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.
Too Young
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They say that love's a word a word'd be only heard
And can't begin to know the meaning of
And yet we're not too young to know this love will last for years may go
And then someday they may recall we were not too young at all
[Piano]
We were not too young at all
In Jerry Lee Lewis's song "Too Young," the singer is addressing the doubts that people around them have about their relationship. They keep being told that they are too young to truly be in love and that love is just a word without real meaning. However, the couple disagrees and believes that their love is true and will last for many years. They are confident that even if time passes and their relationship changes, they will always look back and know that they were not too young to experience a deep love.
The lyrics of the song are resonant for many young people who have been told that their emotions are not valid or significant because they are too young to really understand love. The song rejects this notion and asserts that youthful love can be authentic and long-lasting. Jerry Lee Lewis taps into the fervent passions of youth, challenging the idea that love is only something that adults can comprehend.
Line by Line Meaning
They try to tell us we're too young too young to really be in love
People are trying to convince us that we are too young to experience and understand love
They say that love's a word a word'd be only heard
They argue that love is simply a term that people hear and use, but don't truly comprehend
And can't begin to know the meaning of
They doubt our ability to understand the true essence of love
And yet we're not too young to know this love will last
Despite our age, we know that our love is enduring and will withstand the test of time
For years may go
The passage of time may bring many changes, but our love will remain strong
And then someday they may recall
In the future, those who doubted us may remember our love and its resilience
We were not too young at all
Ultimately, our youth was not a hindrance to our ability to experience genuine love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SIDNEY LIPPMAN, SYLVIA DEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JerryLee1956
It's a Bossa Nova, by the way...and Jerry at his best for sure!
hunter clifton
excellent quality, sounds great !
missusestlady
rock and roll and country perfect!
Ronald Herrera
They try to tell us we're too young too young to really be in love
They say that love's a word a word'd be only heard
And can't begin to know the meaning of
And yet we're not too young to know this love will last for years may go
And then someday they may recall we were not too young at all .....
[ piano ] ...
They try to tell us...
We were not too young at all
Ronald Herrera
@Anna L. Vajda There is no age for love is present in your soul, heart and mind - Blessings in your life and family.
Anna L. Vajda
Nobody would play this for me now I'm 40.
Paola Marie Fuchs Stitelmann
Love too - Ronald Herrera .....
Luc
Do you know that he is still here with his piano?
He is the last pionneer.
JerryLee1956
It's a Bossa Nova - but in the picture of young Jerry you see the killer smiling...;-)
Tony Freeman
King of all genres.