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.
He'll Have to Go
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's pretend that we're together, all alone.
I'll tell the man to turn the jukebox way down low,
And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go.
Whisper to me, tell me do you love me true,
Or is he holding you the way I do?
Tho' love is blind, make up your mind, I've got to know,
You can't say the words I want to hear
While you're with another man,
If you want me, answer "yes" or "no,"
Darling, I will understand.
Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone.
Let's pretend that we're together, all alone.
I'll tell the man to turn the jukebox way down low,
And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go.
In Jerry Lee Lewis's song "He'll Have to Go," the singer is asking his lover to quietly speak to him over the phone so they can pretend they are together alone. The singer is asking his lover to let him know if she loves him as much as he loves her or if she is being held tightly by someone else. Jerry Lee Lewis sings about the struggle of love and how it can be blind, but ultimately decisions must be made. The singer asks his lover if she wants him to hang up or if she will tell her friend that he'll have to leave.
The song is about jealousy, love, and making difficult decisions in a relationship. The singer tries to figure out if his lover is just using him as a backup or truly loves him. He asks her if she can say the words he wants to hear, while she is with another man, and if she cannot make up her mind, he will understand. This creates a sense of understanding from the singer, but also vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone.
Come near and talk to me intimately over the phone.
Let's pretend that we're together, all alone.
Imagine a romantic moment where we are alone together.
I'll tell the man to turn the jukebox way down low,
I will request the jukebox to be turned down so that we can focus on our conversation.
And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go.
Ask the person with you to leave, as I want to speak to you exclusively.
Whisper to me, tell me do you love me true,
Speak softly to me, and confess if you truly love me or not.
Or is he holding you the way I do?
Are you being embraced by someone else with the same passion as me?
Tho' love is blind, make up your mind, I've got to know,
Although love is irrational, please make a decision because I need to find out what you truly want.
Should I hang up, or will you tell him he'll have to go?
Would it be better for me to end this conversation, or will you ask your companion to leave so we can continue talking?
You can't say the words I want to hear
You cannot tell me the words I want to hear.
While you're with another man,
While you are with someone else.
If you want me, answer 'yes' or 'no,'
If you want to be with me, please answer simply with either “yes” or “no”.
Darling, I will understand.
My dear, I will accept and comprehend your decision.
Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone.
Once again, come near to the phone and talk to me sweetly.
Let's pretend that we're together, all alone.
Let us return to our intimate imagination of being alone together.
I'll tell the man to turn the jukebox way down low,
Once again, I will request to lower the volume of the jukebox.
And you can tell your friend there with you he'll have to go.
Now that it is quiet, politely ask your friend to leave, so that we can continue talking privately.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joe Allison, Audrey Allison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind