Way Down
Presley (Elvis) Lyrics
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The lights are goin' dim
The sound of your breathin'
Has made the mood I'm in
All of my resistance
Is lying on the floor
Taking me to places
I've never been before
Ooh, and I can feel it
Feel it, feel it, feel it
Way down where the music plays
Way down like a tidal wave
Way down where the fires blaze
Way down, down, way, way on down
Ooh, my head is spinnin'
You got me in your spell
A hundred magic fingers
On a whirling carousel
The medicine within me
No doctor could prescribe
Your love is doing' something
That I just can't describe
Ooh, and I can feel it
Feel it, feel it, feel it
Way down where the music plays
Way down like a tidal wave
Way down where the fires blaze
Way down, down, way, way on down
Hold me again
Tight as you can
I need you so
Baby, let's go
Way down where it feels so good
Way down where I hoped it would
Way down where I never could
Way down, down, way, way on down
The lyrics of Elvis Presley's song "Way Down" appear to be about a romantic encounter that's making the singer feel alive and passionate. The singer of the song is feeling drawn to someone and their all-consuming love is bringing about a change in him. The song has a seductive tone that hints at the sexual energy between the two lovers. The lyrics "The sound of your breathing has made the mood I'm in" implies that the singer is being seduced by the sounds of his lover's breathing. This is followed by "All of my resistance is lying on the floor/ Taking me to places I've never been before," which suggests that the singer is giving in to his desires and allowing himself to be taken on a journey by his lover.
The chorus talks about being taken "way down" – figuratively and literally – to places where the music and fires blaze. These lines repeat, emphasizing the deep feelings being communicated. The final verse mentions "a hundred magic fingers on a whirling carousel," which could be a sexual metaphor that represents the intensity of the singer's love. Elvis is mesmerized by this powerful and overwhelming feeling, as he sings "Your love is doing something that I just can't describe." The song has a climax towards the end when Elvis is singing with an undeniable sense of urgency.
* Elvis' last single released before his death was "Way Down" in 1977.
* The song was released in June 1977, but it was recorded in October 1976, five months before Elvis's death.
* Elvis's former girlfriend Linda Thompson says he would play "Way Down" on the piano and dance around while singing it.
* "Way Down" was a huge commercial success and became Elvis's last top 40 hit of his lifetime.
* The song went on to become a hit in the UK charts and reached number one, making it Elvis's last number one hit in the UK.
* It was the last song he performed live, as well as the last song he played on his piano in Graceland.
* The song was written by Layng Martine Jr. and produced by Felton Jarvis.
* The song has been covered by various artists such as Status Quo and Cliff Richard.
* "Way Down" was used as the opening track to Paul Thomas Anderson's 2012 film "The Master".
Chords:
G D7 G
Babe, you're getting closer
D7 G
The lights are goin' dim
G D7 G
The sound of your breathin'
D7 G
Has made the mood I'm in
C G D7 G
All of my resistance
D7 G
Is lying on the floor
G D7 G
Taking me to places
D7 G
I've never been before
Chorus:
G D7 G
Way down where the music plays
D7 G
Way down like a tidal wave
G D7 G
Way down where the fires blaze
D7 G
Way down, down, way, way on down
G D7 G
Ooh, my head is spinnin'
D7 G
You got me in your spell
G D7 G
A hundred magic fingers
D7 G
On a whirling carousel
C G D7 G
The medicine within me
D7 G
No doctor could prescribe
G D7 G
Your love is doin' something
D7 G
That I just can't describe
Chorus:
G D7 G
Way down where the music plays
D7 G
Way down like a tidal wave
G D7 G
Way down where the fires blaze
D7 G
Way down, down, way, way on down
G D7 G
Hold me again
D7 G
Tight as you can
G D7 G
I need you so
D7 G
Baby, let's go
Chorus:
G D7 G
Way down where it feels so good
D7 G
Way down where I hoped it would
G D7 G
Way down where I never could
D7 G
Way down, down, way, way on down
Line by Line Meaning
Babe, you're getting closer
You're approaching me, getting physically nearer.
The lights are goin' dim
The lighting in the area is decreasing in brightness.
The sound of your breathin'
I can hear the noise that you're exhaling, possibly due to being physically close.
Has made the mood I'm in
The sound of your breathing has influenced the emotional atmosphere that I'm currently experiencing.
All of my resistance
Any attempt towards refraining from the situation.
Is lying on the floor
Refers to the metaphorical concept of losing one's inhibitions and no longer opposing an idea or action.
Taking me to places
Emotionally transporting me somewhere I've never experienced before.
I've never been before
A sense of being exposed to an entirely new situation.
Ooh, and I can feel it
Feel it, feel it, feel it
An inner feeling of electrification, as though energy is being transferred from someone else to him.
Way down where the music plays
A location or environment where music is a core part of the fabric; could be a reference to a nightclub or concert.
Way down like a tidal wave
Making a comparison between the sensation and force of being hit by an oceanic tidal wave and a strong feeling or emotion.
Way down where the fires blaze
Suggesting a location or environment that is overly hot, like a place where fires burn, such as a desert or sauna.
Way down, down, way, way on down
An emphasis on the deepness and intensity of a particular feeling or emotion.
Ooh, my head is spinnin'
Possibly indicating that the person is feeling dizzy, as though they've been on a carnival ride.
You got me in your spell
Used as a symbolic expression to describe how they are under the influence or control of someone.
A hundred magic fingers
On a whirling carousel
The use of colorful metaphors are employed to represent the idea of feeling an overwhelming sense of excitement and euphoria.
The medicine within me
No doctor could prescribe
Mentioning a feeling of pleasure that one naturally receives, without any pharmaceutical aid.
Your love is doing' something
That I just can't describe
An emphasis on the unknown feeling that this person has just experienced.
Hold me again
Asking for physical contact again with the partner.
Tight as you can
Requesting to be held as securely and firmly as possible.
I need you so
Expressing a strong need for physical and emotional companionship.
Baby, let's go
A call to action, requesting that the couple move and take action together towards something unknown.
Way down where it feels so good
A sense of experiencing total pleasure and elation, while implying a sense of sexual climax.
Way down where I hoped it would
A sense of wanting to reside in a location of pure joy, instead of being in an unfulfilling or negative situation.
Way down where I never could
A sense of being in a positive space that was never experienced before.
Way down, down, way, way on down
The ultimate goal is to experience an intense, thrilling feeling when one reaches the 'bottom' emotionally.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: HARRY EDWARD STINSON, MARTY STUART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Seleucus Nicator
"Way Down"
Babe, you're getting closer
The lights are goin' dim
The sound of your breathin'
Has made the mood I'm in
All of my resistance
Is lying on the floor
Taking me to places
I've never been before
Ooh, and I can feel it,
Feel it, feel it, feel it
Way down where the music plays
Way down like a tidal wave
Way down where the fires blaze
Way down, down, way, way on down
Ooh, my head is spinnin'
You got me in your spell,
A hundred magic fingers
On a whirling carousel
The medicine within me
No doctor could prescribe
Your love is doing something
That I just can't describe
Ooh, and I can feel it,
Feel it, feel it, feel it
Way down where the music plays
Way down like a tidal wave
Way down where the fires blaze
Way down, down, way, way on down
Hold me again,
Tight as you can
I need you so,
Baby, let's go
Way down where it feels so good
Way down where I hoped it would
Way down where I never could
Way down, down, way, way on down
Juan Camacho
Babe, you're getting closer
The lights are goin' dim
The sound of your breathin'
Made the mood I'm in
All of my resistance
Lying on the floor
Taking me to places
I've never been before
Ooh, and I can feel it
Feel it, feel it, feel it
Way down where the music plays
Way down like a tidal wave
Way down where the fires blaze
Way down, down
🎸🎸
Ooh, my head is spinnin'
You got me in your spell
A hundred magic fingers
A swirling carousel
The medicine within me
No doctor could prescribe
Your love is doing' something
That I just can't describe
Ooh, and I can feel it
Feel it, feel it, feel it
Way down where the music plays
Way down like a tidal wave
Way down where the fires blaze
Way down, down
🎸🎸
Hold me again
Tight as you can
I need you so
Baby, let's go
Way down where it feels so good
Way down where I hoped it would
Way down where I never could
Way down, down
Crucial Parodies
This song is so timeless. You could play this today to someone who’s never heard Elvis and they’d think it was recorded in 2022. As his very last single, this was a masterful way to go out. Through all his ailments, addictions, and depression, when it came to the music Elvis never missed a beat.
Ckom
No way! It’s far too good to have been recorded in the last 20 years! RIP Elvis!
MIKECNW
You must not live in the real world. It sounds exactly the time it was recorded.
Crucial Parodies
@MIKECNW always someone named Mike
Chris Allen
I believe this song hit #1 the day he died. Elvis will forever live on through his music whether it's rock 'n' roll, blues or his gospel music
That Christine Lover
@MIKECNW your not an true Elvis fan are ya??
cocolossal69
I had no idea this was his last single. You'd never know, he sounds awesome 💜 bloody fantastic song!
Celestina B
The same here.
Vim Fuego
It was the FIRST single I ever owned.
Kevin Hoffman
This was recorded on Halloween night 1976