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.
Just a Little Bit
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well then a little light from heaven healed my soul
Well, he bathed my heart in love, and wrote my name above
Well just a little talk with my Jesus gonna it right
We'll just have a little talk with Jesus
We're gonna tell Him all about our troubles
He will hear our fainted cry
Oh well, when you feel a little prayer wheel turning
And you will know a little fire is burnin'
You will find a little talk with Jesus makes it right
You may have doubts and fears
Your eye be filled with tears
Oh well my Jesus is a friend who watches day and night
Well he wrote my name above, and he bathed my heart in love
Oh well just a little talk with my Jesus gonna make it right
Let us have a little talk with my Jesus
Please let us tell Him all about our troubles
He will hear our faintest cry
He will answer by and by
Now when you feel a little prayer wheel turning
You'll know just a little fire is burnin'
And have a little talk with my Jesus gonna makes it right
Well you may have doubts and fears
Your eye be filled with tears
Oh well now my Jesus is a friend who watches day and night
Well you go to Him in prayer
He answers my every prayer
Oh well just a little talk with my Jesus gonna makes it right
Now let us have a little talk with my Jesus
Tell Him all about our troubles
He will hear our faintest cry
And I know he's gonna answer by and by
Now when you feel a little prayer wheel turning
You'll know a little fire is burnin'
And have a little talk with my Jesus gonna makes it right
Make it right
The lyrics to Jerry Lee Lewis's song "Just A Little Talk with Jesus" speaks about the transformative power of faith and prayer. Jerry Lee Lewis expresses that before he found Jesus, he was lost in sin, but after accepting Jesus into his life, he felt as though a light from heaven healed his soul. Lewis acknowledges that although we may have doubts and fears and our eyes may be filled with tears, when we have just a little talk with Jesus, he will hear our fainted cry and answer us by and by. The song suggests that through prayer and faith in Jesus, we can find solace from our troubles and be healed of our sins.
The song encourages listeners to have a little talk with Jesus in times of need. While we may feel alone and troubled, the song suggests that Jesus is always watching and listening, ready to answer our every prayer. The repetition of Jesus writing our names above and bathing our hearts in love emphasizes that through prayer we can be saved, and our names will be written in the book of life. The last few lines of the song reiterate that when we feel the prayer wheel turning, we can have hope that a little talk with Jesus will make it right.
Line by Line Meaning
I once was lost in sin but Jesus took me in
I used to live a life of sin, but Jesus showed me the right path and accepted me into his embrace
Well then a little light from heaven healed my soul
A divine intervention occurred, which brought a sense of healing and peace to my soul
Well, he bathed my heart in love, and wrote my name above
Jesus filled my heart with love and grace, and claimed me as his own with a sense of belonging
Well just a little talk with my Jesus gonna make it right
All I need is a little conversation with Jesus, and he will set everything straight
We'll just have a little talk with Jesus
Let's have a conversation with Jesus
We're gonna tell Him all about our troubles
Let's share our worries and problems with Jesus
He will hear our fainted cry
Jesus will listen to our smallest and weakest voice, even if we can barely cry out to him in times of trouble
He will answer by and by
He will respond in his own time and manner, which could be immediate or delayed
Oh well, when you feel a little prayer wheel turning
When you start praying and turning the prayer wheel, you feel a sense of spiritual energy building within you
And you will know a little fire is burnin'
You will feel a warm sensation and a sense of devotion as you pray
You will find a little talk with Jesus makes it right
Talking to Jesus can solve all our worries and problems
You may have doubts and fears
Despite our faith, we all may have moments of doubt and uncertainty
Your eye be filled with tears
When we are overwhelmed with our troubles, we may cry and feel emotional pain
Oh well my Jesus is a friend who watches day and night
Jesus is our constant companion, watching over us day and night, and supporting us through all of our struggles
Well he wrote my name above, and he bathed my heart in love
Jesus has an everlasting love for us, claiming us as his own, and filling our hearts with his grace
Let us have a little talk with my Jesus
Let us continue to have a conversation with Jesus
He answers my every prayer
Jesus listens and responds to all of our prayers
Now let us have a little talk with my Jesus
Let's continue to converse and connect with Jesus
And I know he's gonna answer by and by
Jesus will respond to our worries and concerns in his own time and way
Make it right
Jesus can make everything right in our lives if we trust in him and have faith in his power
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: CLEAVANT DERRICKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind