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.

Island of Love
Elvis Presley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Kauai, island of love
Lovely princess of the islands
Kauai, island of love
Listen, can't you hear her calling
Aloha welcome my love
Her palmtrees gently do the hula
While her slaves, the waves
Rush in to kiss her shores

Heaven is another name for

Kauai, island of love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Elvis Presley's song "Island of Love" draw attention to a particular island in Hawaii called Kauai. The song speaks of the island as being the "island of love," a place of warmth, beauty, and comfort. The opening line of the song, "Kauai, island of love" paints a picture of what this place is all about. The line tries to capture the essence of the island's natural beauty and the sense of love that surrounds it.

From there, the song goes on to speak of the "lovely princess of the islands." One can easily draw a comparison between the island's beauty and that of a princess. The lyrics talk of the island's palmtrees doing the hula, while the waves rush in to kiss the shores. The imagery highlights the natural beauty of the island, creating an almost dream-like quality to the song, as if the island is a paradise or utopia.

Overall, "Island of Love" speaks of an idyllic tropical island that represents a place of beauty, love, and perfection. The song captures the island's essence and transports the listener on a journey to a magical place.

Line by Line Meaning

Kauai, island of love
Kauai is known as the island of love.

Lovely princess of the islands
Kauai is a beautiful and regal island in Hawaii.

Kauai, island of love
Yet again, Kauai is referred to as an island of love.

Listen, can't you hear her calling
The island calls to visitors, inviting them to enjoy its beauty.

Aloha welcome my love
The island welcomes visitors with open arms and the traditional Hawaiian greeting of Aloha.

Her palmtrees gently do the hula
The swaying of the palm trees is compared to the graceful movements of a hula dancer.

While her slaves, the waves
The ocean waves are described as being at the beck and call of the island's beauty and power.

Rush in to kiss her shores
The waves seem to shower the island with love and affection.

Heaven is another name for
Kauai is so beautiful and peaceful that it is like a heavenly paradise.

Kauai, island of love
Once again, the island is referred to as a place filled with love and beauty.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: ROY C. BENNETT, SID TEPPER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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