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.
In My Father's House
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If it were not true he would have told me so
He has gone away to live in that bright city
He's preparing me a mansion there I know
Jesus died upon the cross to bear my sorrow
Freely died that souls like you might have new life
But I know that soon there'll come a bright tomorrow
(Do not shun the saviors love, from up in glory)
(Or you won't be there to sing the gospel story)
In my father's house are many mansions
If you're true then to this land you'll surely go
Elvis Presley's song "In My Father's House" talks about a belief in an afterlife and the promise of mansions in heaven. The title of the song refers to the Bible verse John 14:2, where Jesus is quoted as saying, "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." The song uses this verse as a metaphor for the afterlife and the promise of eternal life for those who believe in Jesus.
The first verse speaks of the belief in many mansions in heaven, which is a reference to the different levels of reward and status in heaven. The second line reassures the listener that the promise of the mansions is true and real, and if it were not so, Jesus would have told them otherwise. The second verse speaks of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, who died so that people could be saved and have new life. The third line of the verse is a hopeful reminder that there is a brighter future to come, where the world will be free from sin and strife, and this hope is what keeps the faith of believers alive.
The chorus then sings a warning, calling people to not shun the savior's love and to not miss out on the opportunity to have eternal life in heaven. The final verse again speaks to the belief that those who are true and faithful will go to heaven and inherit their promised mansions.
Overall, "In My Father's House" is a song of hope, faith, and the belief in the afterlife and eternal life in heaven, where one's reward is greater than anything on earth.
Line by Line Meaning
In my father's house are many mansions
There are multiple amazing dwellings in my father's heavenly kingdom
If it were not true he would have told me so
I trust my father completely, and if this wasn't true, he wouldn't have kept it a secret
He has gone away to live in that bright city
My father has ascended to live in the heavenly city of God
He's preparing me a mansion there I know
My father is preparing a special dwelling place for me in his kingdom
Jesus died upon the cross to bear my sorrow
Christ willingly died on the cross to bear the pain of my sins
Freely died that souls like you might have new life
He gave his life as a gift so that sinners like me could have eternal life
But I know that soon there'll come a bright tomorrow
I have faith that a wonderful future is coming soon
When the world will all be free from sin and strife
A time when the entire world is devoid of sin and conflict is approaching
(Do not shun the saviors love, from up in glory)
Don't reject the love of Christ from his position of glory
(Or you won't be there to sing the gospel story)
If you reject Christ's love, you won't be able to sing the good news of the gospel in his kingdom
If you're true then to this land you'll surely go
Those who are faithful will surely go to live in this blessed land
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELVIS PRESLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Gibbs
Never get tired of this beautiful song. 👑
David Gibbs
Vocal perfection. Beautiful gospel song by the King at his purest
Kenny Dobbins
Jesus Christ is the king and Elvis would say that.
David Gibbs
@Kenny Dobbins I of course agree with that 💯 %. I use the term KING as regards Elvis in the Royal sense not the religious.
Kenny Dobbins
@David Gibbs To me he is one musically. There a few other singers I would consider to be kings in their genres as well.
David Gibbs
@Kenny Dobbins 👍 😊
Sérgio Roxo
este grande homem , é o grande cantor de todos os tempos. Gente não tem igual ao Elvis...Sou um músico extremamente crítico...
Walter-Jörg Langbein
So beautiful....
Rafael Freitas santos
perfeito.
Cocoa Femme
11/10/20: Lyrics that provide upliftment for me to shake my sleepiness. Glory To God Almighty.