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.
Your Cheatin' Heart
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'll cry and cry and try to sleep
But sleep won't come the whole night through
Your cheatin' heart will tell on you
When tears come down like falling rain
You'll toss around and call my name
You're gonna walk that floor the way that i do
When tears come down like falling rain
You'll toss around and call my name
You're gonna walk that floor just the way that i do
Your cheatin' heart will tell on you
Your cheatin' heart will tell on you
Your cheatin' heart will tell on you
Elvis Presley's stirring rendition of Hank Williams Sr.'s "Your Cheatin' Heart" is a song about the consequences of infidelity, particularly when it is discovered by the betrayed partner. The opening lines of the song make it clear that cheating will bring nothing but misery to the person who engages in it. The person will be plagued with guilt and regret that will make it impossible to find peace. The tears that they shed will seem never-ending, as they are unable to sleep at night. The phrase "Your cheatin' heart will tell on you" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the betrayer's heart will eventually expose their misdeeds, perhaps either through their guilt or actual confession.
The way that Elvis Presley delivers the song reinforces the message of the lyrics. His passionate, soulful performance captures the emotions of the betrayed lover as they struggle to come to terms with what has happened. He also adds a sense of urgency to the song, portraying the desperation of the betrayer to conceal their infidelity, although they know that it will come to light eventually.
Line by Line Meaning
Your cheatin' heart will make you weep
The guilt of your infidelity will cause you to cry
You'll cry and cry and try to sleep
You will cry so much that it will be difficult for you to sleep
But sleep won't come the whole night through
You will not be able to sleep properly throughout the night
Your cheatin' heart will tell on you
Your conscience will reveal your unfaithful deeds
When tears come down like falling rain
When you feel sad and cry heavily
You'll toss around and call my name
You will feel restless and think of me
You're gonna walk that floor the way that i do
You will be unable to sit still and move around like how I do
Your cheatin' heart will tell on you
Your guilty conscience will eventually reveal your disloyalty
Your cheatin' heart will tell on you
Your actions will eventually lead to consequences and expose your infidelity
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., WARREN M. DEFEVER D/B/A PERFORATE MY HEART MUSIC
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Aaron-ur5jc
Your cheatin' heart
Will make you weep
You'll cry and cry
And try to sleep
But sleep won't come
The whole night through
Your cheatin' heart
Will tell on you
When tears come down
Like falling rain
You'll toss around
And call my name
You'll walk the floor
The way I do
Your cheatin' heart
Will tell on you
Your cheatin' heart
Will pine some day
And crave the love
You threw away
The time will come
When you'll be blue
Your cheatin' heart
Will tell on you
When tears come down
Like falling rain
You'll toss around
And call my name
You'll walk the floor
The way I do
Your cheatin' heart
Will tell on you
@Ms.Elvis.
Always my favorite since 1956. Love you Elvis
@slygo98
Just listen to remind yourself what a wonderful Country singer he was too.
@rhondaboncutter5812
I was born in 1953, my parents loved Elvis so I grew up listening to him as a kid! I loved him so so much! I am 66 and still love him, today!
@HoneyBakedHamlet
My mum was born in 1947, she is a huuuuge fan too and i grew up with elvis also!
Wooden Heart is my absolute favorite.
@jerrydonquixote5927
Same here I had all the 8tracks because of my parents love for music and willingness to give me that same happiness...
@cpthekilla
hank is my second favorite singer but elvis is number one. best singer ever
@anY-bf9ud
Wow, those vocals, unbelievable .
@mommasboy34
The master of vocal dynamics showing off once again.
@user-uc1yl3tc3v
Wow that takes me back bless him❤❤
@lindabrouillette6765
Beautiful!! Elvis singing what comes naturally to him.