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.
Tomorrow Night
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't seem to get her off my mind
I thought I'd never miss her
But I've found out somehow
I think about her almost all the time
The day she went away
I made myself a promise
But something sure is wrong
'Cause I'm so blue, so lonely
I forgot to remember to forget
The day she went away
I made myself a promise
That I'd soon forget we'd ever met
It seems there's something wrong
I'm so blue, so lonely
I forgot to remember to forget
The above lyrics are from Jerry Lee Lewis's song "Tomorrow Night". The song centers on a man who is struggling to forget and move on from his past relationship. He reveals how he's constantly thinking about his former lover, despite wanting to forget her. The chorus emphasizes his inability to let go of his feelings as he admits that he's "forgotten to remember to forget her".
The song captures the universal experience of holding on to painful memories—past loves, regrets, and mistakes—despite our best intentions. The singer tries to convince himself that he's over the relationship, but the fact that he's still thinking about his ex-girlfriend suggests otherwise. The repetition of the phrase "forgot to remember to forget" in chorus highlights the irony of his failed attempt at moving on.
Overall, this song is a beautiful and heartfelt exploration of the experience of heartbreak and the difficulties of letting go of a past love.
Line by Line Meaning
I forgot to remember to forget her
I tried to forget her, but I can't stop thinking about her.
I can't seem to get her off my mind
My thoughts are always consumed with her, and I can't stop thinking about her.
I thought I'd never miss her
Initially, I believed that I wouldn't feel her absence, but I was wrong.
But I've found out somehow
I've come to the realization that I miss her terribly.
I think about her almost all the time
My thoughts are constantly occupied with her, and it's hard to shake her from my mind.
The day she went away
The day she left me and I had to see her go.
I made myself a promise
I made a vow to myself to move on from her and forget about our relationship.
That I'd soon forget we'd ever met
I was hoping that I could erase any memory of our relationship and start anew.
But something sure is wrong
Despite my efforts, something feels off and I can't seem to find solace from the pain of her absence.
'Cause I'm so blue, so lonely
I'm struck with sadness and loneliness, which seems to be worsening with time.
I forgot to remember to forget
Despite my efforts to move on, I still can't stop thinking about her and wishing things could be different.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: VINCENT CRANE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind