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.
Mean Woman Blues
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mean as she can be
I got a woman
Mean as she can be
Sometimes I think
She's almost mean as me
A black cat up and died of fright
Oh, I got a woman
Mean as she can be
Sometimes I think
She's almost mean as me
She kiss so hard, she bruise my lips
Hurts so good, my heart just flips
Oh, I got a woman
Mean as she can be
Sometimes I think
She's almost mean as me
The strangest gal I ever had
Never happy 'less she's mad
Oh, I got a woman
Mean as she can be
Sometimes I think
She's almost mean as me
She makes love without a smile
Ooh, hot dog that drives me wild
Oh, I got a woman
Mean as she can be
Sometimes I think
She's almost mean as me
The lyrics in Jerry Lee Lewis's song "Mean Woman Blues" depict the singer's frustration with his significant other who has a mean streak that matches his own. The repetition of the phrase "mean as she can be" emphasizes just how unpleasant the woman in question can be. The first stanza suggests that the woman's behavior is so bad, it's almost on par with the singer's own bad behavior. The lyricist employs figurative language to explain just how bad the singer's relationship is, describing a black cat that died of fright after crossing her path.
The singer highlights some of the more physical aspects of the relationship in the next stanza, suggesting that the woman kisses so hard that she causes bruising on the singer's lips. However, despite this pain, the singer seems to enjoy the relationship, with "hurts so good" suggesting the idea that he likes the pain. The third stanza emphasizes just how difficult the woman is to please, with "never happy 'less she's mad" describing her extreme mood swings. Finally, the last stanza suggests that the woman is quite passionate in the bedroom, but that her love-making style is passionless, with "She makes love without a smile."
Overall, the lyrics showcase a tumultuous and unhealthy relationship that's characterized by pain, anger, and a troubling lack of love.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a woman
I am in a relationship with a woman
Mean as she can be
She is very difficult to deal with and ill-tempered
Sometimes I think
There are moments when I reflect on our relationship
She's almost mean as me
Her personality is as unpleasant as mine
A black cat up and died of fright
She is so notoriously unpleasant that even animals fear her
'Cause she crossed his path last night
She was in the black cat's path and it caused his death
She kiss so hard, she bruise my lips
When she kisses me, she does it so passionately that it results in physical injury
Hurts so good, my heart just flips
Despite the pain, her love for me is overwhelming and makes me feel excited
The strangest gal I ever had
She is the most peculiar woman I have ever been with
Never happy 'less she's mad
She is only content when she is angry or upset
She makes love without a smile
When we are being intimate, she does not show any signs of pleasure or enjoyment
Ooh, hot dog that drives me wild
Even though she is not smiling, the physical aspect of our intimacy still excites me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Claude Demetruis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bryan Palmer
My late Mother was a fan of Jerry Lee and one of her favorite songs of his was this 💎 Thanks for the post Auckland New Zealand 2022
pietro pacini
are good memories and thank you for stopping here to comment
Manolo Pérez-Aranda Pérez-Aranda
Auténtico rock and roll relizado por el killer, fantástica música, con sonido de los años 50.
pietro pacini
Gracias ...
Najponk Jazz
I'm back in time while listening to this....Jerry Lee killin'!!!!
Natalie Kriegler
He Sounds great on this song…it’s a favorite song of mine
K King
FANTASTIC collection of Jerry Lee's work--best Playlist on the Tube I've heard yet. Looks like I'll be sleeping with my headphones on tonight!! Keep on rockin' Jerry--see you in my dreams. LOL
Z Quad
One of the greatest.... And underrated...
ClintReno90
Grandissimo Jerry Lee! ;)
Carl Savich
Roy Orbison's 1963 recording on Monument Records is almost an exact xerox copy of the 1957 Jerry Lee Lewis version on Sun Records. The arrangement is almost identical. Roy Orbison even uses Jerry Lee Lewis' lyrics and vocal mannerisms such as the purr. Jerry Lee Lewis originally released the song in 1957 as part of the Sun Records EP The Great Ball of Fire. He also performed the song in 1964 live at the Star Club in Hamburg, the version which was included as the opening track on the landmark live album with The Nashville Teens released by Philips.