I Gotta Know
The Playtones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And a couple of times on a plane
I thought I was safe from detection
With all of the weight I had gained
But walking around in a jumpsuit
That didn't work worth a damn
So I bought me some Levis and grew me a beard
And you'll never guess who I am
Nobody knows I'm Elvis
Nobody knows this is me
After all of my tries
I've got the perfect disguise
And I'm who I want to be
Nobody knows I'm Elvis
Nobody knows this is me
Bet you thought I was ol'Waylon
With all of my rugged good looks
Swagger and walk, body and soul
I bet he had what it took
I've always envied his singing
The way he played a guitar
Black vest and hat, that's where it's at
That's what I call a star
Nobody knows I'm Elvis
Nobody knows this is me
After all of my tries
I've got the perfect disguise
And I'm who I want to be
Nobody knows I'm Elvis
Nobody knows this is me
I want to show you Graceland, baby
That's where you ought to be
I'll give you a call, but let's keep it all
Somewhere between you and me
Nobody knows I'm Elvis
Nobody knows this is me
After all of my tries
I've got the perfect disguise
And I'm who I want to be
Nobody knows I'm Elvis
Nobody knows this is me
Yeah Baby!
In "I Gotta Know," The Playtones explore the idea of disguising one's true identity by drawing on the image of Elvis Presley, a symbol of celebrity and rock and roll. The song is narrated from the perspective of someone who is "hiding in plain sight" by masquerading as a different person. In the first verse, the singer recounts close calls being recognized in public places such as fast food restaurants and airplanes, which suggests Elvis's own struggles with anonymity. Despite the verse's humorous lyrics, there's an underlying feeling of desperation, as if the singer's hope of disguising himself has begun to fade.
In the second verse, the singer mentions the famous country singer Waylon Jennings as a possible alternative persona, highlighting the complexity of the singer's desire to hide. Waylon Jennings was someone who was a bit rougher around the edges, which is in direct contrast to Elvis's polished personality. The reference to Jennings also speaks to Elvis's broad influence on music, as he was known to incorporate elements of various genres into his own sound.
Overall, "I Gotta Know" speaks to the universal experience of wanting to be someone else, whether it's to escape attention or to try on a different identity. The song is underlined by the sense of humor that the group brings to their lyrics, but they still manage to convey a deeper sense of longing and sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I nearly got caught at a Burger King
I was almost recognized at a fast-food restaurant
And a couple of times on a plane
People almost identified me while traveling by aircraft
I thought I was safe from detection
I believed myself to be unnoticed and protected from being caught
With all of the weight I had gained
I assumed that gaining weight would throw people off of my identity
But walking around in a jumpsuit
I discovered that my normal performance attire didn't help my disguise
That didn't work worth a damn
The jumpsuit was ineffective as a disguise
So I bought me some Levis and grew me a beard
To improve my disguise efforts, I purchased jeans and grew facial hair
And you'll never guess who I am
Despite my celebrity, nobody will be able to recognize me in disguise
Bet you thought I was ol'Waylon
I'm sure you assumed I was Waylon Jennings
With all of my rugged good looks
I fit the image of a tough-looking musician
Swagger and walk, body and soul
I exude confidence and style, both physically and internally
I bet he had what it took
I'm certain that Waylon had the necessary qualities to succeed as a musician
I've always envied his singing
I've admired Waylon's singing abilities for a long time
The way he played a guitar
I've also been impressed by Waylon's guitar skills
Black vest and hat, that's where it's at
Waylon's signature style with a black vest and hat is what truly sets him apart
That's what I call a star
Waylon's unique image and musical talent make him a true celebrity in my eyes
I want to show you Graceland, baby
I'd like to take you to visit my famous home, Graceland
That's where you ought to be
That's the place where I would like you to accompany me
I'll give you a call, but let's keep it all
I'll contact you later, but we should keep it between us
Somewhere between you and me
Our plans should remain private and undisclosed to others
Nobody knows I'm Elvis
Despite my efforts, nobody can recognize me as the legendary musician, Elvis Presley
Nobody knows this is me
I'm certain that nobody is aware of my true identity
After all of my tries
Despite my numerous attempts
I've got the perfect disguise
I've finally attained the ideal disguise
And I'm who I want to be
I'm finally able to be who I truly am, in disguise
Yeah Baby!
An expression of excitement and enthusiasm
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Waylon Jennings
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ladislav Novák
on The King
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