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.
New Orleans
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Until you've been down to New Orleans
You ain't been livin' till you cuddle and coo
With some black-eyed baby by the old bayou
You've never seen
You've never seen those Cupid doll queens
Like they got 'em in New Orleans
It makes you awful glad that you were born a man
If-if-if you ain't been there
Then you ain't been nowhere
The livin's lazy and the lovin's fine
If you feel low down, so help me Hannah
You should lose the blues in Louisiana
Get the lead
Get the lead out of your jeans
And hot foot it down--hot foot down to where?
New Orleans
Louisiana, baby, tells you stay awhile
Live it up, love it up, southern style
Way down in New, New Orleans
The song "New Orleans" by Elvis Presley is a tribute to the city of New Orleans in Louisiana, which Elvis visited several times during his career. The song speaks of the idea that one cannot truly understand the meaning of heaven until they visit New Orleans for themselves. The city is described as a place of love and relaxation where one can forget their troubles with the help of the easy-going lifestyle and the love of the black-eyed babies by the old bayou.
The singer invites the listeners to experience the joy and freedom that New Orleans offers, stating that if they have not been there, they have not truly lived. The Cupid doll queens mentioned in the song are most likely a reference to the many voodoo shops in the city, where dolls are commonly used for rituals and spells. The song suggests that the love experienced in New Orleans is like no other, and that being born a man in this city makes one feel quite lucky.
Overall, "New Orleans" is a celebration of the unique spirit of the city, where people from all walks of life come to relax, enjoy the food, and immerse themselves in the vibrant culture. It evokes a sense of nostalgia for a simpler way of life and invites the listener to experience the joy and freedom that can be found in New Orleans.
Line by Line Meaning
You'll never know what heaven means
You cannot truly understand what heaven is until you visit New Orleans
Until you've been down to New Orleans
A visit to New Orleans is necessary for one to have experienced heaven on earth
You ain't been livin' till you cuddle and coo
One cannot fully live until they experience the love and affection of a partner while in New Orleans
With some black-eyed baby by the old bayou
A romantic encounter with a beautiful woman by the bayou is the ultimate New Orleans experience
You've never seen
There are some things in New Orleans that cannot be found anywhere else
You've never seen those Cupid doll queens
New Orleans has a unique type of beauty embodied by the Cupid Doll Queens
Like they got 'em in New Orleans
There is something special about the Cupid Doll Queens found only in New Orleans
And, oh, they love you like no one can
The Cupid Doll Queens in New Orleans have a love and affection unlike anything else
It makes you awful glad that you were born a man
The experience of being with the Cupid Doll Queens in New Orleans is something that brings joy to a man's life
If-if-if you ain't been there
If you have not visited New Orleans
Then you ain't been nowhere
You have not truly experienced anything until you have visited New Orleans
The livin's lazy and the lovin's fine
Life in New Orleans is laidback and pleasant, with love and romance in abundance
If you feel low down, so help me Hannah
If you are feeling down or depressed, visiting New Orleans will improve your mood
You should lose the blues in Louisiana
A trip to Louisiana will lift your spirits and chase away any negative feelings
Get the lead
Get yourself ready for an adventure
Get the lead out of your jeans
Prepare yourself for a good time in New Orleans
And hot foot it down--hot foot down to where?
Get moving quickly to your destination, which is none other than New Orleans
New Orleans
A one-of-a-kind city, famous for its music, food, and culture
Louisiana, baby, tells you stay awhile
Louisiana invites visitors to stay longer and enjoy all it has to offer
Live it up, love it up, southern style
Enjoy life to the fullest while in New Orleans, where southern hospitality and charm reign supreme
Way down in New, New Orleans
A reference to the joy and excitement found in New Orleans
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ROY C. BENNETT, SID TEPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TFS
You'll never know
What heaven means
Until you've been down to new orleans
You ain't been livin' till you cuddle and coo
With some black-eyed baby by de old bayou
You've never seen
You've never seen those cupid doll queens
Like they got 'em in new orleans
And, ooh, they love you like no-one can
It makes you awful glad that you were born a man.
If-if-if you ain't been there
Then you ain't been nowhere
The livin's lazy and the lovin's fine
If you feel low down
So help me hannah
You should lose the blues in loui-si-i-si-ana.
Get the lead
Get the lead out of your jeans
And hot foot it down, hot foot down to where?
New orleans
Louisiana baby tells you stay awhile
Live it up, love it up, southern style
Way down in new New Orleans
Brad rawsner
You're leaving out WAAAY too many critically acclaimed recordings.
1966's. "You'll never walk alone"
Tomorrow is a long time,
1960 critically acclaimed "it's now or never" the gospel recordings for "his hand in mine"
The sun sessions ALONE are REVELATORY.
The essential RCA recordings from 56- 58.
The American studio recordings 1969.
Elvis's soul depth and diversity remain unmatched. In a very very short career and life, he left behind a critically acclaimed body of work in the recording studio that's in multiple genres of music.
An iconic artist, the likes of which may never be seen again.
T M
Absolutely stupendous performance. Elvis complained he never made a classic film - well he was wrong. Time determines what is classic and this is unbeatable.
Jean Claude Guillemot
King créole
deloclem
King Creole is the best move Elvis made.
Ho tal do Henrique
@deloclemAmo la película King Creole, Elvis estas magnífico
Sabine Koch
Nobody will ever reach up to this man. He is absolutely fantastic. His voice, his looks and his charisma. There are not enough words to describe him. I love you forever Elvis ❤ ❤ ❤
George Vreeland Hill
Elvis Presley is the greatest entertainer in history and will remain that way in the future.
Brad rawsner
Let me correct you.
Artist.
A critically acclaimed recording artist, with critically acclaimed recordings in multiple genres of music.
Joanne Mcclure
@Brad rawsner
I see your point, Elvis was a musical genius, an incredibly superb artist. However, the Smithsonian designated Elvis The Greatest Entertainer of the 20th Century having the greatest influence on American culture and music.
Brad rawsner
@Joanne Mcclure
And that's fine.
But ultimately. When an artist leaves behind a critically acclaimed body of work in the recording studio, in multiple genres of music, that's the very definition of a true artist.
But yes, he was also an entertainer.
Brad rawsner
There's nobody past or present who can hold a candle to this iconic artist.
Nobody.