About the Song
King Creole: Where Elvis Met the Bayou and the Beat
Ah, Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, his name alone conjures up images of swiveling hips, electrifying performances, and a voice that could send shivers down your spine. But back in 1958, before the Las Vegas jumpsuits and the electrifying concerts, Elvis took a detour from his rocket ride to stardom. He ventured down to the sultry streets of New Orleans, where the air hung heavy with the scent of magnolias and the rhythm of zydeco pulsed through the cobblestones. It’s here, in this spicy gumbo of Creole culture and simmering blues, that King Creole, a song as vibrant and intoxicating as the city itself, was born.
Now, King Creole ain’t just any rock ‘n’ roll number. It’s a story, a steamy tale of Danny Fisher, a young man caught between the sweet melody of love and the harsh chords of the underworld. Elvis, with his raw, youthful energy, steps into Danny’s shoes, his voice crackling with the desperation of a man trying to find his way in a world where shadows dance with danger and every corner holds a temptation.
The song opens with a sultry saxophone, its breathy notes slithering through the air like a secret whispered in the moonlight. Then, Elvis’s voice explodes onto the scene, rough and powerful, like a summer storm rolling in over the bayou. He sings of “hip-shaking King Creole,” a title that hangs heavy with swagger and a hint of danger. This ain’t your clean-cut pop star, folks. This is a man who’s tasted the grit of the streets, who’s danced with the devil and lived to tell the tale.
The rhythm section kicks in, a driving beat that echoes the pulse of a New Orleans speakeasy. The piano tinkles like a jazz pianist weaving his magic in a smoky backroom. And Elvis, he’s on fire, his voice soaring and dipping, his hips swaying to the rhythm like a willow in a hurricane. He tells us of a “Creole queen,” a woman with eyes that could melt glaciers and a heart as wild as the swamp wind. He’s smitten, but there’s a darkness in her eyes, a whisper of trouble that hangs in the air.
King Creole ain’t just a love song, though. It’s a story of redemption, a man searching for a way out of the darkness. The lyrics, penned by the songwriting giants Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, paint a vivid picture of Danny’s struggle, his yearning for a life beyond the clutches of the mob. He sings of “jumpin’ like a catfish on a pole,” a metaphor for his desperate struggle for freedom.
But there’s a glimmer of hope in the chorus, a hint of the gospel that would later become a cornerstone of Elvis’s music. “He’s gone, gone, gone,” he sings, and it’s not just about Danny’s escape from the mob, it’s about his journey towards something better, something brighter. He’s leaving the darkness behind, chasing the promise of a new dawn.
So, buckle up, friends, and let King Creole transport you back to a time when Elvis was just a young man with a guitar and a dream, a time when New Orleans was a melting pot of music and mayhem, and a song could tell a story as rich and complex as the bayou itself. It’s a story of love, loss, and redemption, sung by the King himself, with a voice that still has the power to make your heart skip a beat, even after all these years.
Now, hit play and let King Creole take you on a journey to the heart of Elvis and the soul of New Orleans. You won’t regret it.
Video
Lyrics
King Creole, go
There’s a man in New Orleans who plays rock and roll
He’s a guitar man with a great big soul
He lays down a beat like a ton of coal
He goes by the name of King Creole
You know he’s gone, gone, gone
Jumping like a catfish on a pole, yeah
You know he’s gone, gone, gone
Hip-shaking King Creole (King Creole, King Creole)
When the king starts to do it, it’s as good as done
He holds his guitar like a tommy gun
He starts to growl from way down in his throat
He bends a string and that’s all she wrote
You know he’s gone, gone, gone
Jumping like a catfish on a pole, yeah
You know he’s gone, gone, gone
Hip-shaking King Creole (King Creole, King Creole)
Well, he sings a song about a crawdad hole
He sings a song about a jelly roll
He sings a song about a-pork and greens
He sings some blues about New Orleans
You know he’s gone, gone, gone
Jumping like a catfish on a pole yeah
You know he’s gone, gone, gone
Hip-shaking King Creole (King Creole, go)
He plays something evil, then he plays something sweet
No matter how he plays, you gotta get up on your feet
When he gets a rocking fever, baby, heaven sakes
He don’t stop playing ’til his guitar breaks
You know he’s gone, gone, gone
Jumping like a catfish on a pole, yeah
You know he’s gone, gone, gone
Hip-shaking King Creole (King Creole)
You know he’s gone, gone, gone
Hip-shaking King Creole (Creole, Creole, Creole, Creole)
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