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.
Hey Good Lookin'
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whatcha got cookin'?
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?
Hey, sweet baby
Don't you think maybe
We could find us a brand new recipe?
I got a hot-rod Ford and a two-dollar bill
There's soda pop and the dancin's free
So if you wanna have fun come along with me
Say, hey, good lookin'
Whatcha got cookin'?
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?
I'm free and ready
So we can go steady
How's about savin' all your time for me?
No more lookin'
I know I've been tooken
How's about keepin' steady company?
I'm gonna throw my date-book over the fence
And find me one for five or ten cents
I'll keep it 'til it's covered with age
'Cause I'm writin' your name down on every page
Say, hey, good lookin'
Whatcha got cookin'?
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?
In Jerry Lee Lewis's song Hey Good Lookin', he sings about approaching a girl and suggesting they cook together. The lyrics are playful and suggest that they could experiment with a brand new recipe together. Lewis then talks about his car, a hot-rod Ford, and the spot he knows to have fun with free soda pop and dancing. He invites the girl to join him in having fun together. Lewis goes on to say that he is ready to be in a committed relationship, suggesting the possibility of going steady. He wants the girl to save all her time for him so that they can be together. He even goes as far as throwing his date book away for her and writing her name on every page to signify his interest in being with her.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, hey, good lookin'
Greeting the person addressed in the song with the phrase “hey, good looking”.
Whatcha got cookin'?
Asking what the person addressed has planned or is cooking.
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?
Suggesting cooking something with the person addressed to spend some quality time.
Hey, sweet baby
Addressing the person as a term of endearment – sweet baby.
Don't you think maybe
Asking if they have considered or thought about something.
We could find us a brand new recipe?
Proposing to explore new things in life to make memories together.
I got a hot-rod Ford and a two-dollar bill
Announcing the possessions that they have, a car and some money.
And I know a spot right over the hill
Referring to a nearby place that they know of.
There's soda pop and the dancin's free
Mentioning the refreshments available for free and how there's no charge for dancing.
So if you wanna have fun come along with me
Inviting the person addressed to join in on the fun.
I'm free and ready
Declaring that they have no obligations and are ready to do something.
So we can go steady
Proposing the idea of an exclusive relationship.
How's about savin' all your time for me?
Asking the person addressed to prioritize them by saving their time for the singer.
No more lookin'
Expressing that they have found what they were looking for and no longer need to search.
I know I've been tooken
Acknowledging that they have been fooled or tricked in the past.
How's about keepin' steady company?
Asking to explore the possibility of being in a committed and long-lasting relationship.
I'm gonna throw my date-book over the fence
Metaphorically expressing their decision to leave their old ways behind by symbolically throwing away their date book.
And find me one for five or ten cents
Humorously saying they will find a new way of keeping track of their schedule which won't cost them much.
I'll keep it 'til it's covered with age
Promising to keep the new date book for a long time.
'Cause I'm writin' your name down on every page
Admitting that they are in love with the person and plan to include their name on every page of the new date book.
Say, hey, good lookin'
Repeating the greeting for emphasis and continuity.
Whatcha got cookin'?
Repeating the question for emphasis and continuity.
How's about cookin' somethin' up with me?
Repeating the proposal for emphasis and continuity.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hank Sr. Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind