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.
Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now you're puttin' on the style
And you've never once looked back
At your home across the track
You're the gossip of the town
But my heart can still be found
Where you tossed it on the ground
Pick me up on your way down
Pick me up on your way down
When you're blue and all alone
When their glamour starts to bore you
Come on back where you belong
You may be their pride and joy
But they'll find another toy
Then they'll take away your crown
Pick me up on your way down
They have changed your attitude
Made you haughty and so rude
Your new friends can take the blame
Underneath you're still the same
When you've learned these things are true
I'll be waiting here for you
As you tumble to the ground
Pick me up on your way down
Pick me up on your way down
When you're blue and all alone
When the glamor starts to bore you
Come on back where you belong
You may be their pride and joy
But they'll find another toy
Then they'll take away your crown
Pick me up on your way down
The opening verse indicates that the singer and the subject of the song had a relationship which ended abruptly. The subject has moved on since then, but the singer has not been able to move past the heartbreak that the breakup caused him. He describes the subject as being someone who is trying hard to change themselves to fit in with a different social status than before, but is dealing with bad gossip as a result of their attempts. Despite all of this, the singer's heart is still with the subject, even though they have cast it aside.
In the chorus, the singer is asking for the subject to return to him when they are feeling low and discarded by their newer, fancier friends. He promises to be there for them and to lift them up when they are feeling down. He knows that their social status is fleeting and that they will eventually be replaced by someone else who is newer and shinier, so he wants to be the person who remains loyal to them through it all.
The final verse acknowledges that the subject may have changed since they were last together, but assures them that deep down they are still the same person the singer fell in love with. He promises to be waiting for them when they inevitably hit rock bottom, ready to welcome them back into his life.
Line by Line Meaning
You were mine for just a while
We were once together, but not anymore.
Now you're puttin' on the style
You've changed your behavior, and you're acting differently.
And you've never once looked back
You didn't even glance back at where you used to be.
At your home across the track
Your previous humble beginnings where you grew up.
You're the gossip of the town
Everyone is talking about your new lifestyle.
But my heart can still be found
You broke my heart, and I still carry the pain.
Where you tossed it on the ground
You discarded my feelings without care.
Pick me up on your way down
Come back to me when everything falls apart.
When you're blue and all alone
When you're feeling sad and lonely.
When their glamour starts to bore you
When you're tired of their superficiality.
Come on back where you belong
Return to the place where you first belonged.
You may be their pride and joy
You may be the center of attention for them right now.
But they'll find another toy
However, they'll eventually move on to someone else.
Then they'll take away your crown
They'll take away your status as the center of attention.
They have changed your attitude
They have influenced your behavior in a negative way.
Made you haughty and so rude
They have made you arrogant and impolite.
Your new friends can take the blame
Your new friends are responsible for your bad behavior.
Underneath you're still the same
Despite your changes, you're still the same person deep down.
When you've learned these things are true
When you realize the truth about your situation.
I'll be waiting here for you
I will be here for you regardless.
As you tumble to the ground
As you face the consequences of your actions.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: AUDREY ALLISON, JOE ALLISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@miltonmoore7687
I hesitate to write this because I love Jerry
Lee Lewis and feel
it is with the utmost
sincerity that he praises God in three
persons through the many Gospel songs he has recorded that
have blessed me so;
however, there is a
huge issue and worry
for me regarding JLL
or anyone who gets
into SEVEN! marriages, based on
caveats appearing in
Holy Scripture which
I'll spare you from propounding on. I
hope God blesses JLL much more in
the next life than he
has in the present one, and I shall hope-
fully be witness to it.
@luthermoore2969
This is music. Not the shit today. No country artist today can hold a candle to this cat. Plain and simple
@chrishumphrey1330
Thank you sir he was running up against Elvis for being the best rock and roller ever and you think he can't handle this country shit come on people
@Bradydog-in7ut
People in music have been trying to measure themselves against this gutsy for ever. Few measure up.
@georgeadams8892
He deserves to be in the Country Music Hall of Fame
@anettebaltzarsen9903
Yes 🇩🇰
@leslieadkins5774
Jerry Lee Lewis IS the Country Music Hall of Fame...
@deanbanks3392
He needs to be in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
@pollyhansom8977
He was admitted into the Country Music Hall of Fame not too long before he passed away
@steveyapuncich6317
I played piano over 69 years and he still amazes me every time I hear or watch him play. Who can do what he just did?
@hbbeverly
I've never seen anyone before or since Jerry Lee jump into double-timing his attack on the piano for several measures and then just settle back down to just playing along with the boys with the grace that only a super-master could pull off. It was unreal what he could do on piano!