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.

Wheels On My Heels
Elvis Presley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Gotta do some livin', got the wanderlust
Better clear the highway 'cause I'm gonna move some dust
Oh I got wheels, wheels on my heels
And I gotta keep rollin', rolling along

Lots of pretty dollies try to fence me in
But I love 'em and leave 'em 'cause a tumbleweed's my kin
Oh I got wheels, wheels on my heels

And I gotta keep rollin', rolling along

Why do I keep movin', never settlin' down
Can it be I'm looking for a dream I haven't found
Oh I got wheels, wheels on my heels
And I gotta keep rollin', rolling along

Oh I got wheels, wheels on my heels
And I gotta keep rollin', rolling along

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Elvis Presley's song Wheels On My Heels relate to a man who is constantly on the move due to his desire to explore new places and experiences. He has an insatiable appetite for adventure and cannot seem to settle down. Starting with the line "Gotta do some livin', got the wanderlust," the singer of the song is driven by a restless spirit that pushes him to keep moving. The next line, "Better clear the highway 'cause I'm gonna move some dust, " suggests that he wants to leave a lasting mark or impact wherever he goes.

The chorus of the song, "Oh, I got wheels, wheels on my heels, and I gotta keep rollin', rolling along," highlights the idea that his constant movement is due to his inbuilt desire to explore and experience life to the fullest. He is always on the lookout for new adventures, and he cannot be tied down to one place or person, as seen in the verse, "Lots of pretty dollies try to fence me in, But I love 'em and leave 'em 'cause a tumbleweed's my kin."

The chorus again reinforces his need to keep moving and his belief that there is something out there that he is still searching for. As seen in the final verse, "Why do I keep movin', never settlin' down, Can it be I'm looking for a dream I haven't found," the singer knows that his journey is not over yet, and he must keep rolling on to find his destination.

Line by Line Meaning

Gotta do some livin', got the wanderlust
I need to experience all that life has to offer, I have the desire to travel and explore new things.

Better clear the highway 'cause I'm gonna move some dust
Get out of my way, I'm going to be driving fast and leaving a trail of dust behind me.

Oh I got wheels, wheels on my heels
I have the ability to travel anywhere I want to go, I'm always on the move.

And I gotta keep rollin', rolling along
I can never stay in one place for too long, I must keep moving and exploring.

Lots of pretty dollies try to fence me in
Many women try to keep me tied down, but I won't let them hold me back from my journey.

But I love 'em and leave 'em 'cause a tumbleweed's my kin
I enjoy the company of women, but I can't stay with any of them because I am meant to wander like a tumbleweed.

Why do I keep movin', never settlin' down
I am always moving because I am searching for something that I haven't found yet.

Can it be I'm looking for a dream I haven't found
Perhaps the reason I can't stay in one place is because I am searching for a dream that has yet to be fulfilled.

Oh I got wheels, wheels on my heels
My ability to travel is always with me, I can pick up and go anywhere I want at any time.

And I gotta keep rollin', rolling along
My journey never ends, I must keep moving forward and experiencing new things.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROY C. BENNETT, SID TEPPER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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