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.
Twilight
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hot summer night
We lay in the tall grass
'Til the mornin' light
If I had my way I'd never
Get the urge to roam
A young man serves his country
Never gave a second thought
Never crossed my mind
What's right and what's not
I'm not the judgin' kind
I could take the darkness oh
Storms in the skies
But we all got certain trials
Burnin' up inside
Don't send me no distant salutations
Or silly souvenirs from far away
Don't leave me alone in the twilight
Twilight is the loneliest time a day
Don't put me in a frame upon the mantel
'Fore memories turn dusty old and grey
Don't leave me alone in the twilight
Twilight is the loneliest time a day
The song "Twilight" by Jerry Lee Lewis describes a hot summer night spent with someone special in the wildwood lying on tall grass, waiting for the morning light. Jerry sings about how he loves his country and takes pride in serving it, but never wants to leave this moment. He admires the older men who guard their home, but he wants to spend his life like a young man, living in moments of bliss. He has no interest in distinguishing what is right from wrong as he is not the judging kind.
Jerry Lee Lewis goes on to talk about his inner struggles, trials, and tribulations that he keeps hidden. He is determined to brave through the darkness and fight the storms in the skies, but he knows that everyone has crippling internal battles to fight. He sings that he doesn't want any distant solace or silly memorabilia from faraway lands. He doesn't want to be left alone in the twilight, which he believes is the loneliest time of the day. In the end, he asks not to be put in a frame on the mantel and forgotten as memories turn dusty, but instead to be cherished in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Over by the wildwood
In the woods
Hot summer night
Warm weather
We lay in the tall grass
We were lying down in the tall grass
'Til the mornin' light
Until morning
If I had my way I'd never
If I could, I wouldn't
Get the urge to roam
Feel the urge to travel
A young man serves his country
A young man serves his country
And an old man guards the home
And an old man protects his home
Never gave a second thought
Never thought about it again
Never crossed my mind
Never thought of it
What's right and what's not
What is right and what is wrong
I'm not the judgin' kind
I don't judge
I could take the darkness oh
I could handle the darkness
Storms in the skies
Storms in the sky
But we all got certain trials
We all face difficult situations
Burnin' up inside
Having intense emotions
Don't send me no distant salutations
Don't send me greetings from far away
Or silly souvenirs from far away
Or meaningless gifts from far away
Don't leave me alone in the twilight
Don't leave me alone in the evening
Twilight is the loneliest time a day
Evening is the loneliest time of day
Don't put me in a frame upon the mantel
Don't put a picture of me on the shelf
'Fore memories turn dusty old and grey
Before the memories become old and faded
Don't leave me alone in the twilight
Don't leave me alone in the evening
Twilight is the loneliest time a day
Evening is the loneliest time of day
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBBIE ROBERTSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@liammacbeth8057
The only thing wrong with this song is... i want more of it. It's short. I wish for a 6 minute version with solos and such.
@davidknight6546
This song got me back into Jerry Lee Lewis.
@PaulGaston88
Thank you for listening!💜
@davidknight6546
@Paul L Gaston I've been a fan since the late 1980's. My interest must have tailed off a bit in the early 2000's. I remember buying the 'Last Man Standing' album and being completely blown away. This song 'Twilight' tops the album in my opinion.
@antonybuckley266
My fave track on LMS......Its hearbreakingly beautiful...Killer makes this song his own...
@kentlowry8436
My favorite song.
@user-df1eo6bf9s
Rip Robbie.
@dlekee
R.I.P.
@ronnieharrison6577
Great song
@PaulGaston88
Welcome! Enjoy the other great things on my channel. 🎹🎹🎹💜