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.
Puppet On A String
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm as helpless as can be
I become a puppet on a string
You can do 'most anything to me
All you do is touch my hand
And your wish is my command
I become a puppet on a string
You can do 'most anything to me
Darling please be kind
I offer you the truest love
That you will ever find
Take my heart and please be fair
Handle it with loving care
For I'm just a puppet on a string
You can do 'most anything to me
If you really love me
Darling please be kind
I offer you the truest love
That you will ever find
Take my heart and please be fair
Handle it with loving care
For I'm just a puppet on a string
You can do 'most anything to me
You can do 'most anything to me
The lyrics to Elvis Presley's song "Puppet on a String" express the idea of being completely at the mercy of someone else's actions and desires. The singer compares himself to a puppet on a string, becoming completely powerless and helpless in the presence of the person he loves. He is willing to do anything and everything for his beloved, and all she has to do is touch his hand to make him putty in her hands.
The lyrics also reveal the singer's vulnerability and the hope that his love will be reciprocated with kindness and care. He offers his heart to the woman, but begs that she handle it gently and with love, knowing that he is completely under her control. The song highlights the idea of love as a powerful force that can make us feel both strong and weak, empowered and powerless, depending on the person we love and their feelings towards us.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time you look at me
Whenever you glance at me, I feel vulnerable and powerless
I'm as helpless as can be
When you look at me, I lose all my power and ability to control my own actions
I become a puppet on a string
I am easily manipulated and controlled by you, like a puppet dancing on strings
You can do 'most anything to me
You have complete power over me and can make me do almost anything you want
All you do is touch my hand
Just the slightest touch from you is enough to make me subservient to your every whim
And your wish is my command
Whatever you desire, I will immediately obey without question
If you really love me
If you genuinely care for me
Darling please be kind
Please treat me with compassion and tenderness
I offer you the truest love
I am offering you the most sincere and genuine love I am capable of
That you will ever find
That you will not be able to find anywhere else
Take my heart and please be fair
I am entrusting you with my heart and asking you to treat it with fairness and honesty
Handle it with loving care
Please handle my heart with tenderness and sensitivity
For I'm just a puppet on a string
I am powerless without you and am completely at your mercy
You can do 'most anything to me
I am willing to do almost anything you want, just to please you
Lyrics © RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ROY C. BENNETT, SID TEPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DelphineBournit
Delphine-Esmerlda.
Cette chanson d amour me fait penser à la St Valentin, car cette chanson est pleine d amour, de sentiments, de tendresse!
Déjà, dans sa jeunnesse, Elvis Presley avait un talent naturel pour chanter des chansons très variées, comme le rock qui était acrobatique, endiablé, très rythme!
Les gospels étaient magnifiques, surtout avec les choristes qui avaient des voix en or!
Delphine-Esmeralda.
@DelphineBournit
Delphine-Esmeralda.
Cette chanson est très romantique, pleine de sentiments, et d émotion.
Lors de sa jeunesse, Elvis Presley avait un talent naturel pour chanter des chansons très variées, comme le rock qui était très acrobatique, pleinde rythme, les gospels étaient magnifiques, ainsi que les gospels avec les choristes qui avaient des voix en or.
De plus, Elvis Presley avait un talent naturel pour chanter des chansons très variées et jouer de la guitare.
Delphine-Esmeralda.
@DelphineBournit
Delphine-Esmeralda.
Cette chanson d amour est très sentimentale, la musique est tres agréable à écouter!
Lors de sa jeunnesse, Elvis Presley avait un talent naturel pour chanter des chansons très variées, comme le rock qui était endiablé, très acrobatique, très rythme, les gospels étaient superbes à écouter, avec les choristes qui avaient des voix en or.
De plus, Elvis Presley était doué pour danser sur scene et jouer de la guitare.
Delphine-Esmeralda.
@DelphineBournit
Delphine-Esmeralda.
Cette chanson est très charmante, très romantique, pleine d amour, de sentiments.
Déjà, dans sa jeunesse, Elvis Presley avait du talent pour chanter des chansons très variées, jouer de ma guitare, danser sur scene
Delphine-Esmeralda
@lisaboling5336
Sing this to my granddaughter when I'm rocking her to sleep.......xoxoxox
@rhondaboncutter5812
As a young kid, oh, manI loved Elvis so very much! I am now 66 and still love his songs!
@fundatunc
who not me too. I was 13 as I fell in love to Elvis...I miss him...
@gracieturner2954
I always will love Elvis
@lucieclayton10
This was my favourite Elvis movie,and I loved this song, and Do Not Dsturb
@veronicawoodard8821
Oh yes my. Favorite puppet on a string that Elvis song but he has made so many songs that I love ❤
@martinakluck9192
We‘ll see him in heaven
@christakulikowski7567
Yes definitely, that will be wonderful! Am 72 and his fan for 66yrs now. Gentle, humble, loving Elvis.
@calemanify
My beautiful amazing aunt just passed away. She loved Elvis and whenever I hear the words from this song, it reminds me of how innocent and real her love was for all of us.
@BHANDU25
Oh my God. His voice n emotion in the song. Still gets me goosebumps.