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.

Thanks to the Rolling Sea
Elvis Presley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Thanks to the rolling, rolling, rolling, thanks to the rolling sea
Thanks to the rolling, rolling, rolling, thanks to the rolling sea
Fish on the table and fish on the fire, fried fish hanging on the tree
Everything here that your heart desires, thanks to the rolling sea
Thanks to the rolling sea

Living is good and living is fine, we're happy as can be
We owe all this to the salty brine, thanks to the rolling sea

Thanks to the rolling sea

We work all day but our hearts are gay, and while we work we sing
The mighty sea is good to us and we've got everything
Abalone steaks and tuna fish cakes, taste so heavenly
We know who we owe it to, thanks to the rolling sea

Thanks to the rolling, rolling, rolling, thanks to the rolling sea
Thanks to the rolling, rolling, rolling, thanks to the rolling sea

Thanks to the rolling, rolling, rolling, thanks to the rolling sea
Thanks to the rolling, rolling, rolling, thanks to the rolling sea

Overall Meaning

In Elvis Presley's song "Thanks to the Rolling Sea," the lyrics express the joy and gratitude of living a simple life by the sea. The repetitive usage of the phrase "thanks to the rolling sea" highlights the importance of the sea and how it has provided abundance for their lives. The song's lyrics describe the availability of fish in different forms like on the table, on the fire, and hanging on the tree. The verses also talk about how they are happy and content living by the sea, and the sea provides them everything that their heart desires.

The song can be interpreted as a homage to coastal living and how lives can be sustained by the bounty of the sea. The lyrics acknowledge that the sea has been the source of their livelihood, and they owe their happiness to the sea. The song also shows appreciation and respect towards nature, which is rare in modern songs. Elvis Presley's rendition of the song has a nostalgic feel, and the melody is catchy, which makes the song an enjoyable listening experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Thanks to the rolling, rolling, rolling, thanks to the rolling sea
We are grateful for the constant movement of the ocean that provides us with everything we need.

Fish on the table and fish on the fire, fried fish hanging on the tree
We have an abundance of fish that we can cook and eat, as well as preserve for later.

Everything here that your heart desires, thanks to the rolling sea
We have everything we could ever want or need because of the ocean's generosity.

Living is good and living is fine, we're happy as can be
Our lives are rich and fulfilling, and we are content with all that we have.

We owe all this to the salty brine, thanks to the rolling sea
We recognize that everything we have is because of the ocean, and we are grateful for its gifts.

We work all day but our hearts are gay, and while we work we sing
We work hard but still find joy in the simplicity of our lives, and we express that joy through music.

The mighty sea is good to us and we've got everything
The ocean provides us with everything we need, and we are fortunate to have such a bountiful source of sustenance.

Abalone steaks and tuna fish cakes, taste so heavenly
The seafood we eat is delicious and satisfying, and we appreciate the ocean's role in providing it.

We know who we owe it to, thanks to the rolling sea
We are fully aware that our abundance and happiness is a result of the ocean's generosity towards us.

Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: BOB ROBERTS, RUTH BATCHELOR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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