Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana, U.S. died … Read Full Bio ↴Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana, U.S. died October 28, 2022 in DeSoto County, Mississippi) was an American rock and roll and country music singer, songwriter, and pianist, as well as an early pioneer of rock and roll music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2022. his pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. His nickname is The Killer.

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.

Near You
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's just one place for me, near you
It's like heaven to be, near you
Times when we're apart, and I can't face my heart
Say you'll never stray, more than just two lips away

If my hours could be spent, near you
I'd be more than content, near you
Make my life worth while, by telling me that I'll

Spend the rest of my days, near you

There's just one place for me, near you
It's like heaven to be, near you
Times when we're apart, and I can't face my heart
Say you'll never stray, more than just two lips away

If my hours could be spent, near you
I'd be more than content, near you

Make my life worth while, by telling me that I'll
Spend the rest of my days, near you

Overall Meaning

In the song "Near You" by Jerry Lee Lewis, the singer expresses his love for his partner and his desire to always be by their side. The song begins with the line "There's just one place for me, near you," which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer says that being close to his partner is like being in heaven and it makes his life worth living. However, when they are apart, he can't bear to be away from them and asks them to promise that they will never be more than just two lips away from him.

The second verse of the song is similarly focused on being close to his partner. The singer says that he would be more than content if he could spend all his time by their side. He asks his partner to tell him that he will be near them for the rest of his life and make his life worth living. Overall, the song is a touching expression of love and the desire to always be close to one's partner.

Line by Line Meaning

There's just one place for me, near you
My whole world revolves around being close to you.

It's like heaven to be, near you
Being near you brings me immense happiness and joy.

Times when we're apart, and I can't face my heart
When we're not together, it hurts me deeply and I struggle to deal with my emotions.

Say you'll never stray, more than just two lips away
Promise me that you'll never leave me for anyone else and stay close to me always.

If my hours could be spent, near you
If I could spend all my time with you, I would be immensely satisfied.

I'd be more than content, near you
Just being near you would be enough to make me incredibly happy.

Make my life worth while, by telling me that I'll
Give me a reason to live and make my life fulfilling by promising that I'll always be near you.

Spend the rest of my days, near you
Promise me that I'll get to spend the rest of my life with you and never be far away.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Francis Craig, Kermit Goell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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