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.
King Of the Whole Wide World
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A rich man wants the pearl
But the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing
He's the king of the whole wide world
Come on let's sing, sing brother sing
'cause the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing
The rich man wants the princess
The poor man just wants a girl
But the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing
He's the king of the whole wide world
Come on let's sing, sing brother sing
'cause the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing
He's the king of the whole wide world
A poor man wants to be a rich man
A rich man wants to be a king
But the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing
He's the king of the whole wide world
Come on let's sing, sing brother sing
'cause the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing
He's the king of the whole wide world
Come on let's sing, sing brother sing
'cause the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing
He's the king of the whole wide world
Of the whole wide world
Of the whole wide world
The lyrics of Elvis Presley's "King of the Whole Wide World" focus on the power of music and the idea that a person who can sing even without material possessions is the true king of the world. The song argues that while poor and rich people want different things, the ability to sing without monetary gain is the ultimate goal. The poor man wants an oyster while the rich man wants a pearl, but the man who can sing when he's broke is the richest of them all.
The song suggests that singing is a form of emotional expression and that it doesn't require wealth, power or status. The overall message is that music can lift the human spirit and bring people together, even in the absence of material possessions. The lyrics reinforce the idea that the human voice is a powerful instrument that can connect people across economic and social barriers. In this sense, the song is a celebration of the transformative power of music.
Elvis Presley recorded "King of the Whole Wide World" for his 1962 film, "Kid Galahad." The movie was a musical-comedy featuring Elvis as a young boxer. The song is characteristic of Elvis's "movie years," a period when he focused on recording music and appearing in films. "King of the Whole Wide World" was written by Bob Roberts and Ruth Batchelor.
Line by Line Meaning
A poor man wants the oyster
A man who lacks resources desires the best things in life.
A rich man wants the pearl
A man who has everything still desires more valuable things.
But the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing
A person who can sing despite being without material possessions has an innate talent that brings joy and admiration.
He's the king of the whole wide world
Being able to sing and bring happiness to others makes a person the ruler of the entire world.
Come on let's sing, sing brother sing
Let us all enjoy the music and sing together as brothers.
'cause the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing
Because a person's ability to sing despite lack of material possessions is truly impressive and admirable.
The rich man wants the princess
A wealthy man desires the most beautiful and valuable things, even if they are not attainable.
The poor man just wants a girl
A person who lacks resources may only desire a simple and basic form of companionship.
A poor man wants to be a rich man
A person without resources desires wealth and the opportunities it can provide.
A rich man wants to be a king
A wealthy person desires power and influence over others.
Of the whole wide world
This phrase emphasizes the massive impact that a talented and inspiring singer can have on the world.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BOB ROBERTS, RUTH BATCHELOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vickie Yoakum-Biggs
on Can't Help Falling in Love
Enjoy your Birthday!
ÅmïNøũ Lãmãrtĩnãã
on Jailhouse Rock
Waww
Anusit Moonsup
on Jailhouse Rock
กู.............แปลไม่ออก
Anusit Moonsup
on A Little Less Conversation
] topmost.....................