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.
Goodnight Irene
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me and my wife settled down
Now me and my wife have parted
I'm going to take another stroll down town
Irene, goodnight
Goodnight, Irene, goodnight
Goodnight Irene
Goodnight Irene
Sometimes, I live in the country
Sometimes, I live in town
Sometimes, I take a promotion
But I'll jump in the river and drown
Irene, goodnight
Irene, goodnight
Goodnight Irene
Goodnight Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Jerry Lee Lewis's song Goodnight Irene is a classic tune about love and loss. The first verse tells the story of a man who got married last Saturday night and settled down with his wife. However, the couple has since parted and the man is now going to take another stroll down town, suggesting that he is looking for a new partner. The chorus, where he bids goodnight to Irene, implies that Irene may have been the man's former lover, and that he still has feelings for her even though they cannot be together.
The second verse takes on a more morbid tone as the man muses on the various places he lives and the decisions he makes in his life. He laments that sometimes he is happy living in the country or in town, and sometimes he takes promotions, but ultimately he concludes that he will end up jumping in the river and drowning. This verse could symbolize the man's sense of hopelessness and despair at being unable to find the stability and love he craves. The chorus is repeated again in the second verse, further emphasizing the man's ongoing fondness for Irene, despite his current situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Last Saturday night, I got married
I recently got married on a Saturday night
Me and my wife settled down
My wife and I started living together
Now me and my wife have parted
However, my wife and I have now separated
I'm going to take another stroll down town
As a result, I'm going to head back to town
Irene, goodnight
Saying goodbye to Irene named person
Goodnight, Irene, goodnight
Wishing Irene sweet dreams and saying goodbye
Goodnight Irene
Repeating the farewell to Irene
Goodnight Irene
Repeating the farewell to Irene again
I'll see you in my dreams
Expressing that he will dream about Irene
Sometimes, I live in the country
Sharing that sometimes he resides in the country
Sometimes, I live in town
Other times, he lives in the town
Sometimes, I take a promotion
On occasion, he gets promoted in his job
But I'll jump in the river and drown
However, he would rather drown in the river instead
Irene, goodnight
Once again, saying goodbye to Irene
Irene, goodnight
One more time, wishing Irene a good night
Goodnight Irene
Final time saying farewell to Irene
Goodnight Irene
Ending with repeating the farewell to Irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Ending by expressing once again that he will dream of Irene
Contributed by Tyler G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@chazinko
Classic Leadbelly song.
@carpool9642
Rest in peace Jerry Lee (a.k.a The Killer)
@melodygoodman540
First record I had of his.