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.
Memories
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Quiet thought come floating down
And settle softly to the ground
Like golden autumn leaves around my feet
I touched them and they burst apart with sweet memories
Sweet memories
Of holding hands and red bouquets
And laughing eyes and simple ways
And quiet nights and gentle days with you
Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Memories, memories
Of holding hands and red bouquets
And twilight trimmed in purple haze
And laughing eyes and simple ways
And quiet nights and gentle days with you
Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
Memories, memories, sweet memories
Memories, memories
The lyrics of Elvis Presley's song "Memories" evoke a sense of nostalgia and reverence for past experiences. The opening lines "Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind / Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine" suggest that memories are precious and are cherished with time, just like wine that gets better with age. The following lines "Quiet thought come floating down / And settle softly to the ground / Like golden autumn leaves around my feet" paint a picture of a peaceful autumn day where the singer is slowly floating down the memory lane, reminiscent of the yellow and golden hues of fall.
As the song progresses, the lyrics describe different memories that hold a special place in the singer's heart. Lines such as "Of holding hands and red bouquets / And twilight trimmed in purple haze" and "And laughing eyes and simple ways / And quiet nights and gentle days with you" indicate that these memories involve a past love interest. The repetition of the chorus "Memories, memories / Sweet memories" reinforces the idea that memories are the only thing that remains when all is said and done.
Overall, "Memories" is a tender and sentimental song that celebrates the power of memories and highlights their importance in shaping one's identity and connection to the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind
The memories that I hold dear are like pages in a book, preserved forever in my thoughts.
Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine
As time has passed, my memories have become even sweeter and more cherished, like a fine wine.
Quiet thought come floating down
My mind is filled with quiet thoughts and memories that come to me unbidden.
And settle softly to the ground
These memories settle gently in my mind, like leaves falling to the ground.
Like golden autumn leaves around my feet
My memories are like the leaves of autumn, golden and beautiful, gathered around me.
I touched them and they burst apart with sweet memories
When I recall these memories, they seem to come alive and fill me with sweet joy.
Of holding hands and red bouquets
These memories are of holding hands with someone special and of receiving romantic gifts like red bouquets of flowers.
And twilight trimmed in purple haze
I remember peaceful evenings spent together, watching the sun set and the sky turn purple.
And laughing eyes and simple ways
These memories are of moments filled with joyful laughter and simple pleasures.
And quiet nights and gentle days with you
These memories are of the peaceful moments we spent together, enjoying each other's company and the beauty of the world around us.
Memories, memories, sweet memories
My memories are so precious to me that I can't help but repeat the word, savoring the sweetness of each one.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: DONALD BALDWIN, JEFFREY BOWEN, KATHY WAKEFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@livgentry1844
i’m 20, and i’d rather hear him sing over ANY current artist. he’s beautiful, kind, and i can feel him in his music. there’s no one else like that.
@natevm7888
And think about how many artists that that big to perform inches away from their fans that are all around them. This performance just felt so up-close-and-personal is so heartwarming
@jeffreykaufmann2867
@Nate VM Those fans at the time didn't know how lucky they were to be attending that Historic Concert. 55 years later some of them are alive and going on Social media saying: I'm the woman whose sitting to the left of Elvis when he's singing Memories".
@GDavin
I am in the Autumn of my life. I would rather hear him sing over any artist. God Bless🙏🌷🌹🌹
@atrayewrego9846
Me too at 19
@jaxsienplays9884
Your not quirky
@catheyholden765
It was in the 60s when my sister invited me to go to a Elvis concert. Its hard to beleive but I really did not want to go see Elvis, to me he was old school from another time. I was into the Beatles an Rolling Stones. But my sister had bought 2 tickets to see Elvis so I went with her. Elvis just started wearing the famous jumpsuit look. My sister got seats just a few rows back from the stage.
Got a bit board waiting for show to start. Then the lights went low. music started to play. Women started to scream. I thought whats the big deal.
Then behind the curtain this man stepped out in a white jumpsuit he was thin very tan an jet black hair. Yup it was Elvis. I thought he would look like he did in the 50s. Nope he was the best lookimg person I ever saw in my life. I was speechless, with in 5 min. my life changed. I never had before or after seen what this man had. It was almost spiritual. Ive never had a performer leave such an impact on me as he did. He was bigger then life. He was not only gorgeous, but had a charisma about him that I had never seen a person have before. His talent an performance was unbeleivable. I new I was witnessing
something very special that day.
Its been 40yrs or so now that he left us, an to this very day I have not seen another performer that had what Elvis had. He was 100% the full package. Even though he is gone, I beleive his music an talent will be here till the end of all time. How blessed I was to have been able to have seen him live in concert, an unless you had the chance to see Elvis live also, I dont know if you can understand what this man had about him. He had talent, but had a presence about him that Ive never seen or felt from anyone before. It was almost like a glow around him. His voice was awesome but it was So So much more. What a very very special man he was. I saw him several more times I even saw him a few months before he passed. How blessed I was to have seen him live. Im so grateful I went to see you that day in 1960'S. You are a one of a kind a very special gift from God. Thank You for your songs thank you for being diffrent, look how you changed the world. You will live on threw your music an may so meny more to come will be able to enjoy your music an with a little luck get a chance to maybe see how special you were.
Thank You
❤ Elvis ❤
@Wildlife_SA.
WOW.... Loved your special memories and reflections. Thank you for sharing this with us. From South Africa. ⚡👍🇿🇦
@tammygould5496
You are very lucky! I was born in 64 so missed a lot of Elvis. He was the most beautiful man I have ever seen. Even though I have only seen him on TV, videos. I would hope when we get to heaven that he's singing on the stage there, praising God in all His Glory. Love you EP!
@tanyaleigh
How does your comment only have 8 likes? Remarkable story! Thank you for sharing it ❤