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.

Mr. Songman
Elvis Presley Lyrics

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Here's another dime for you, Mr. Songman
Sing the loneliness of broken dreams away, if you can
Yes it's only me and you, Mr. Songman
Take away the night sing away my hurt, Mr. Songman

In your ivory covered house, safe behind your walls of glass
You keep staring back at me like a memory from the past
Won't you sing me away to a summer night

Let me hold you in my arms again
I know memory's not re-living

But at least it's not the end
Here's another dime for you Mr. Songman
Sing the loneliness of broken dreams away, if you can
Yes it's only me and you, Mr. Songman

Won't you take away the night, sing away my hurt, Mr. Songman
Won't you sing me away to a summer night

Let me hold her in my arms again
Take away the night sing away my hurt, Mr. Songman

Overall Meaning

Elvis Presley's "Mr. Songman" is a melancholic ballad about a man seeking solace from a musician. The song starts with the singer offering Mr. Songman another dime to sing away the loneliness and heartbreak of broken dreams. It's clear that the singer is in a rough place emotionally and sees the musician as a source of comfort. He's pleading for Mr. Songman to take away the darkness and pain he's feeling.

The second verse of the song has two distinct parts to it. The first part describes Mr. Songman's position as a musician. He's "safe behind [his] walls of glass" and staring back at the singer "like a memory from the past." The second part is another plea for comfort. The singer wants to be sung back to a specific moment in time when he was holding someone he loved on a summer night. He knows that memory isn't the same as reliving the moment, but he hopes it will at least bring some temporary peace.

The chorus repeats the same plea for comfort that the verses do. The singer asks Mr. Songman to take away the night and sing away his hurt. He wants to be transported to a happier time where he feels love and comfort.

Overall, "Mr. Songman" is a poignant song that captures the pain of heartbreak and the desire for comfort. The singer is hoping that music can take his pain away, even if only for a little while.

Line by Line Meaning

Here's another dime for you, Mr. Songman
Elvis is giving the musician some money to sing him a song that will help him forget his troubles.

Sing the loneliness of broken dreams away, if you can
Elvis is hoping that the song he hears will help to ease the pain of his heartbreak and make him feel better.

Yes it's only me and you, Mr. Songman
Elvis is acknowledging that he is alone with the musician, seeking comfort from him through the music.

Take away the night sing away my hurt, Mr. Songman
Elvis is asking the musician to help him escape from the darkness and sadness by singing a song that will take away his pain.

In your ivory covered house, safe behind your walls of glass
Elvis is referring to the musician's wealth and fame, and how he is removed from the struggles of everyday life.

You keep staring back at me like a memory from the past
Elvis is reminiscing about a time when he and the musician were close, and how the musician's music is bringing back memories of that time.

Won't you sing me away to a summer night
Elvis is asking the musician to transport him back to happier times through his music.

Let me hold you in my arms again
Elvis is expressing his desire to relive a past relationship he had with someone, a relationship that has now ended.

I know memory's not re-living
Elvis acknowledges that memories are not the same as experiencing something again in the present moment.

But at least it's not the end
Elvis is finding comfort in the fact that he still has his memories even though the relationship has ended.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DONNIE H. SUMNER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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