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.

I Feel so Bad
Elvis Presley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Feel so bad
Like a ball game on a rainy day
Feel so bad
Like a ball game on a rainy day

Yes, I got my rain check
Shake my head and walk away
Ooo, people, that's the way I feel

Ooo, people, that's the way I feel

Sometimes I think I want
Then again I think I don't
Sometimes I want to stay here
Then again I want to leave
Sometimes I want to leave here
Then again I want to stay

Yes, I got my train fare
Pack my grip and ride away
Ooo, people, that's the way I feel
Ooo, people, that's the way I feel

Sometimes I think I want
Then again I think I don't

Overall Meaning

Elvis Presley's song "I Feel So Bad" speaks about uncertainty, indecisiveness, and feeling deflated. The initial stanza describes a feeling of discontentment similar to a ball game on a rainy day. The metaphor of the ball game on a rainy day paints a picture of melancholy, dreariness, and disappointment. The lyricist is dissatisfied with something and feels out of tune with the world around them.

The second stanza, "Sometimes I think I want, then again I think I don't, Sometimes I want to stay here, then again I want to leave" speaks to the singer's indecisiveness. The uncertainty that the character feels impacts relationships and the way they live their life. The term "train fare" describes the cost of the singer leaving; this line emphasizes the desire to change yet being unsure of the decision itself.

Overall the song is emotionally charged because of its themes of dissatisfaction and unrest. The lyricist is unsure of their desired outcome, making them inarticulate and giving the song an air of melancholy.

Line by Line Meaning

Feel so bad
Feeling overwhelmed with negative emotions

Like a ball game on a rainy day
The feeling of disappointment when something you were looking forward to is ruined by unexpected circumstances

Yes, I got my rain check
Acknowledgement of the missed opportunity

Shake my head and walk away
Expressing frustration and resignation

Ooo, people, that's the way I feel
Emphasizing the intensity of the emotions experienced

Sometimes I think I want
Being indecisive and unsure of one's desires

Then again I think I don't
Feeling conflicted about what one truly wants

Sometimes I want to stay here
Being torn between staying in a familiar place and exploring new opportunities

Then again I want to leave
Feeling the need for change and new experiences

Yes, I got my train fare
Preparation to leave and start anew

Pack my grip and ride away
Characterizing an individual in search of something new