Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana, U.S. died … Read Full Bio ↴Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana, U.S. died October 28, 2022 in DeSoto County, Mississippi) was an American rock and roll and country music singer, songwriter, and pianist, as well as an early pioneer of rock and roll music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2022. his pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. His nickname is The Killer.

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.

Don't Touch Me
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm tempted my darling to steal you away
Don't let me cross over stay out of my way
You know that I love you but I'm not the stealing kind
Though I'm faced with heartaches at love's cheating line

Don't let me cross over love's cheating line
You belong to another and you'll never be mine
I know one step closer would be heaven divine

Don't let me cross over love's cheating line

I've tried to forget you but what else can I do
When your eyes keep saying that you love me too
I know if I lose you not a dream will I have left
I don't want to cheat dear but I can't help myself

Don't let me cross over love's cheating line
You belong to another and you'll never be mine

I know one step closer would be heaven divine
Don't let me cross over love's cheating line

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Don't Let Me Cross Over" convey a sense of heartbreak and a struggle between love and morality. The singer is in love with someone who belongs to another, and the temptation to be with them is strong. However, they are aware that cheating is wrong and that pursuing the love interest would only cause heartache. The line "Don't let me cross over love's cheating line" is a plea to the love interest to resist any advances and not let the singer cross that line.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm tempted my darling to steal you away
I'm feeling tempted to take you from your current partner.

Don't let me cross over stay out of my way
Please don't allow me to cross the line and cause any trouble in your current relationship.

You know that I love you but I'm not the stealing kind
I love you, but I do not want to take you away from someone else. It's not in my nature to be a thief or cheater.

Though I'm faced with heartaches at love's cheating line
I am aware of the emotional pain and heartache that comes with cheating and crossing the line in love.

You belong to another and you'll never be mine
You are already in a committed relationship with someone else, and I know that I can never have you for myself.

I know one step closer would be heaven divine
I realize that being with you would be amazing and heavenly, but I also know the consequences of trying to make that happen.

I've tried to forget you but what else can I do
I've attempted to move on from my feelings for you, but it's been difficult.

When your eyes keep saying that you love me too
Despite my efforts to move on, I still see and feel the love in your eyes when we interact.

I know if I lose you not a dream will I have left
If I lose you, I will have nothing left to hold onto, and all my dreams will be shattered.

I don't want to cheat dear but I can't help myself
I don't want to cheat on you or anyone else, but my uncontrollable feelings are leading me down a dangerous path.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: PENNY JAY MOYER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS