene, reflective environment
I long to hold you dear,
I yearn for a romantic embrace with someone I care about deeply
And kiss you just once more.
I want to express my emotions through an intimate gesture with my significant other
But you were on the ship,
The person I care about was already on a sailing boat
And I was on the shore.
I, on the other hand, was standing on the shores away from the harbor
Now I know lonely nights
I have to face solitude and emotional emptiness
For all the while my heart keeps praying
Despite being alone, my heart still hopes for a reunion
That someday harbour lights
I believe that in the future the sight of the harbour lights could indicate the return of my loved one
Will bring you back to me.
Which makes me optimistic about regaining their affection once more
Contributed by Austin A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@InOmniaParatus83
[ΠΡΟΣ ΑΑΠΙΝΙ ΜΟΥ:]
I saw the harbor lights
*
They only told me we were parting
Those same old harbor lights
That once brought you to me
*
I watched the harbor lights
How could I help it?
Tears were starting
Good-bye to golden nights
Beside the silvery seas
*
I long to hold you dear
And kiss you just once more
But you were on the ship
And I was on the shore
*
Now I know lonely nights
For all the while my heart keeps praying
That someday harbor lights
Will bring you back to me
@robjones2408
How many 19 year olds have sounded like this, before or afterwards ?
Utterly wonderful. One of the most beautiful tracks by the Sun King, and the most overlooked.
@robjones2408
A decent observation.
Elvis' voice was unlike anything that had been heard before
in the mid-1950s.
That's why six decades later, people still listen to his music.
It also helps to have those impossibly exquisite looks
as well. "Col" Tom Parker knew a good thing when he saw Elvis.
Ultimately, Elvis stood head and shoulders above the rest.
@MasterKota2142
Jesus Christ You're a special kind of stupid aren't you? To have an account named after Jesus and do the exact opposite of what he would do. 😂
@georgepenton6023
I am not a huge Presley fan but this was exquisitely beautiful.
@ladyluck8314
alfonso miguel ramos canca :
Was that Elvis whistling in that track ?
@ladyluck8314
alfonso miguel ramos canca :
Thank you.
@christineadlard221
Most beautiful version of a beautiful song 💕
@lrh1966
Thanks Christine for checking it out and have a great day from Lloyd.
@rodeostruerager
This song brings me such great vibes... I feel like I were in Hawaii with someone beloved. I love you, Elvis !
@lrh1966
Thanks for listening Natan and have a great day from Lloyd :)