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.
You Are My Sunshine
Jerry Lee Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You make me happy, when skies are grey,
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
The other night dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
I'll always love you and make you happy,
If you could only, only feel the same.
But in your heart dear, oh you love another
And you have shattered all of my dreams
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
So please don't take my sunshine away
The lyrics of Jerry Lee Lewis's song "You Are My Sunshine" tell a story of a person deeply in love with someone, who is afraid of losing them. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the importance of the person to the singer, saying that they are their only source of happiness, and that they love them. The lyrics then shift to describe a dream that the singer had, where they held their loved one, only to awake and realize that it was not real. This demonstrates how much the person means to the singer, even in their sleep. The final verse speaks to the singer's desire to make their loved one happy, but they are aware that their love may not be returned, and that their dreams may be "shattered."
Line by Line Meaning
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
You are the one who makes my life bright and cheerful, and the only one who does so.
You make me happy, when skies are grey,
When everything else around me seems dull and dim, you have the ability to make me joyful and content.
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
I care for you so deeply, but expressing my love for you is beyond words.
Please don't take my sunshine away
Please don't do anything that would cause the light and warmth you bring into my life to disappear.
The other night dear, as I lay sleeping
Recently, while I was asleep,
I dreamed I held you in my arms
In my dream, I was holding you close to me.
When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken
But when I woke up, I realized it was only a dream and that you were not actually with me.
So I hung my head and I cried.
This realization made me feel sad and helpless.
I'll always love you and make you happy,
I will love you unconditionally and do everything in my power to keep you happy.
If you could only, only feel the same.
If only you could reciprocate these feelings and love me back in the same way.
But in your heart dear, oh you love another
However, I know that in your heart, you have feelings for someone else.
And you have shattered all of my dreams
This realization has shattered my hopes and dreams of us being together.
So please don't take my sunshine away
Once again, I implore you to not take away the joy and brightness you bring into my life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Jimmie Davis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
spn_super_junkie
i love Jerry Lee Lewis! he is still out there rockin & rolling! he was the first member in the rock n roll hall of fame. he just gets better with age and i see hi! as the true king of rock and roll!
zam iel
He was part of the first GROUP of people inducted.. Technically chuck berry was the first person inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame because they went in alphabetical order.. Love the killer.. But let's get the facts right.
Wayne
I love this song anyway but jerry doing it im in awe...….
Jeremy Lewis
My cousin hope I get to meet you one day maybe I get my guitar skills from you jerry lee .still to this day most amazing piano work .
Thomas Sanders
Jeremy Lewis I want to meet him so bad. I can play the piano just like him. I live about 30 minutes from Ferriday, I love close to Natchez
Miss Kitty 1944
You are great jerry lee thank you for all music 2019 god bless you
Tony P AmandaP
Classic and one of my fav jerry lee songs
20-156 Mikael Anugrah Gultom
finally, i found this song. 🥺
TennisJiuJitsu
cant take my boogie woogie away! <3
Jane Doe
Lewis is the bomb.com