Like Elvis Presley, he was raised singing the Christian gospel music of integrated southern Pentecostal churches. In 1950 he attended Southwestern Bible Institute in Texas but was expelled for misconduct, including playing rock and roll versions of hymns in church. Pearry Green (then president of the student body) related how during a talent show Jerry played some worldly music. The next morning the Dean of the school called both Jerry and Pearry into his office to expel them both. Jerry then said that Pearry shouldn't be expelled because "he didn't know what I was going to do." Years later Pearry asked Jerry: "Are you still playing the devil's music?" Jerry replied, "Yes, I am. But you know it's strange, the same music that they kicked me out of school for is the same kind of music they play in their churches today. The difference is, I know I am playing for the devil and they don't."
Leaving religious music behind, he became a part of the burgeoning new rock and roll sound, cutting his first record in 1954. Two years later, at Sun Records studio in Memphis, Tennessee, producer and engineer Jack Clement discovered and recorded Lewis for the Sun label, while owner Sam Phillips was away on a trip to Florida. As a result, Lewis joined Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash as stars who began their recording careers at Sun Studios around this same time.
Lewis' first recording at Sun studios was his own distinct version of the country ballad Crazy Arms. In 1957, his piano and the pure rock and roll sound of Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On propelled him to international fame. Great Balls of Fire soon followed, and would become his biggest hit. Watching and listening to Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis said if he could play the piano like that, he'd quit singing. Lewis' early billing was Jerry Lee Lewis and his Pumping Piano.
Lewis was a pioneer of piano rock, not only through his sound by also through his dynamic performance. He would often kick the piano bench out of the way to play standing, rake his hands up and down the keyboard for dramatic accent, and even sit down on it. His frenetic performance style can be seen in films such as High School Confidential (he sang the title song from the back of a flatbed truck), and Jamboree. These performance techniques have been adopted by recent piano rock artists, notably admirer Elton John.
Cold Cold Heart
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you're my every dream
Yet you're afraid each thing I do
Is just some evil scheme
A memory from your lonesome past
Keeps us so far apart
Why can't I free your doubtful mind
And melt your cold, cold heart
Another love before my time
Made your heart sad and blue
And so my heart is paying now
For things I didn't do
In anger unkind words are said
That make the teardrops start
Why can't I free your doubtful mind
And melt your cold, cold heart
You'll never know how much it hurts
To see you sit and cry
You know you need and want my love
Yet you're afraid to try
Why do you run and hide from lies
To try, it just ain't smart
Why can't I free your doubtful mind
And melt your cold, cold heart
There was a time when I believed
That you belonged to me
But now I know your heart
Is shackled to a memory
The more I learn to care for you
The more we drift apart
Why can't I free your doubtful mind
And melt your cold, cold heart
In Jerry Lee Lewis's song "Cold Cold Heart," the singer tries to convince his love interest that he truly loves her and isn't just playing some sort of game. However, she seems to be holding back and doubting him because of a past relationship that left her with a broken heart. The singer can see that she wants his love but is too afraid to try, and it is breaking his heart to see her suffer.
The lyrics touch upon themes of heartbreak, mistrust, and the difficulties of relationships. The singer is dealing with the consequences of someone else's actions, as the woman he loves is still scarred from a previous relationship. He is trying his best to show her that he is genuine and that his feelings for her are real, but her past trauma is keeping her from fully committing to him.
Line by Line Meaning
I tried so hard, my dear, to show
I put so much effort into showing you that you are everything to me.
That you're my every dream
You are everything I've ever wanted in life.
Yet you're afraid each thing I do
Despite my efforts, you constantly doubt my intentions and think I'm up to no good.
Is just some evil scheme
You believe I have an ulterior motive for everything I do or say.
A memory from your lonesome past
Your past experiences are haunting you and preventing you from fully trusting me.
Keeps us so far apart
Our lack of trust and communication is causing a divide between us.
Why can't I free your doubtful mind
I wish I could help you overcome your doubts and fears so we can be together.
And melt your cold, cold heart
I want to break down the emotional wall you have built up between us and get to the real you.
Another love before my time
Someone you loved before me caused you pain and heartache.
Made your heart sad and blue
Their actions caused you emotional distress and left you feeling depressed.
And so my heart is paying now
I am now suffering the consequences of their actions, even though I had nothing to do with it.
For things I didn't do
I am being blamed for someone else's mistakes.
In anger unkind words are said
Our arguments often escalate to the point where we say things we don't mean and hurt each other.
That make the teardrops start
Our fights leave both of us feeling sad and upset.
You'll never know how much it hurts
It's painful for me to see you suffer and cry.
To see you sit and cry
It's hard for me to watch you in emotional pain.
You know you need and want my love
You recognize that you want me in your life, but your fears and doubts are getting in the way.
Yet you're afraid to try
You're too scared to take a risk and give our relationship a chance.
Why do you run and hide from lies
You're avoiding facing the truth and your real feelings about me.
To try, it just ain't smart
You think that it's not wise to take a chance on me and our love.
There was a time when I believed
I used to be hopeful and optimistic about our relationship.
That you belonged to me
I felt that we were meant to be together.
But now I know your heart
I've come to realize that your heart belongs to someone or something else.
Is shackled to a memory
You're still emotionally attached to something or someone in your past and it's holding you back.
The more I learn to care for you
The more I get to know you, the more I care about you.
The more we drift apart
Despite my growing feelings for you, our lack of trust and communication is causing us to drift further apart.
Why can't I free your doubtful mind
I am still struggling to help you overcome your doubts and fears so we can be together.
And melt your cold, cold heart
My ultimate goal is to break down the emotional wall you have built up between us and connect with the real you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ddoeser5830
Goodmorning Fijne dag toegewenst ! Tijdstip 06:23UUR Woensdagochtend 06:24 UUR ❤🇳🇱🙏👋
@edwardpeterson1634
Fantastic. He is the greatest piano player of all time.
@vanhooler358
and Floyd Cramer, loved them both.
@irenemccann7032
Anyone who sings this great Hank Williams song, can't sing it like Jerry Lee Lewis especially his Sun Recording, his voice and piano playing is just perfection.
@seektruthandwisdom
If there was ever anyone who belongs in both the Country Music and Rock & Roll Hall of Fames it's the legendary Jerry Lee Lewis.
@yvonnecollett9092
Sad that he is no longer with us…… he was sensational!
@waybackplayback1347
If Hank's recording hadn't been such a benchmark, this would have been a number one record many times over.
@dennisdini3233
Jerry lee does cold cold heart the best
@Skiljebo1947
Recording day: 9th of February, 1961. Bob Moore on bass and Buddy Harman on drums. And Hank Garland and Kelton Herston on gtrs. Phillips Studio, Nashville.
@mrsbluesky8415
Jerry Lee had a great voice. It’s true that cream rises to the top. Watch him here on YT w Johnny, Carl and Roy singing This Train. Wowweee !