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.
SWEET DREAMS
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every night I go through
Why can't, why can't I forget you and start my life a new
Instead of having sweet dreams about you
Oh you, you don't love me, it's plain
I should have known I'll never share your name
Yes I, I should hate you the whole night through
Oh I know, I know I should hate you,
I should hate you the whole night through
Instead of having sweet dreams about you
Instead of having sweet dreams about you
The lyrics to Jerry Lee Lewis's song, Sweet Dreams, are a bittersweet lamentation of lost love that keeps haunting the singer's dreams every night. He is wistfully nostalgic about the romantic memories he shared with his lover and is unable to overcome the pain of their separation. The singer's emotional turmoil is palpable in every note he strikes on the piano.
The first verse expresses the restless longing the singer experiences every night when he thinks about his ex-lover. Despite his efforts to move on with his life, he is still haunted by the memories and regrets of their relationship. He wishes he could forget her and start anew, but his mind and heart are stuck in the past. The second verse reveals the singer's realization that his lover never really loved him back, and he feels foolish for not seeing it earlier. However, despite the pain and bitterness he feels, he still can't entirely let go of the emotional attachment he has for her. The last verse concludes with the singer acknowledging his contradictory feelings of hatred and desire. He knows he should hate her for the pain she caused him, but he can't help dreaming of a future where they might be reunited.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet, sweet dreams of you
The singer has dreams about the person he loves.
Every night I go through
The singer has these dreams every night.
Why can't, why can't I forget you and start my life a new
The singer wants to forget about this person and move on with their life.
Instead of having sweet dreams about you
The singer would rather not dream about this person.
Oh you, you don't love me, it's plain
The singer knows that the person they love does not love them in return.
I should have known I'll never share your name
The singer realizes that they will never be with this person.
Yes I, I should hate you the whole night through
The singer knows that they should be angry with this person.
But I keep having sweet dreams about you
Despite knowing they should be angry and move on, the singer still dreams about this person.
Oh I know, I know I should hate you,
The singer acknowledges that they should hate this person.
Instead of having sweet dreams about you
The singer wishes they could stop dreaming about this person.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Don Gibson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dragica Petrović
Thank you Jerry Lee Lewis ~ <3 ~ :D:P
"Sweet Dreams"
Sweet, sweet dreams of you
Every night I go through
Why can't, why can't I forget you and start my life a new
Instead of having sweet dreams about you
Oh you, you don't love me, it's plain
I should have known I'll never share your name
Yes I, I should hate you the whole night through
But I keep having sweet dreams about you
Oh I know, I know I should hate you,
I should hate you the whole night through
Instead of having sweet dreams about you
Instead of having sweet dreams about you
atticdog
This guy can do ANY song and kick ass! I'm just going through and picking songs I wouldn't usually pick to listen to, just to see how The JLL does them. What can I say? He makes everyone of them his own, and, KILLER!
Reg mason232
Just beautiful- from 1968 - 1986 Jerry was the BEST singer of ballads and country soul! That was his true forte- and he was the best. What a talent! This song brings such a flow of tears- my heart breaks every time I hear it. Yeah!
Patrick Wall
Jerry Lee, Gene, Moon Mullican, Hank Williams, Bessie Smith, Robert Johnson and so many more are irreplaceable icons in the blues music of America. And I am proud to have learned this music and they inspired so much good times.
hbbeverly
I love this song by Jerry - he laid everything he had into his vocal and piano playing. The steel guitar part also is a uniqwue sound for a steel guitar. It sounds particularly sad. I had my heart broke after splitting up with my first love as a teenager, and I would turn this song on and repeat it over and over again, crying my eyes out over my loss. But listening to this song, and others of love and loss on that album was like medicine, and helped me get over her eventually. Jerry, aka Dr. Love!
jerlan23
Didn't know JLL recorded this one until now. Of course, it is another masterpiece by the greatest vocal and piano performer of all time. And the name of your channel makes a true statement. Jerry Lee rules. The universe, that is, when it comes to vocal and piano. Thanks for the audio and the pix.
marti
He had the best rendition of every song he sang- unbelievable talent- the likes of him will never come again!
Joan Jones
he still is "the Killer" ..he just kills these songs. crying in my beer! OMG he is the best the very best.
straker1999
I think Jerry-Lee really excells at country music. He is brilliant at rock-&-roll but country was to me, an unexpected surprise when I heard him perform it. He is simply a truly fantastic singer ... excellent ... :o)
S.R. R.
The best version of this beautiful song I have ever heard. Have to replay it because I hate when it ends.
terry cahoe
The man sure made some bad decisions in life but don't we all rock on Jerry Lee Lewis!