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.
If I Were You
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it's way in the morning before he turns out my life
It's times like this my darling I can see
If I were you I'd know that I love me
The great snowman I've been called by all
But it looks like this time I'm gonna fall
It's times like this my darling I can see
Ooh If I were you I'd know that I love me
Wind and rain and storm closin' in on me
I've walked the streets alone with my self sympathy
Can you hear me saying hopefully
Ooh If I were you I'd know that I love me
Wind and rain and storm closin' in on me
I've walked the streets alone with my self sympathy
Can you hear me saying hopefully
If I were you I'd know that I love me
Ooh If I were you I'd know that I love me
If I were you I'd know that I love me
The lyrics of Elvis Presley's "If I Were You" portray a person who has been dealing with feelings of loneliness and self-doubt. The verse "The sandman comes to my house late each night, but it's way in the morning before he turns out my life" describes how the person is unable to sleep due to their troubled thoughts which keep them up until the very early hours of the morning. The chorus "If I were you I'd know that I love me" is a reflection on what the person could be feeling about themselves if they were in someone else's position, suggesting that they need to view themselves in a more positive light.
The second verse "The great snowman I've been called by all, but it looks like this time I'm gonna fall" suggests that the person has been struggling to maintain their confidence, while their peers have nicknamed them the "great snowman" - a name which connotes a sense of invincibility. The line "Can you hear me saying hopefully" in the final verse is a cry for help, as the individual is desperate to find a way to feel better about themselves.
Overall, the lyrics of "If I Were You" are a reflection on the loneliness and self-doubt that can come with struggling with one's self-confidence. The song encourages individuals to view themselves in a positive light and appreciate their own worth.
Line by Line Meaning
The sandman comes to my house late each night
I have trouble falling asleep and often stay up late at night.
But it's way in the morning before he turns out my life
However, I still manage to stay up until the early morning hours before finally being able to sleep.
It's times like this my darling I can see
During these moments of loneliness and contemplation, I am able to really see and understand myself.
If I were you I'd know that I love me
If you were in my shoes, you would see how much I truly love myself and realize how important self-love is.
The great snowman I've been called by all
I have been ridiculed and mocked by others in the past, often being referred to as the 'great snowman' due to my appearance or demeanor.
But it looks like this time I'm gonna fall
However, this time it seems like I might actually fail or fall short of something.
Wind and rain and storm closin' in on me
I am currently experiencing difficult and trying circumstances, with problems and challenges seeming to constantly pile up and close in around me.
I've walked the streets alone with my self sympathy
I have spent many lonely nights feeling sorry for myself and my circumstances.
Can you hear me saying hopefully
In spite of all of this, I still hold on to hope and remain optimistic about the future.
Ooh If I were you I'd know that I love me
I wish that you could see and understand just how much self-love and confidence I truly possess.
If I were you I'd know that I love me
In retrospect, if you were able to experience what I have gone through, you too would realize the importance of self-love and acceptance.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GERARD NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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