“Jailhouse Rock” was released in 1957 by rock and roll legend, Elvis Presley. The song was a hit in the US and reached the top of the charts for several weeks in a row. It also reached top 10 status in several other countries.
“Jailhouse Rock” was a song written for a movie of the same name. Jailhouse Rock is a musical drama film that starred Elvis Presley, Mickey Shaughnessy, Judy Tyler, Vaughn Taylor, and Jennifer Holden. Jailhouse Rock premiered in 1957 in Memphis, Tennessee.
In the movie, Elvis plays a convict who is “rocking” the jail, musically speaking. He performs “Jailhouse Rock” within the prison to the other cellmates’ amusement.
When Stoller and Leiber wrote the script, the film was originally titled “Ghost of a Chance.” The duo visualized the scene where inmates put on a show in captivity. After recording the song, however, they all agreed to rename the film Jailhouse Rock because they knew the song would be a hit.
Adapted from a story by Nedrick Young, the film, released on November 8th, 1957, is a story of Vince Everett (Presley), the convict. He learns to play the guitar in captivity and gains stardom following his release. The movie has some good tunes, usually in an Elvis film, and the choreography is excellent.
Lyrics:
The warden threw a party in the county jail
The prison band was there, and they began to wail
The band was jumpin’, and the joint began to swing
You should’ve heard them knocked out jailbirds sing
Let’s rock
Everybody, let’s rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone
Little Joe was blowin’ on the slide trombone
The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang
The whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang
Let’s rock
Everybody, let’s rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
Number forty-seven 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”
Let’s rock
Everybody, let’s rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
Sad Sack was sittin’ on a block of stone
Way over in the corner weepin’ all alone
The warden said, “Hey, buddy, don’t you be no square
“If you can’t find a partner use a wooden chair”
Let’s rock
Everybody, let’s rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
Shifty Henry said to Bugs
“For Heaven’s sake”
“No one’s lookin’, now’s our chance to make a break”
Bugsy turned to Shifty and he said, “Nix nix”
“I wanna stick around awhile and get my kicks”
Let’s rock
Everybody, let’s rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
Dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
Dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
Dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
Dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
Dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
0 Comments