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.
Wild One
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am real real cool
I got the jump got the jive
Got the message I'm alive
I'm a wild I'm wild one
Oh, yeah, I'm a wild one
I'm gonna keep a movin', baby
Don't you cramp my style
I'm a real wild child
Come on, baby
Shake all night long
Shake until the meat
Come off the bone
But I'm a wild one
Oh, yeah, I'm a wild one
I'm gonna keep a shakin'
I'm gonna keep a movin' baby
Don't you cramp my style
I'm real wild child
Well, I gonna pick you up in my 88
Get ready sugar now don't be late
We're gonna move it all night long
Until a whole lotta shakin' going be on
Well, I'm a wild one
Oh, yeah, I'm a wild one
I'm gonna keep a shakin'
I'm gonna keep a movin' baby
Don't you cramp my sytle
I'm a real wild child, whoa
Yeha, I really get to movin' when the sun goes down
Oh, after dark I can get around
Gonna move on I'll make every hop
When we start to boppin' now sure can't stop
I'm a wild one
Oh, yeah, I'm a wild one
I'm gonna keep a shakin'
I'm gonna keep a movin', baby
Don't you cramp my style
I'm a real wild child
I'm a real wild child
I'm a real wild child
I'm a real wild child
Watch out
The lyrics to Jerry Lee Lewis’ classic track “Wild One” capture the essence of what it means to be young and alive with a desire for adventure. The opening verse reflects on the excitement of being freshly out of school and possessing a certain level of coolness that comes with being young and energetic. The lyrics highlight that the singer has the jump, the jive, and has received the message that they are alive. In the chorus, Jerry Lee Lewis proudly declares that he is a ‘wild one’ and intends to keep on shaking and moving. He advises others not to cramp his style as he is a real wild child.
The second verse sees Jerry Lee Lewis delivering a message to his lover that he is going to pick her up in his car and they’ll be moving all night with lots of dancing, shaking, and hopping. He promises a whole lot of shakin’ going on. The final verse conveys the singer’s enthusiasm and energy as he states that he really gets to moving when the sun goes down, after dark he can get around, and nothing can stop him. The lyrics of the song “Wild One” speak to the wild and carefree spirit of youth and the desire to be free and alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I am just out of school
I have newly graduated from school
I am real real cool
I am incredibly cool
I got the jump got the jive
I have high energy and great rhythm
Got the message I'm alive
I am alive and full of vitality
I'm a wild I'm wild one!
I am a wild and unpredictable person
Oh yeah I'm a wild one!
I am truly wild
I'm gonna keep a shakin'
I will keep moving energetically
I'm gonna keep a movin' baby
I will keep moving, my dear
Don't you cramp my style I'm a real wild child!
Don't ruin my vibe, I'm a truly wild person
Come on baby shake all night long
Let's dance energetically all through the night
Shake until the meat come off the bone
Let's dance so hard that we nearly exhaust ourselves
'cause I'm a wild one
Because I am truly wild
Well I gonna pick you up in my 88
I am going to pick you up in my Oldsmobile 88 car
Get ready sugar now don't be late
Be ready, dear, don't be late
We're gonna move it all night long
We're going to dance energetically all night long
Until a whole lotta shakin' going be on!
We're going to dance energetically until we run out of energy
Whoa!
Wow!
Well I really get to movin' when the sun goes down
I get highly energetic when it gets dark
Oh after dark I can get around
I can move around easily after dark
Gonna move on I'll make every hop
I will dance with great energy and enthusiasm
When we start to boppin' now sure can't stop
Once we start dancing energetically, we won't be able to stop
I'm a real wild child
I am a truly wild person
Watch out!
Be careful!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOFFER AHL, FREDRIK ASKENSTROM, ERIK HOLMBERG, BJORN LINDBOM, MATTIAS OHLSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marjorielittleton735
I will never figure how jerry lee lewis could sing the words at mock i speed. He could sing like no other. He was unique and noone could copy him. He was one of a kind in the way he voild bangs out ghose piano keys no lessons nope self taught couldnt read music it was in his head thats all he needed . Talk about better times years ago. No one questioned Jerry LEE LEWIS style of playing and singing music.
@badassdanthepowerman6438
See that people? That’s the real fuckin deal right there.
@paulshults4574
That is no lie!
@bloozedaddy9965
REAL DEAL KILLER ROCK N ROLL THAT STEALS THE SHOW!
@evildaveprime
He outlived Elvis, he outlived Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee is still THE KILLER! Long live Rock and Roll!
@AnnaLVajda
He's a tough ol boy I'll give him that.
@michaelterrell5061
Not anymore sadly. But he lived a good long life. God bless him.
@BloozeDaddy76
Everytime the Killer stands up and rocks the hell out of that piano like you see here, it is one of the greatest moments rock n' roll has to offer. This is the man who paved the way for the wild and crazy stage persona of guys like The Who, AC/DC, and Ted Nugent. Jerry Lee is the original wildman of rock n' roll, and amazingly is still rockin somewhere tonight in 2010.
@TheFarmerfitz
I don't think there'll be anyone quite like Jerry Lee Lewis. He is one of a kind!!!
@JustAdude7777
I will master the piano and start the best Jerry Lee Lewis tribute band!