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.
Down the Line
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You ain't got the style
I'm a gonna get some real gone love
That'll drive a cool cat wild
I wanna move, move on down the line
Gonna get me a gal then I go out on the town
Well, I wanna move on down the line
You're gonna leave me square, she can't be slow
And when she starts a struttin', we gotta go
I'm gonna move, move on down the line
Well, I'm in love, have been all the time
Yeah, I'm gonna show, you ain't so hot
I'm gonna get, what you ain't got
She'll be sweet, won't do me wrong
She'll be cool and twice as gone
We're gonna roll on, roll on down the line
I'm gonna get some love, lovin' that's truly fine
Well, I wanna move on down the line
I'm gonna get some lovin', truly fine
A love that'll be twice as gone
And when she starts a struttin', she's gotta go
I wanna move on, move on down the line
Well, I'm gonna do right, do right all the time
I'm gonna do right, do right all the time
The song Down the Line by Jerry Lee Lewis is a classic rock and roll song that captures the essence of youth, rebellion, and the desire for true love. The lyrics reflect the singer's dissatisfaction with his current love interest and his determination to find someone who can give him the kind of love he desires. The opening lines reveal that the current lover is lacking in style and cannot fulfill the singer's needs. He then declares his intention to find a real gone love that can drive a cool cat wild.
As the song progresses, the singer expresses his eagerness to move on and find a new love interest. He wants to take this new love out on the town and make some time with her. He urges his current lover not to hold him back, as he needs someone who can keep up with his pace. He wants a love that is sweet, cool, and twice as gone. He promises to do right by this new love, all the time.
The lyrics of this song are a reflection of the spirit of rock and roll, which is all about breaking free from the norm and pursuing your dreams. It speaks to the rebelliousness and energy of youth and the desire for something more. The song has a driving beat and a catchy melody that captures the mood of the lyrics and makes it a classic rock and roll anthem.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, you can't be my lovin', baby
I'm sorry but you don't have the qualities I'm looking for in a partner
You ain't got the style
You don't have the attitude, appearance, or coolness that I'm looking for
I'm a gonna get some real gone love
I want to find a passionate and exciting love
That'll drive a cool cat wild
A love so intense and thrilling that it will excite even the coolest and most composed person
I wanna move, move on down the line
I want to move forward with my search for love
Gonna get me a gal then I go out on the town
I'm going to find a girl and take her out to have fun
You're gonna leave me square, she can't be slow
I need a girl who is fast-paced and doesn't waste time
And when she starts a struttin', we gotta go
As soon as she starts dancing and showing off her confidence, we need to leave and have our own fun
I'm in love, have been all the time
I'm always searching for love and new experiences
Yeah, I'm gonna show, you ain't so hot
I'm going to prove to you that you're not the best option for me
I'm gonna get, what you ain't got
I'm going to find someone who has the qualities that you lack
She'll be sweet, won't do me wrong
I want a girl who is kind and won't betray me
She'll be cool and twice as gone
I want a girl who is easygoing but also passionate and adventurous
We're gonna roll on, roll on down the line
We're going to keep moving forward in our search for love
I'm gonna get some love, lovin' that's truly fine
I want to find a love that is not only intense but also genuine and fulfilling
A love that'll be twice as gone
A love that is twice as thrilling and exciting as anything I've experienced before
I'm gonna do right, do right all the time
I'm going to make sure that I treat my partner well and be the best version of myself in the relationship
Lyrics © Roy Orbison Music Company , Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROY ORBISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nellololli8798
Un pezzo SUPERSONICO di JERRY LEE 👀
@marcocasas6148
As always devastating piece of the killer.i.p......Thank you for bringing some color of music joy into this desperate valley of shit & tears in which we were born!!!!!!!
@joepalooka2145
Sun Studios was a truly miraculous studio. It's just amazing to think of all those incredibly talented musicians who turned up out of nowhere to record for Sam Philips. There's never been anything quite like it before or since.
@bozoadams4113
Phillips was a genius. His records sounded better than the big companies, and he was using very basic equipment. The instruments were perfectly balanced. Don't know how he did it.
@trukeesey8715
They were satanists. Sam had a problem with that, or pretended to.
@seanraleigh999
Dave Davies of The Kinks sent me here! Thanks Dave!
@kordier
The Killer is rockin’...
@audiophilenick
Roy Orbison's version is great as well; he wrote it and recorded it as well. Also Mickey Gilley (The Killers Cousin) does a real rocking version as well. Sad it had 2 be the b side.
@bozoadams4113
Yes, Roy Orbison recorded it in 1956 and it was the flip side of Ooby Dooby, but the title was Go Go Go. Roy asked JLL to do a version of the tune in 1958 and the title was changed to Down the line. Jerry also did a version of Ooby Dooby
@jimhornsby1854
Pumping piano?