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.
Memphis Tennessee
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Help me find the party trying to get in touch with me
She could not leave her number but i know who placed the call
My uncle took the message and he wrote it on the wall
Help me information to get in touch with my Marie
She's the only one who'd phone me here from Memphis, Tennessee
Her home is on the southside, high upon a ridge
Help me information more than that i cannot add
Only that i miss her and all the fun we had
But we were pulled apart because her mom did not agree
Tore apart our happy home in Memphis, Tennessee
The last time i saw Marie she was waving me goodbye
With hurry home drops on her cheek that trickled from her eye
Marie is only six years old, information please
Try to put me through to her in Memphis, Tennessee
The lyrics of Elvis Presley's song "Memphis Tennessee" portray a man who is desperately trying to get in touch with Marie, a woman he loves and who is from Memphis. He wants to find the party that tried to contact him but could not leave a number. His uncle took the message and wrote it on the wall, and the man is now seeking information to contact Marie. The song indicates that they were once a happy couple in Memphis, but her mother did not approve of their relationship, and their happy home was torn apart.
The lyrics use a cleverly constructed conversation with the telephone operator as a metaphorical way to show the man's yearning and longing for Marie. He needs more than just the number; he needs to be reunited with Marie. The reference to Marie's home on the south side, high on a ridge, half a mile from the Mississippi bridge, paints a visual picture of her house in the listener's mind. The emotional depth of the song is heightened through the reference to Marie being only six years old, which creates a kind of vulnerability in the lyrics.
Overall, "Memphis Tennessee" is a song that resonates with the feeling of lost love and trying to reconnect with someone who is important. The way the lyrics are written captures a sense of nostalgia and sadness mixed with a hopeful longing for a reunion with the woman he loves.
Line by Line Meaning
Long distance information give me Memphis, Tennessee
I am requesting information from a long distance operator about a place called Memphis, Tennessee.
Help me find the party trying to get in touch with me
Assist me in locating the person who is trying to contact me.
She could not leave her number but i know who placed the call
Although the caller did not leave a number, I am aware of the identity of the person who made the call.
My uncle took the message and he wrote it on the wall
My relative took down the message and recorded it on a wall for me to see.
Help me information to get in touch with my Marie
I am requesting assistance to get in touch with my acquaintance named Marie.
She's the only one who'd phone me here from Memphis, Tennessee
Marie is the sole individual who would contact me from that location.
Her home is on the southside, high upon a ridge
Her residence is situated on the elevated south side of town.
Just a half a mile from the Mississippi bridge
The residence can be found less than a mile from the Mississippi bridge.
Help me information more than that i cannot add
I am unable to contribute any additional information beyond this request for assistance.
Only that i miss her and all the fun we had
I am conveying that I long for her and the enjoyable times we shared in the past.
But we were pulled apart because her mom did not agree
Our relationship came to an end due to her mother's disapproval.
Tore apart our happy home in Memphis, Tennessee
Her mother's actions resulted in the disruption of our once pleasant household in Memphis, Tennessee.
The last time i saw Marie she was waving me goodbye
The most recent encounter I had with Marie involved her waving farewell to me.
With hurry home drops on her cheek that trickled from her eye
Tears marking her face, Marie implored me with haste to return home.
Marie is only six years old, information please
Marie is a young child of merely six years, please provide me with details.
Try to put me through to her in Memphis, Tennessee
Attempt to connect me with her, wherever she may be in Memphis, Tennessee.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Chuck Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lucky
Lyrics:
Long distance information give me Memphis, Tennessee
Help me find the party trying to get in touch with me
She could not leave her number but i know who placed the call
My uncle took the message and he wrote it on the wall
Help me information to get in touch with my Marie
She's the only one who'd phone me here from Memphis, Tennessee
Her home is on the southside, high upon a ridge
Just a half a mile from the Mississippi bridge
Help me information more than that i cannot add
Only that i miss her and all the fun we had
But we were pulled apart because her mom did not agree
Tore apart our happy home in Memphis, Tennessee
The last time i saw Marie she was waving me goodbye
With hurry home drops on her cheek that trickled from her eye
Marie is only six years old, information please
Try to put me through to her in Memphis, Tennessee
Berghild Olsen
This is the best version ever. Elvis Presley had a very good voice. Today's singers don't even come close. Elvis gave us goosebumps!!!!
Mathew
Chuck Berry wrote it, can't touch his version.
Elisabeth Valade
You R right! CB was a genius songwriter and owned the stage and his guitar. BUT...
ELVIS was and IS still THE GENIUS SINGER, SO GOOD LOOKING, EXCITING!!! You guys who weren't there just can't know. HE ROCKED THE STAGE, the TUNES, the GIRLS, the WORLD. HE CHANGED HISTORY of songs and solidified ROCK n' ROLL FOREVER.
AMEN.
Victoria Garcia
I ❤️ Elvis’ voice!!
Ray White
Wow I'm such a big Elvis Presley friend I never heard ever sing this song. Sounds pretty damn good.
George Vreeland Hill
Elvis changed the world.
No matter what happens in the years to come, there will always be Elvis Presley.
FINFLEX88
Elvis's voice is like aged smooth bourbon flowing out of the bottle. It just doesnt get better than this. Almost gives me chills hearing his talent. Good singers sound good great singers have their own style then there are guys (let's be honest its not plural lol) like Elvis who sound amazing and have their own style and make it work.
Bill Leyland
No words can describe this incredible man.
Paul Ferguson
No need for lyric-sheets with this guy - every word is crystal-clear. An amazing singer.
MyBwick
Who cares who wrote what! Just enjoy the music and the story in the lyrics!! this is one of my favorites!