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.
Haunted House
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Moving was hot but I got squared away
Bells started ringing and chains rattled loud
I knew I'd moved in a haunted house
Still I made up in my mind to stay
Nothing was a gonng drive me away
When I seen something that gave me the creep
I stood right still and I did the freeze
And he did the stroll right up to me
Made a sound with his feet like a drum
Saying, "You'll be here when the morning comes"
Say, "Yes, I'll be here when the morning comes
I'll be right here and I ain't gonna run
I bought this house, now you know I'm boss
Ain't no haunt gonna run me off"
In the kitchen, my stove wad a blazing hot
The coffee was a boiling in the pot
The grease had melted in my pan
I had a hunk of meet in my hand
From out of space, there sat a man
On a hot stove was pots and pans
Say, that's hot, I began to shout
He drank a hot coffee from the spout
He ate the raw meat right from my hand
Drank the hot grease from the frying pan
He said to me,"Now you better run
And don't be here when the morning comes"
Say,"Yes, I'll be here when the morning comes
I'll be right here and I ain't gonna run
I bought this house, now you know I'm boss
Ain't no haunt gonna run me off""
Jerry Lee Lewis's song "Haunted House" tells a story about a man who has just moved into his new house. He remembers the hectic day of moving where he had to work hard to square everything away. Then, the bells started ringing, and the chains rattled so loudly that he knew there was something not quite right about his new home. Despite that, he is determined to stay and nothing is going to drive him away.
As he explores the house, the man encountered a creepy monster with one big eye and two big feet. He froze on the spot, but the monster strolled right up to him, making a drumming sound with his feet. It warned him to leave the house before the morning comes, but the man stands his ground and says he's not going to be scared away. Later, in the kitchen, the man was boiling coffee, and the grease had melted in his pan when he saw a man sitting in the middle of his hot stove. That new visitor drank a hot coffee and ate raw meat right from the man’s hand. The man on the stove warned him again to leave the house before dawn, but once again, he refused.
Jerry Lee Lewis's "Haunted House" is a song about a brave man who refuses to be chased away from his new home by paranormal activity. It tells the story of a man who is willing to stand up to what he perceives as supernatural powers and not let them scare him away. A simple message of taking up the responsibility and the willingness to stand up for something run through the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I just moved in my new house today
I have just moved into my new home today.
Moving was hot but I got squared away
It was exhausting to move, but I managed to settle in.
Bells started ringing and chains rattled loud
I heard the sound of bells ringing and chains rattling loudly.
I knew I'd moved in a haunted house
I realized that I have moved into a house that is haunted.
Still I made up in my mind to stay
Regardless, I decided to stay.
Nothing was a gonng drive me away
Nothing was going to force me to leave.
When I seen something that gave me the creep
However, I saw something that scared me.
Had a one big eye and two big feet
It had one large eye and two big feet.
I stood right still and I did the freeze
I remained still and froze in my place.
And he did the stroll right up to me
It then walked up to me.
Made a sound with his feet like a drum
It made a drumming sound with its feet.
Saying, "You'll be here when the morning comes"
It spoke and said, "You will still be here in the morning."
Say, "Yes, I'll be here when the morning comes
I replied, "Yes, I will still be here in the morning.
I'll be right here and I ain't gonna run
I will remain right here and not flee.
I bought this house, now you know I'm boss
I declared that I am the owner of this house, and therefore in charge.
Ain't no haunt gonna run me off"
I stated that no haunting force would scare me away.
In the kitchen, my stove wad a blazing hot
My stove was extremely hot in the kitchen.
The coffee was a boiling in the pot
The coffee was boiling away in the pot.
The grease had melted in my pan
The grease had melted in the frying pan.
I had a hunk of meet in my hand
I had a piece of meat in my hand.
From out of space, there sat a man
Suddenly, a man appeared out of nowhere.
On a hot stove was pots and pans
The man sat on a hot stove among the pots and pans.
Say, that's hot, I began to shout
I yelled out that it was very hot.
He drank a hot coffee from the spout
The man then drank hot coffee from the coffee pot spout.
He ate the raw meat right from my hand
The man ate the raw meat straight from my hand.
Drank the hot grease from the frying pan
He also drank hot grease from the frying pan.
He said to me,"Now you better run
The man then warned me to run away.
And don't be here when the morning comes"
He urged me to leave before morning.
Contributed by Elliot N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.