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.
It's Over
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If time were not a moving thing
And I could make it stay
This hour of love we share
Would always be
There'd be no coming day
To shine a morning light
And make us realize our night is over
When you walk away from me
There is no place to put my hand
Except to shade my eyes against the sun
That rises over the land
I watch you walk away
Somehow I have to let you go
Cause it's over
If you knew just how I really feel
You might return and yet
There are so many times
That people have to love and then forget
Oh there might have been a way somehow
I have to force myself to say
It's over
So I turn my back,
Turn my collar to the wind
Move along in silence
Trying not to think at all
I set my feet before me
Walk the silent street before me
Now it's over
[Chorus]
It's over
"The King" of rock and roll, Elvis Presley, sings about a relationship that is coming to an end in the song, "It's Over." He begins by expressing his wish that time would stop just so he can stay in the moment with his lover. However, he knows that the reality is that the day will come when they will have to say goodbye. He laments about the agony of watching his lover walk away and not having a place to hold her. The rising sun symbolizes the end of their love affair, and it serves as a reminder that their time together has indeed come to a close.
Elvis then addresses his lover, explaining that he has to let her go because their love story has officially ended. He admits that he wishes his lover knew the depth of his feelings, and there might have been a chance to save their relationship. However, he knows that sometimes people have to love and then forget. Elvis closes by setting his sights on moving on from the failed romance - he turns his back, trying to forget all that has happened as he walks away.
Overall, Elvis Presley's song "It's Over" is a poignant portrayal of the end of a relationship that despite wishes, can't last forever. Elvis's strong vocals paired with the melancholic melody creates an unforgettable feeling of longing and sadness for listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
If time were not a moving thing
If time could stand still
And I could make it stay
And I had the power to stop it
This hour of love we share
This moment of our love
Would always be
Would never end
There'd be no coming day
There would be no tomorrow
To shine a morning light
To remind us of the new day
And make us realize our night is over
And make us realize that our love has ended
When you walk away from me
When you leave me
There is no place to put my hand
I have nowhere to go
Except to shade my eyes against the sun
Except to shield my eyes from the light
That rises over the land
That symbolizes the start of a new day
I watch you walk away
I see you leaving
Somehow I have to let you go
I have to find a way to move on
Cause it's over
Because our love has ended
If you knew just how I really feel
If you only knew the depth of my emotions
You might return and yet
You might come back to me
There are so many times
But there are so many instances
That people have to love and then forget
When people fall in love and then move on
Oh there might have been a way somehow
There might have been a solution or an alternative
I have to force myself to say
I have to compel myself to admit
It's over
Our love has come to an end
So I turn my back,
So I walk away
Turn my collar to the wind
Hiding my face from the world
Move along in silence
Quietly leaving
Trying not to think at all
Trying not to replay what happened
I set my feet before me
I move forward
Walk the silent street before me
Walking alone, contemplating
Now it's over
Accepting that it's finished
[Chorus]
Repeated refrain
It's over
Final emphasis on the end of their love
Lyrics © Orbi-Lee Music, Barbara Orbison Music Company, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, R-Key Darkus
Written by: Bill Dees, Roy Orbison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JoachimMoeller
A favorite explanation is this, taken directly from tons of people fortunate enough to have experienced him live: "When he sings it feels like he's singing to me." (i.e. not just to a huge crowd) "That, ladies and gents, that was one of the King's greatest gifts. PRESENCE. He was truly there, body and soul, sweat, life and oxygen. How he could sing like that without an oxygen tank nearby, well, either he was in better shape in that respect than he looked like (at the end) or more likely he just used, by sheer force of will and tenacity (at the end) every bit of oxygen to its fullest potential. His art overtaking any physical discomfort.
Anyone having tried love making like it's supposed to be (i.e. Elvis intensity of singing style intensity) will know what I mean regarding "Breathing, oh, I was supposed to breathe? That explains why I'm super dizzy, I just got lost in the moment." That is what I believe he did. Adrenaline, dopamine, noradrenaline. He lived it and loved it, whether depressed or happy, it was like breathing to him, a sort of religious aspect I guess.
He was, unlike most these days, never some damn two-legged cassette player.
I always felt that, despite him never writing any songs (F any official credits and there are a couple, that was solely business stuff, he didn't write anything) every song he ever sang, it always felt like he had previously or currently did live thru it.
After his divorce, from a biography I read (of quite a few) he wasn't exactly loving singing Burning Love and such, understandably but perhaps his pain just made him even better. Who knows?
I'm with Bob Dylan here, so I'll just quote this lovely article below:
TITLE: "When Elvis Presley died , it deeply affected Bob Dylan"
During this time, Dylan was already going through his divorce from his wife Sara. It was also not long after the suicide of Phil Ochs.
Dylan heard the news while he was at his farm in Minnesota, with his children and their art teacher, Faridi McFree. She was playing with the kids and planning a birthday party for Samuel Dylan’s 9th birthday. Dylan was writing songs for his next album, which turned out to be Street Legal.
When Dylan told McFree that Presley had died, she replied that she was not a fan of Presley’s music:
“That’s all I have to say – he didn’t talk to me for a week. . . He really took it bad . . . He was really grieving. He said that if it wasn’t for (Presley) he never would have gotten started. He opened the door.”
Dylan said, “I went over my whole life. I went over my whole childhood. I didn’t talk to anyone for a week”.
In 1997, after recovering from a life-threatening illness, Dylan said he thought he was going to “meet Elvis”
When I first heard Elvis’ voice I just knew that I wasn’t going to work for anybody; and nobody was going to be my boss. Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail.
Me: If anyone disagrees with Dylan's sentiments expressed here, well, then I rationally assume that I won't ever be bumping into them when I, just like Muslims are supposed to visit Mecca once if possible, eventually will fulfill my pilgrimage to Graceland. I'm an atheist. If that bit offended someone's religious feelings, then grow a spine. Y'all know what I meant.
Elvis forever etc. Yep. Why? Well, we (some at least who appreciate great music) still listen to Mozart who died in 1791, 230 years ago and Elvis has audio, video and divine charisma on his side, so yeah, he ain't going nowhere - ever.
He's the only person I'd ever get as a tattoo, should I have too much money to spare after buying his 1968 tailored If I Can Dream white suit ;-D
@bluenose921
People will still be listening to this force of nature in 1000 years from now. God truly blessed him with his wonderful talent . Lord i miss him
@tracyyoung2415
You and me both
@deborahh8168
And for everyone to see what an awesome voice. God truly blessed him and the rest of us.
@Hugeroost
God was just showing off when he made him
@driluz8929
Elvis is and always will be the greatest artist of all time!! No one emerged that got to where he got to this day!!🇧🇷✈️🌎🎸🤙
@fredmeyer7807
I miss him
@susanwesterfield9241
My grandson’s are 10 and 6 and I’m making sure they know who this wonderful man is.
@52charlene1
God made only one Elvis and to me His voice was truly a gift from God. Nobody can compare to that voice..
@LoanShoppingExpert
God was showing off when He created Elvis Presley.
@johnpaulkane6153
Elvis had it all just to become a greek tragedy. I just hope that God let him into his kingdom