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.
Have A Happy
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're born with a magic key
It opens the door to miracles of spring
It takes you to wishing wells
To ice cream and carousels
And yet this magic key won't unlock a thing
Have a happy, warm smiling face
I start believin', in believin'
Let your address, be sunshine place
There's love and there's joy I'm told
Much more than your heart can hold
It's there like the ring you would grab
On a merry-go-round
The world isn't half as gray
With friends on a rainy day
But people keep away, when you wear a frown
Unless you have a happy, ya have a happy
Have a happy, warm smiling face
I start believin', in believin'
Let your address, be sunshine place
The song "Have A Happy" by Elvis Presley is an optimistic and cheerful piece that talks about the importance of having a happy demeanor and outlook on life. The lyrics refer to a magic key we are all born with, which can unlock the wonders of the world such as wishing wells, ice cream, and carousels. However, the key is ineffective if we don't have a happy, warm, and smiling face. In other words, our happiness is the key that unlocks the beautiful things in life.
The song highlights the role that happiness plays in enhancing the qualities of life such as love, joy, and affection. The lyrics suggest that the world is a beautiful place with people that brim with love and joy. It even goes on to say that, despite the world's lows, friends can make it all better. The theme of happiness in the lyrics, coupled with Elvis Presley's upbeat voice and melody, creates a happy and lighthearted tune that gives listeners hope to believe in the magic of happiness.
The song was released in 1974, at a time when Elvis was touring extensively and recording many gospel songs. Unlike most of his gospel works, "Have A Happy" has a secular focus, with the message being one of pure happiness and positivity. The song's catchy chorus echoes the same words in a compelling and expressive manner, making it one of the most memorable songs in Elvis's repertoire. Although the song did not chart highly, it undoubtedly left an impact on his fans and listeners with its message of finding happiness in everything around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Now once it was told to me
Someone once shared with me some insightful knowledge
We're born with a magic key
We are inherently equipped with the ability to experience magic
It opens the door to miracles of spring
This magic key has the ability to unlock the wonders of spring
It takes you to wishing wells
This magic key leads you to wishing wells, a symbol of hope and dreams
To ice cream and carousels
It leads you to joyful things like ice cream and carousels
And yet this magic key won't unlock a thing
However, this magic key won't work unless you have something else
Unless you have a happy, ya have a happy
Without happiness in your heart,
Have a happy, warm smiling face
You won't experience the magic the key can bring
I start believin', in believin'
Believing in happiness and positivity
Let your address, be sunshine place
Spread happiness like sunshine wherever you go
There's love and there's joy I'm told
I have heard there are immense love and joy in the world
Much more than your heart can hold
So much so that it cannot be contained in our hearts alone
It's there like the ring you would grab
It's always available, waiting to be embraced, like a ring on a carousel
On a merry-go-round
Symbolizing the joys of childhood
The world isn't half as gray
The world is not dull or bleak
With friends on a rainy day
Friends can brighten even the darkest days
But people keep away, when you wear a frown
However, if we wear a frown, people might hesitate to approach us
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENJAMIN WEISMAN, BUDDY KAYE, DARRELL FULLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
80s Teen
We'll never see charisma in another celebrity like we had with Elvis
Willie Gordon
Justin "The Bieb" Bieber.
Margaret Taylor
One of his best movies
Great sound track
Marie-Catherine Letendre
Marvelous! Thank you so much for this medley of vignettes from a very delightful movie.
It was Elvis' last movie. What I really loved was the last scene when Elvis was in Church
playing the guitar and praising the Lord. Beautiful way to end the movie career especially
since all three of his Grammy awards was for Gospel.
Rute Barroso
Que coisa mais lindo esse Elvis , da vontade de ficar olhando sem parar para ele ,Elvis foreva, eternamente amado
Maria Lucia De Souza
Maravilhoso 👏👏😍👏
Emmanuelson Batista
PERFECT CINEMATOGRAPHIC WORK! GOLDEN TIMES! Film without promiscuity, phenomenal actresses and actors, sensational music! Decade of 70... Missing what I didn't experience? Well, yes... I envy the people who lived
stephen lamb
Just a great movie!! One of his best ! My favorite. Love the soundtrack as well!
Clemidia Paiva
Obrigada pelo o vídeo maravilhoso!!!
maggieshome
Never seen this film before Elvis looks really relaxed an so gorgeous lovely