Released as a double-sided single along with "What'd I Say" from the same film, "Viva Las Vegas" was a modest hit at best at the time, reaching number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart and number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, improving to number 15 after a reissue in 2007.
However in years since, it has become one of Presley's most recognized numbers. In the 1990s and 2000s, the song has been contained in countless movies, TV sitcoms, either as a reference to the city of Las Vegas, or simply as an expression of joy, or bewilderement in related comedic situations. Somewhat amusingly, it is said that Doc Pomus wrote the words to "Viva Las Vegas" some thirty years before ever venturing west of Newark, New Jersey.
In 2002, the city of Las Vegas requested Elvis Presley Enterprises, the company that handles a portion of Elvis' legacy and all Elvis-related music rights, to allow it to be the official song of the city but negotiations were stalled over the price requested by EPE, notwithstanding that EPE had not controlled the copyright to the song "Viva Las Vegas" since 1993, at which time it became the property of the families of the songwriters Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. That EPE no longer owns the copyright essentially means that EPE does not have the authority or right to negotiate the use of the song "Viva Las Vegas" in Las Vegas or anywhere else within the United States, its territories and possessions. Although, EPE may be able to negotiate the use of the actual Elvis recording of the song.
According to the Viva Las Vegas Songfacts, this features Glen Campbell on guitar. Before he became a successful Country/Pop recording artist, Glen Campbell was much in demand as a session guitarist in the mid 1960s.
Viva Las Vegas
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna set my soul on fire
Got a whole lot of money that's ready to burn
So get those stakes up higher
There's a thousand pretty women waitin' out there
And they're all livin' the devil may care
And I'm just the devil with love to spare, so
How I wish that there were more
Than the twenty-four hours in the day
Even if there were forty more
I wouldn't sleep a minute away
Oh, there's black jack and poker and the roulette wheel
A fortune won and lost on ev'ry deal
All you need's a strong heart and a nerve of steel
Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas
Viva Las Vegas with your neon flashin'
And your one arm bandits crashin'
All those hopes down the drain
Viva Las Vegas turnin' day into nighttime
Turnin' night into daytime
If you see it once
You'll never be the same again
I'm gonna keep on the run
I'm gonna have me some fun
If it costs me my very last dime
If I wind up broke, oh well
I'll always remember that I had a swingin' time
I'm gonna give it ev'rything I've got
Lady luck please let the dice stay hot
Let me shoot a seven with ev'ry shot, ah
Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas
Viva Las Vegas, Viva, Viva Las Vegas
The lyrics to Elvis Presley's song "Viva Las Vegas" are centered around the high stakes, glamorous and thrilling world of Las Vegas. The singer is portraying himself as a devilish figure, with a heart full of love, ready to take on the city with all its temptations. The first verse sets the tone for the remainder of the song, with the opening lines "Bright light city gonna set my soul / Gonna set my soul on fire", expressing the excitement and anticipation of the singer to be in Las Vegas. He then goes on to mention his financial state, noting that he has a "whole lot of money that's ready to burn," conveying the message that he's willing to take risks and bet big.
The chorus of the song, "Viva Las Vegas!" is an enthusiastic exclamation, directed towards the city itself, as if to say "Long live Las Vegas!" The next verse is a wistful one, in which the singer expresses his desire for more time in the day, as he feels there is so much to do and see in Las Vegas. The third and final verse reiterates the singer's willingness to risk it all and the upbeat tempo carries the feeling of excitement all the way through the end.
Overall, the lyrics of "Viva Las Vegas" capture the Las Vegas spirit perfectly, with its glitz, glamour, and high-stakes energy. The song is famous for its evocative imagery and is considered an iconic Elvis song, often featured in movies and TV shows about the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas.
Line by Line Meaning
Bright light city gonna set my soul
The glittering city of Las Vegas fills me with an intense feeling that I can’t describe
Gonna set my soul on fire
It energizes me and I feel alive
Got a whole lot of money that's ready to burn
I have a lot of money to spend
So get those stakes up higher
So, I'm going to gamble more tonight
There's a thousand pretty women waitin' out there
There are many beautiful women waiting for me outside
And they're all livin' the devil may care
They are all living recklessly, without any worries or responsibilities.
And I'm just the devil with love to spare, so
I am a person who loves to have fun and is full of charm.
Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas
Long live Las Vegas
How I wish that there were more
I wish there were more hours in a day
Than the twenty-four hours in the day
So that I can spend more time enjoying myself
Even if there were forty more
Even if there are more hours in the day
I wouldn't sleep a minute away
I will not waste my time sleeping
Oh, there's black jack and poker and the roulette wheel
There are many gambling games such as blackjack, poker and roulette
A fortune won and lost on ev'ry deal
People win and lose a lot of money in each round
All you need's a strong heart and a nerve of steel
You need to be brave and have a strong willpower to win in gambling.
Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas
Long live Las Vegas
Viva Las Vegas with your neon flashin'
Las Vegas, with its neon lights flashing everywhere, is truly a sight to behold.
And your one arm bandits crashin'
The sound of slot machines tumbling over and over is exhilarating to me.
All those hopes down the drain
The dreams of many people who gamble and lose their money are shattered
Viva Las Vegas turnin' day into nighttime
Las Vegas is famous for its night life and continues to be powered by the entertainment sector day and night.
Turnin' night into daytime
Las Vegas is a city that never sleeps and its bright lights are ever-shining, day and night.
If you see it once
Once you have experienced Las Vegas
You'll never be the same again
You will be transformed positively by the Las Vegas experience
I'm gonna keep on the run
I will not stay idle, but continue to move and explore different places
I'm gonna have me some fun
I am going to enjoy myself and have a great time
If it costs me my very last dime
Even if it means losing all my money
If I wind up broke, oh well
Even if I end up being empty-handed, it's no big deal
I'll always remember that I had a swingin' time
I will always cherish the memories I have made in Las Vegas
I'm gonna give it ev'rything I've got
I'm going to put everything I have into this experience
Lady luck please let the dice stay hot
I hope luck and fortune favor me
Let me shoot a seven with ev'ry shot, ah
When I roll the dice, I hope I get a lucky seven every time
Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas
Long live Las Vegas
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Crazy Diamond
So glad Elvis is coming back here in 2022, it's really a glow of gods light to this horrible decade, Long live Elvis Presley ♥️🎸
Sandra Veneno Sechi
Concordo com vc
William Tran
stand with ucrain stand with Joe stand with Lucifer
Crazy Diamond
@William Tran Do you mean Ukraine?
Мирјана Адамовић
Wait but Elvis is dead, and if he didn't die he'd be 88 years old.
CdrChaos
Long live the King.
Ur_mom_is_hot
I remember the first time I heard a Elvis. I was 2-3 years old and I was playing just dance and found jailhouse rock and I couldn’t get enough of it. Really shows how good his music is.
James Putter
I must say your posts are lovely
and interesting, I also admire •your good sense of humor on here but we are not friends only on this page
Sandra Veneno Sechi
O mundo nunca será igual, antes e nem depois de Elvis, fenomenal, maravilhoso, talentoso, lindooooo ❤️❤️❤️🇧🇷
James Putter
I must say your posts are lovely
and interesting, I also admire •your good sense of humor on here but we are not friends only on this page