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.
The Night Before Christmas
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A Cathedral's candle light
Bring the message of the holidays
On a snowy Christmas night
Holly reeds and hidden mistletoe
Symbols of the seasons might
Joyful faces everywhere you go
Give thanks for all you've been blessed with
And hold your loved ones tight
For you know the Lord's been good to you
On a snowy Christmas night
Mother Nature wears a bridal gown
For the world is dressed in white
There's a silent glow that fills the earth
On a snowy Christmas night
For you know the Lord's been good to you
On a snowy Christmas night
The Night Before Christmas by Elvis Presley captures the essence of the festive season, through the power of prayers and the symbolism of traditional Christmas ornaments. The song opens with the image of midnight prayers being whispered softly in a cathedral's candlelight, suggesting a sense of calm and peacefulness that is synonymous with Christmas. The use of candlelight adds to the ambiance of the song, accentuating the spiritual aspect of the holiday.
The lyrics then move on to describe the significance of holly reeds and hidden mistletoe and the joyous faces that can be seen everywhere during Christmas time. This repetition of joy in the lyrics emphasizes the infectious nature of the festive spirit and the idea of togetherness that is so important during this season. The next few lines remind listeners to cherish their blessings and loved ones, and to acknowledge the Lord's goodness in their lives. The reference to Mother Nature wearing a bridal gown indicates the beauty and purity of the snow that blankets the earth during Christmas. It is this beautiful and silent glow that fills the earth that brings so much magic and enchantment to the holiday.
Line by Line Meaning
Midnights prayers so softly whispered in
Praying at midnight with whispered words in hushed tones
A Cathedral's candle light
The soft flickering light of the candles in a cathedral
Bring the message of the holidays
Convey the essence of Christmas
On a snowy Christmas night
On a night when the snow is falling
Holly reeds and hidden mistletoe
The symbols of Christmas that signify love and good cheer
Symbols of the seasons might
Representative of the strength of each season
Joyful faces everywhere you go
Happy people are scattered all around
Give thanks for all you've been blessed with
Be thankful for all the blessings bestowed upon you
And hold your loved ones tight
Embrace and hold the people you love tightly
For you know the Lord's been good to you
Acknowledge that the Lord has been kind to you
Mother Nature wears a bridal gown
Nature's attire is like a bride in white
For the world is dressed in white
The whole world is covered in a layer of white snow
There's a silent glow that fills the earth
A gentle and peaceful radiance fills the world
On a snowy Christmas night
On a night when the snow is falling
For you know the Lord's been good to you
Acknowledge that the Lord has been kind to you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: STANLEY JAY GELBER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dorosu
Yes, brothers, God gave Elvis a voice that will delight us for hundreds of years. The Christmas songs sung by him really make me feel the Christmas spirit.
@christakulikowski7567
Merry Christmas to all my fellow Elvis' fans around the globe! 72 yrs - love him and his music for 66yrs already. Am addicted to that versatile golden voice. From Namibia.
@amandagross9146
What I would give to hear this again on my parents childhood record player. Fuzziness and skips in areas of the record. My parents dancing in the living room. It's engrained in my memory forever. ❄️⛄
@joannbelaski8967
I can picture Christmas tree and presents and snow falling down. So beautiful: Elvis is the best:
@erikraether
"On a Snowy Christmas Night" is such a beautiful Christmas song
that should definitely be more well known than it actually is.
Elvis will surely always remain The King of music and entertainment.
@christakulikowski7567
That's for sure!!!! A most faithful man blest by God and his fans know this. Forever appreciative of every thing that Elvis left behind for us to enjoy.
@user-wh7bc7pb1x
Brilliant song no one will ever be better than Elvis because he is the king
@kittyread1605
Beautiful...from such a beautiful heart we were so blessed to have for 42 years ❤❤❤ ..and in my heart for all eternity ❤🌹😥🙏💌. This is so beautiful, and over the years meant a lot ...and always will..His Christmas songs will always be of sentiment as all his beautiful recordings. With this song , I'm met with a warmth, much sentiment reflecting special memories and in prayers 🙏✝️. 💟❤️
@pilartena4648
Fantàstic sentir Elvis cantan Merry Christmas day. Quina veu tan meravillosa. 💓🎵🎸🎤🌲
@NeverforgetElvis
Never forget what a gift he was and continues to be. Merry Christmas ya'll!