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.

Hard Knocks
Elvis Presley Lyrics

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Some kids born with a silver spoon
I guess that I was born a little too soon

Hard knocks, all I ever knew was hard knocks
And I'm telling you, I said you'd better beware
'Cause I've had my share

Some kids born as rich as a king

But I was born without a doggone thing

Hard knocks, all I ever knew was hard knocks
And I'm telling you, I said you'd better beware
'Cause I've had my share

I walked a million miles I bet
Tired and hungry and cold and wet
I've heard that lonesome whistle blow
From New York City down to Mexico
Some kids born fancy free
Nobody never gave nothing to me but

Hard knocks, all I ever knew was hard knocks
And I'm telling you, I said you'd better beware
'Cause I've had my share

I walked a million miles I bet
Tired and hungry and cold and wet
I've heard that lonesome whistle blow
From New York City down to Mexico
Some kids born fancy free
Nobody never gave nothing to me but

Hard knocks, all I ever knew was hard knocks
And I'm telling you, I said you'd better beware
'Cause I've had my share
I said you'd better beware
'Cause I've had my share

I said you'd better beware
'Cause I've had my share of hard knocks

Overall Meaning

In "Hard Knocks," Elvis Presley speaks about his upbringing and background. He comes from a humble background and was not given any advantages in life. He says that he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth like some kids who are fortunate enough to be born into wealth and ease. Instead, he feels that he was born at the wrong time, as things were harder back then. He has only known hard times, and emphasizes that he has had his share of them.

He continues to explain that he has been through a lot in his life, having traveled far and wide. He has walked long distances, and experienced being tired, hungry, and cold in his travels. He has heard the whistle of trains, and has traveled from New York City to Mexico. Despite all of this, Elvis emphasizes that he has never been given anything for free. He has worked hard and knows the value of a hard-earned buck.

Elvis's lyrics speak to the universally relatable experience of facing adversity in life. He shows that regardless of the obstacles that one faces, they can still persevere and achieve greatness. Despite his humble beginnings, he became one of the most successful entertainers in American history. Elvis's focus on the value of hard work and his resilience in the face of hardship continues to resonate with audiences today.

Line by Line Meaning

Some kids born with a silver spoon
Some individuals are born into wealth, privilege and prosperity.

I guess that I was born a little too soon
Unfortunately, I was born at the wrong time, when the odds of achieving financial success were against me.

Hard knocks, all I ever knew was hard knocks
I've been unfortunate enough to live a life that's filled with constant difficulties, challenges, and obstacles.

And I'm telling you, I said you'd better beware
I'm trying to warn you that life is difficult and you should be cautious of it.

'Cause I've had my share
I've experienced enough misfortune to warn you.

Some kids born as rich as a king
There are children who are born into extreme wealth and live like royalty from the beginning.

But I was born without a doggone thing
Sadly, I was born with nothing to my name, without a single thing that I could claim as my own.

I walked a million miles I bet, Tired and hungry and cold and wet
I've had to endure some really difficult situations such as walking long distances, being hungry and without food, cold and wet in the rain with no shelter or protection.

I've heard that lonesome whistle blow, From New York City down to Mexico
I've traveled far and wide, from the North to the South of the United States, and heard that melancholic sound of a lonely train whistle.

Some kids born fancy free, Nobody never gave nothing to me but
There are some people who are fortunate enough to live carefree lives and are given everything, while nobody ever gave me anything at all.

I said you'd better beware, 'Cause I've had my share
I'm once again warning you to be careful because I'm speaking from experience and I've been through a lot.

I said you'd better beware, 'Cause I've had my share
I'm trying to emphasize that you need to be careful because I've gone through so much hardship.

I said you'd better beware, 'Cause I've had my share of hard knocks
I'm really trying to stress that life is no easy road and one should be very cautious because I've gone through a lot of tough times.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOY BYERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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