Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, left an indelible mark on music history. His songs continue to resonate with audiences worldwide. Beyond the catchy tunes and charismatic performances, many of Elvis's songs hold deeper meanings and interesting stories. Let's delve into the stories behind some of his most iconic tracks.
Little Sister
In "Little Sister," Elvis sings about being hurt by a girl who left him for someone else. Now, he is interested in her little sister, but hopes she won't treat him the same way. This song was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, who also wrote "A Teenager In Love."
Released as a single with "(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame," "Little Sister" peaked at #5 on the US charts, while "Marie" reached #4. Although "Marie" was initially more popular, "Little Sister" proved to have greater staying power, becoming an Elvis classic. Ry Cooder, Link Wray, and Jimmy Barnes are among the artists who have covered this song.
Jailhouse Rock
Released in 1957, "Jailhouse Rock" has become one of Elvis Presley’s signature songs, partly because of his energetic performance and the iconic music video. The song was released for the soundtrack of the film of the same name and has since been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
The music video portrays a group of men in cells with a few police officers watching. In verse three, Presley sings:
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Number 47 said to number three
“You’re the cutest jailbird I ever did see
I sure would be delighted with your company
Come on and do the Jailhouse Rock with me”
Since the song’s writing, gender studies scholars have noted that the song is “famous” for its “reference to homoerotics behind bars.” “‘Jailhouse Rock’ was always a queer lyric, in both senses,” music writer Garry Mulholland said.
Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the "Jailhouse Rock" lyrics included the names of real people. The Purple Gang was an actual mob, and Shifty Henry was a well-known Los Angeles musician. The plot of the movie "Jailhouse Rock" revolves around Vince Everett, a young man who becomes a teenage rock star after serving time for manslaughter.
While the song didn’t seem to have any real intentional meaning other than to elucidate the happenings of what a party in jail would look like, there is a subtler undertone. The warden throws a party, the band begins to wail, and everybody in the cell block rocks. The song mentions Spider Murphy, Little Joe, the purple gang, inmates 47 and 3, Sad Sack, Shifty Henry, Bugs, and, of course, Elvis.
Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock ('68 Comeback Special)
A Little Less Conversation
Mac Davis and Billy Strange wrote "A Little Less Conversation" for the 1968 Elvis movie Live A Little, Love A Little. The song is about taking action and cutting through unnecessary talk.
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Davis originally intended the song for Aretha Franklin, but when Billy Strange approached him for a song for the film, he realized "A Little Less Conversation" fit perfectly. He reworked it with Strange, and Elvis sang it for the film. In the movie, Elvis sings this song to a beautiful blonde at a pool party and takes her back to his place.
The song was a relatively obscure Elvis track, peaking at #69 in America in 1968. However, a remixed version released in 2002 reached #1 in the UK, giving Elvis 18 #1 hits there. The remix was done by the Dutch DJ Tom Holkenburg, known as JXL. It gained popularity after being used in a Nike World Cup commercial featuring Eric Cantona.
The remix helped introduce Elvis to a younger generation. The memory of Elvis also got a boost when eight of his songs were used in the Disney movie Lilo And Stitch around the same time. Former Vermont governor Howard Dean used this as his campaign song in 2003, emphasizing his message of action over words. The original version was also used as the theme song for the television series Las Vegas.
Here's a table summarizing the chart performance of "A Little Less Conversation":
| Version | Year | US Chart Peak | UK Chart Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 1968 | #69 | - |
| Remix (Elvis vs. JXL) | 2002 | #50 | #1 |
If I Can Dream
Before 1968, Elvis Presley was known for his lighthearted hits. However, he decided to explore more consequential themes with his ’68 Comeback Special.
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The songwriter behind "If I Can Dream," Walter Earl Brown, was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. The song was recorded just a few months after King’s murder, and the lyrics bear a resemblance to King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Presley performed this song with great passion, singing about dreaming of a better time and place where all people are united.
Deep in my heart, there’s a trembling question
Still, I am sure that the answer’s… answer’s gonna come somehow
Out there in the dark, there’s a beckoning candle, yeah
And while I can think, while I can talk, while I can stand, while I can walk
While I can dream, oh, please let my dream come true, oh, right now
It was exactly the right message the public needed to hear. It had a unifying effect.
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