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.
My Boy
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But, really, this can't wait
I wanted to explain
Before it gets too late
For your mother and me
Love has finally died
This is no happy home
But God knows how I've tried
You are my life, my pride, my joy
And if I stay, I stay because of you, my boy
I know it's hard to understand
Why did we ever start?
We're more like strangers now
Each acting out a part
I have laughed, I have cried
I have lost every game
Taken all I can take
But I'll stay just the same
Because you're all I have, my boy
You are my life, my pride, my joy
And if I stay, I stay because of you, my boy
Sleep on, you haven't heard a word
Perhaps it's just as well
Why spoil your little dreams
Why put you through the hell
Life is no fairytale
As one day you will know
But now you're just a child
I'll stay here and watch you grow
Because you're all I have, my boy
You are my life, my pride, my joy
And if I stay, I stay because of you, my boy
Elvis Presley's My Boy is a touching song about a father's love for his son and his struggle to keep his family together. The lyrics portray a father talking to his son, who is sleeping, about the problems in his marriage with the son's mother. The father speaks candidly about his feelings towards their now loveless relationship and acknowledges that it has caused them to lead more separate lives. He assures his son, who he considers his pride, joy, and life that he will continue to stay with them despite their issues. The father acknowledges that life is not a fairytale, and he might not have all the answers, but he will be there for his son as he grows up.
The lyrics possess a compelling emotional depth that is relatable to anyone who values family, love, and loyalty. It is a song that preaches understanding and coming together despite the problems that one may face in a family or relationship. Elvis Presley's vocal delivery in this song is a perfect match to the emotional depth of the lyrics, which helps to portray the mood of the lyrics even more effectively.
Line by Line Meaning
You're sleeping son, I know
I am aware that you are sleeping, my son
But, really, this can't wait
What I am about to say is important and cannot be delayed
I wanted to explain
I feel the need to clarify something to you
Before it gets too late
Before it is too late for you to understand
For your mother and me
This is a message for both your mother and me
Love has finally died
Our love for each other has ended
This is no happy home
Our family is not a happy one
But God knows how I've tried
I have done all I can to make things work out
Because you're all I have, my boy
You are everything to me, my son
You are my life, my pride, my joy
You bring meaning and happiness to my life
And if I stay, I stay because of you, my boy
The only reason I am still here is because I love you
I know it's hard to understand
I know that what I am saying may be difficult for you to comprehend
Why did we ever start?
We may question why we ever began our relationship
We're more like strangers now
We are no longer close or intimate like we used to be
Each acting out a part
We are both pretending to be something we are not
I have laughed, I have cried
I have experienced both joy and sadness
I have lost every game
I have failed at everything I have attempted
Taken all I can take
I have endured as much as I can
But I'll stay just the same
I will continue to be here for you
Sleep on, you haven't heard a word
You are still asleep and unaware of what I am saying
Perhaps it's just as well
Maybe it is for the best that you do not hear this
Why spoil your little dreams
I do not want to ruin your innocent and happy dreams
Why put you through the hell
I do not want to subject you to our painful reality
Life is no fairytale
Life is not always a happy and perfect dream
As one day you will know
Eventually, you will learn this lesson too
But now you're just a child
Right now, you are still too young to understand
I'll stay here and watch you grow
I will be here for you and witness you grow up
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEAN-PIERRE BOURTAYRE, CLAUDE FRANCOIS, YVES DESSCA, PHIL COULTER, BILL MARTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anthonymitchell9866
It’s 2023 and still no one comes close to this man
@user-qu3xt8gq4b
every day we stray further from Elvis
@DeiranB
Hello, there is one guy and the only i feel like that has come the closest to elvis by voice. give Bouke - My Boy a listen
@tonycoe5907
Amazingly Richard Harris sings it better but still Elvis' 'best song by a long long way.
@senseijuan3230
Elvis will always be the KING. This song is one of his best vocal performances ever. The people who gave thumbs down, have no idea what great music is.
@user-qc6en2mq9v
My mom went to Graceland and saw him in person. I have been to his birthplace in tupelo
@marcdewit7089
My first thump was a mistake
@zee.pattymia
Agreed!
@TahasMother
@@marcdewit7089I was sure of this
@kerrybutcher645
King elvis