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.

Just for Old Times's Sake
Elvis Presley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Just for old time sake
Won't you give my heart a break
Let's get together again
Let's relive the time
I was yours and you were mine
Life was so wonderful then

I know, I know the day I let you go

I made my greatest mistake
If you loved me then

You could love me once again
Won't you try just for old time sake

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Elvis Presley's song "Just for Old Times' Sake" are a plea for reconciliation and a chance to relive past memories. The song begins with an appeal to the former lover to "give my heart a break" and rekindle their relationship. Elvis then takes the listener back in time, reminiscing about a time when they were together and life was "wonderful." The lyrics suggest that he regards their past love as a highlight of his life and wants to experience it again. He acknowledges that he made a mistake by letting them go and hopes that they can get back together again, even if it's just for the sake of the past.

The song has a sense of longing and regret, with Elvis singing about lost love and wishing he could go back in time. By using the phrase "just for old times' sake," he emphasizes that it's not about starting a new relationship, but rather about revisiting a time when they were happy together. He makes a plea to his former lover, asking them to try again, and the song ends with a hopeful note.

Line by Line Meaning

Just for old time sake
Can we just go back to the way things used to be?

Won't you give my heart a break
Can you please stop hurting me and come back to me?

Let's get together again
Can we try to love each other again?

Let's relive the time
Can we go back to the past when things were good?

I was yours and you were mine
We shared something special and I hope we can again.

Life was so wonderful then
Those memories were special and I wish we could make more.

I know, I know the day I let you go
I understand that I made a terrible mistake by leaving.

I made my greatest mistake
Losing you was the worst thing that ever happened to me.

If you loved me then
I hope that you still feel the same way about me.

You could love me once again
Can we please try to love each other again?

Won't you try just for old time sake
Can we please try to make things work again, just like how they used to be?