Tutti Frutti
Elvis Presley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

A-bop-bop-a-loom-op a-lop-bop-boom!
Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
A-bop-bop-a-loom-op a-lop-bop-boom!

I got a gal named Sue
She knows just what to do
I got a gal named Sue
She knows just what to do
She rock me to the east
She roll me to the west
She's the gal that I love the best

Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
A-bop-bop-a-loom-op a-lop-bop-boom!

I got a gal named Daisy,
She almost drive me crazy
I got a gal named Daisy,
She almost drive me crazy
She knows how to love me, yes indeed
Oh boy you don't know she do to me

Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
A-bop-bop-a-loom-op a-lop-bop-boom!

Well Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti
A-bop-bop-a-loom-op a-lop-bop-boom!

I got a gal named Daisy,
She almost drive me crazy
I got a gal named Daisy,
She almost drive me crazy
She knows how to love me, yes indeed
Oh boy you don't know she do to me

Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti, ooo
Tutti Frutti au rutti
Tutti Frutti au rutti

Tutti Frutti au rutti
A-bop-bop-a-loom-op a-lop-bop-boom!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Elvis Presley's hit song "Tutti Frutti" may seem nonsensical and outdated to contemporary audiences, but they hold a special place in the history of American rock and roll. The repetitive chant of "Tutti Frutti au rutti" is a reference to the Italian phrase for "all fruits", which was a popular ice cream flavor at the time. However, for many listeners in the 1950s, the phrase came to symbolize a new era of uninhibited sexuality and rebelliousness.

The verses of the song describe two women, named Sue and Daisy, who are both capable of satisfying the narrator's sexual desires. The repetition of their names and the refrain of "Tutti Frutti au rutti" create a sense of wild abandon and pleasure seeking that was both shocking and exciting to audiences at the time. Elvis Presley's energetic performance of the song only added to its impact, as he danced and gyrated in a way that was considered scandalous by some.

Despite the controversy surrounding it, "Tutti Frutti" remains a classic song of the rock and roll era. Its catchy melody and memorable lyrics have been covered by countless artists since its release in 1955, and it is considered one of Elvis Presley's signature songs.

Line by Line Meaning

A-bop-bop-a-loom-op a-lop-bop-boom!
A catchy phrase to open up the song.

Tutti Frutti au rutti
The repeated phrase of the song, which represents a type of musical joy.

I got a gal named Sue
The singer has a girlfriend named Sue.

She knows just what to do
Sue is a good partner who understands the singer's needs.

I got a gal named Sue
Repeating the same line again to enforce the concept.

She knows just what to do
Emphasizing the fact that the girlfriend is the perfect partner.

She rock me to the east
Sue can make the singer feel happy and positive.

She roll me to the west
Sue can help the singer through the tough times.

She's the gal that I love the best
Sue is the best girlfriend the singer's ever had.

Tutti Frutti au rutti
Repeating the joyful phrase of the song.

A-bop-bop-a-loom-op a-lop-bop-boom!
Another catchy phrase to end the song.

I got a gal named Daisy,
Introducing a new character in the song.

She almost drive me crazy
Daisy is a wild and unpredictable partner.

I got a gal named Daisy,
Repeating the same line to establish Daisy's presence.

She almost drive me crazy
Emphasizing the chaotic nature of Daisy's love.

She knows how to love me, yes indeed
Daisy has a different way of expressing love.

Oh boy you don't know she do to me
The singer is trying to explain how Daisy affects him.

Tutti Frutti au rutti
Repeating the joyful phrase of the song.

A-bop-bop-a-loom-op a-lop-bop-boom!
The final phrase to end the song.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dorothy Labostrie, Joe Lubin, Richard Penniman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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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. Read Full BioElvis 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.