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.
Milkshake Mademoiselle
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A candy sodapop for cryin' out loud
All day long, sittin' on a stool
Drinking milkshakes again, she giggles like a fool
She's a milkshake mademoiselle
Cool as she can be
She's a milkshake mademoiselle
Oh well, she's gonna go steady, just to having ball
Same old line for Peter and Paul
Come on baby, gimme a date
You can't get your kicks from an ole a-milkshake
She's a milkshake mademoiselle
Cool as she can be
She's a milkshake mademoiselle
Whoo, what she do to me
Well, gonna jump on the telephone, call up a friend
Don't stop talking till a half past ten
Back to the kitchen to the ole light box
Cool lemonade and a-warm ham hocks
She's a milkshake mademoiselle
Cool as she can be
She's a milkshake mademoiselle
Whoo, what she do to me
Well, she turned on the TV, go girl go
Had a love scene on a late late show
Dream of tomorrow at recess time
She'll brake another heart with the same old line
She's a milkshake mademoiselle
Cool as she can be
She's a milkshake mademoiselle
Whoo, what she do to me
Look a-here what se do to me
Honey baby, what ya doin' to me
Won't you stop what ya doin' to me
Huh-uh
In "Milkshake Mademoiselle," Jerry Lee Lewis describes his infatuation with a girl who hangs around the drugstore drinking milkshakes all day long. He describes her as "cool as she can be," and the repetition of the phrase "whoo, what she do to me" indicates how strongly she affects him. Despite her apparent disinterest in him, Jerry Lee Lewis fantasizes about her and imagines her breaking a succession of boys' hearts with her "same old line." He contrasts her cool exterior with the warmth of the food she prepares, describing her mixing cool lemonade and warm ham hocks in the kitchen.
Although the song is ostensibly lighthearted and playful, it also has a slightly melancholic quality to it. The repetition of the phrase "same old line for Peter and Paul" suggests a sense of boredom and repetition, and the description of the girl giggling "like a fool" suggests that perhaps something about her behavior is artificial or forced. The song seems to be both celebrating and questioning the archetypes of youth and romance that it presents.
Line by Line Meaning
Down to the drugstore, to be with the crowd
Going to the drugstore to hang out with everyone else there
A candy sodapop for cryin' out loud
Just getting a regular old drink to enjoy
All day long, sittin' on a stool
Spending the day sitting down
Drinking milkshakes again, she giggles like a fool
Having fun and laughing while drinking milkshakes all day
She's a milkshake mademoiselle
Describing the girl as someone who loves milkshakes
Cool as she can be
Saying that she is calm and collected
Whoo, what she do to me
Expressing the impact that she has on the singer
Oh well, she's gonna go steady, just to having ball
She plans to date someone just to have fun with them
Same old line for Peter and Paul
She uses the same pick-up lines on everyone
Come on baby, gimme a date
Asking for a date
You can't get your kicks from an ole a-milkshake
Suggesting that she needs more than just milkshakes to be happy
Well, gonna jump on the telephone, call up a friend
Calling a friend to talk on the phone
Don't stop talking till a half past ten
Planning to talk for a while
Back to the kitchen to the ole light box
Going back to the kitchen to watch TV
Cool lemonade and a-warm ham hocks
Enjoying some refreshments while watching TV
Well, she turned on the TV, go girl go
Getting excited by what is on TV
Had a love scene on a late late show
Watching a romantic scene on TV
Dream of tomorrow at recess time
Thinking about what will happen tomorrow while taking a break
She'll brake another heart with the same old line
She will use her usual pick-up line on another person and break their heart
Look a-here what se do to me
The singer is surprised by the effect that she has on him
Honey baby, what ya doin' to me
Asking what she is doing to him
Won't you stop what ya doin' to me
Asking her to stop having such an effect on him
Huh-uh
Expresses the singer's disappointment and frustration
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HAMMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ícaro Corrêa
Great song. Jerry was such a boss.
Slick Andrews
The COOLEST take of this particular tune!!!
Sun Records
Thanks for listening!
Pascal Duchene
Excellent morceau