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.
Hard Headed Woman -
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A soft hearted man
Been the cause of trouble
Ever since the world began
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
Ever since the world began
A hard headed woman
Been a thorn in the side of man
Adam told Eve
"Listen here to me
Don't you let me catch you
Messing 'round that apple tree"
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
Ever since the world began
A hard headed woman
Been a thorn in the side of man
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
Ever since the world began
A hard headed woman
Been a thorn in the side of man
Samson told Delilah
Loud and clear
"Keep your cotton picking fingers
Out my curly hair"
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
Ever since the world began
A hard headed woman
Been a thorn in the side of man
I heard about a king
Who was doing swell
'Til he started playing
With that evil Jezebel
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
Ever since the world began
A hard headed woman
Been a thorn in the side of man
I got a woman
A head like a rock
If she ever went away
I'd cry around the clock
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
Ever since the world began
A hard headed woman
Been a thorn in the side of man
A hard headed woman
Been a thorn in the side of man
The lyrics of Hard Headed Woman by Elvis Presley are a commentary on the dynamic between men and women. The song depicts the struggle between a hard-headed woman and a soft-hearted man who have been causing trouble ever since the world began. It suggests that women have been a thorn in the side of men, using examples from stories such as Adam and Eve and Samson and Delilah, to depict the historical tension between the sexes.
The song also has a personal element to it, as Elvis sings about his own experience with a woman who has a head like a rock. He remarks that if she ever left him, he would be devastated and cry around the clock. This suggests that while hard-headed women may cause trouble for men, they are also essential to their lives and they cannot imagine living without them.
Overall, the lyrics of Hard Headed Woman are a reflection on the complicated but necessary relationship between men and women, highlighting the tension and difficulties that arise from it.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, a hard headed woman
Stubborn women are often difficult to deal with
A soft hearted man
Men who are sensitive and emotional often struggle with hard headed women
Been the cause of trouble
The combination of these two types of people often leads to conflict and problems
Ever since the world began
This has been an issue for all of human history
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
This is a common refrain to emphasize the point being made
Been a thorn in the side of man
Hard headed women have always been a pain or trouble for men
Adam told Eve
A reference to the biblical story of Adam and Eve
"Listen here to me
Adam warned Eve to listen to him
Don't you let me catch you
Adam was trying to control Eve's behavior
Messing 'round that apple tree
Eve was tempted by the forbidden fruit
Samson told Delilah
Another biblical reference, to the story of Samson and Delilah
Loud and clear
Samson was very direct in his warning to Delilah
"Keep your cotton picking fingers
Samson was accusing Delilah of being controlling or manipulative
Out my curly hair"
Samson was protective of his hair, which was the source of his strength
I heard about a king
A story about a powerful man
Who was doing swell
This king was successful and doing well at first
Til he started playing
But then he made a mistake
With that evil Jezebel
He got involved with a woman who was seen as wicked or dangerous
I got a woman
The singer is talking about his own experience
A head like a rock
His woman is stubborn and difficult to influence
If she ever went away
The singer knows that he is dependent on his woman
I'd cry around the clock
He would be devastated if she left him
A hard headed woman
The song ends with a repetition of the refrain
Been a thorn in the side of man
A reminder that this has been a common problem throughout history
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Claude De Metruis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pat Edge
Well a hard headed woman
A soft hearted man
Been the cause of trouble
Ever since the world began
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
A hard headed woman been
A thorn in the side of man
Now Adam told to Eve
Listen here to me
Don't you let me catch you
Messing round that apple tree
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
A hard headed woman been
A thorn in the side of man.
Ever since the world began
A hard headed woman
Now Samson told Delilah
Loud and clear,
Keep your cotton picking fingers
Out my curly hair
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
A hard headed woman been
A thorn in the side of man
I heard about a king
Who was doing swell
Till he started playing
With that evil Jezebel.
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
A hard headed woman been a thorn in the side of man
I got a woman
A head like a rock
If she ever went away
I'd cry around the clock
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
A hard headed woman, been a thorn in the side of man
A hard headed woman been a thorn in the side of man
Dante Zeno
Well a hard headed woman
A soft hearted man
Been the cause of trouble
Ever since the world began
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
A hard headed woman been
A thorn in the side of man
Now Adam told to Eve
Listen here to me
Don't you let me catch you
Messing round that apple tree
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
A hard headed woman been
A thorn in the side of man.
Ever since the world began
A hard headed woman
Now Samson told Delilah
Loud and clear,
Keep your cotton picking fingers
Out my curly hair
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
A hard headed woman been
A thorn in the side of man
I heard about a king
Who was doing swell
Till he started playing
With that evil Jezebel.
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
A hard headed woman been a thorn in the side of man
I got a woman
A head like a rock
If she ever went away
I'd cry around the clock
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
A hard headed woman, been a thorn in the side of man
A hard headed woman been a thorn in the side of man
William Cason
Nobody better not ever say Elvis couldn’t sing! This boy had a voice, and soul.
Jessica Williams
I literally instantly loved this song the moment it started. I believe this is my first time listening to this song as I am making this comment, and I will definitely be listening more and more. Happy heavenly 88th birthday to you, Elvis Presley! ❤️❤️🥳🎉🎊 01/08/2023.
nitemareman1
You should get the album Elvis Number One singles. I'm 49 now and when I was 16 years old I found it in a $1 tape bin. Bought it and took it home and put it in my walkman. By the end of it I had tears streaming down my face. Been a huge Elvis fan ever since.
Joanne Mcclure
I like this song the best! It just does something to me and of course, it's young Elvis, you can't get any better than that!
GuessWho Martin
I have heard various versions of this song by various singers.
Elvis version is the best by far.
It's gonna be very hard to beat Elvis. Elvis was the king for a reason. The man was gifted with a beautiful golden voice.
keith Brandenburg
one of the songs that prove why elvis is the king of rock n roll
Jordin
Yeah by singing everyone elses music,,,Litttle Richard is the King.Fact
Fortune Myers
]yes
fshoaps
@Jordin Chuck Berry > Little Richard any single day.
Jesse Lohmiller
This is music. Elvis had a amazing voice. Smooth rough he had it all. A real entertainer with charisma. He also was a good person and took care of his people.