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Jailhouse Rock Lyrics
The warden threw a party in the county jail
The prison band was there and they began to wail
The band was jumping and the joint began to swing
You should've heard those knocked-out jailbirds sing
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was a-dancing to the Jailhouse Rock
Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone
Little Joe was blowing 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 a-dancing 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 a-dancing to the Jailhouse Rock
The sad sack was a sitting on a block of stone
Way over in the corner, weeping 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 a-dancing to the Jailhouse Rock
Shifty Henry said to Bugs, "For Heaven's sake
No one's looking, now's our chance to make a break"
Bugsy turned to Shifty and he said, "Nix nix
I want to stick around a while and get my kicks"
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was a-dancing to the Jailhouse Rock
Song Info
Submitted by
amit On Feb 17, 2002
More Elvis Presley
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Hmm, I think there is more sinister stuff under the surface of this song and lots of double entendres. Elvis certainly did not write it, and most probably had no idea about any of the meaning's.
Obviously there's the "Number forty-seven said to number three" verse, but isn't the title a euphemism for shagging. Also, "The Purple Gang" were sex cases either, rapists, peadohiles or homosexuals (1950’s, hey) but someone state side can confirm or shoot this down.
Aynone know what "The sad sack" is?
A sad sack is somebody who's not into it.
"Little Joe was blowin on the slide trombone"...I bet he was
Funny how old people are always talking about how disgusting today's lyrics are - yet they get up and dance and sing along to this very disturbing Homosexual Prison Gang Bang song....cracks me up!
I bet the "purple" gang had a blast!...LOL
Back then it wasn't meant as a sexual comment, its the people of today that have taken things out of context. It's just you have a very strange mind...
Back then it wasn't meant as a sexual comment, its the people of today that have taken things out of context. It's just you have a very strange mind...
Besides pretty much everything from the 60s onwards is better than music today in my opinion...(today being (the year 2000 onward).
Besides pretty much everything from the 60s onwards is better than music today in my opinion...(today being (the year 2000 onward).
The amount of decent musicians that don't get noticed because of half wits writing down the same lyric in each of their songs about 50+ times is ridiculous, then using computerised sounds to make them sound listenable (and if they can't think of what to write next they just add...
The amount of decent musicians that don't get noticed because of half wits writing down the same lyric in each of their songs about 50+ times is ridiculous, then using computerised sounds to make them sound listenable (and if they can't think of what to write next they just add a few swear words or scream down the microphone, while all the time I'm like...seriously!! -.- 'just get some talent'.
Most musicians nowhere days can't even read music or know what chord their playing. These people so called 'musicians', hmmm lets theorise (put enough monkeys in a room with a typewriter they'll eventually write a line of Shakespeare...doesn't make them writers...same with music).
A professional musician should be someone who can read and write music has learnt more than 1 instrument (by learnt I mean can play a difficult solo...not just lets play C major, F major then G major then E minor and repeat <<<<< just shoot me and end this insanity -.-).
Do you agree?
I definatly see this as a big double entendre, I'm especially surprised no ones mentioned "If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair yet", haha.
"Bird" Is an old slang for "girl" or like "young girl" so obviously "jailbird" is a girl in jail.
Elvis was not gay or bi or anything weird like that. He had a wife and he sang a lot of love songs about girls.
@TheMagicKingdom02 First of all, it isn't 'bird' it's 'jailbird'. That's someone locked up in jail/prison. Next, why would a girl be in a prison with men? Also, Elvis didn't write it, Leiber & Stoller did. Not sure what they were thinking; probably that the general public wouldn't make anything of it. But those are some pretty suggestive lyrics.
@TheMagicKingdom02 First of all, it isn't 'bird' it's 'jailbird'. That's someone locked up in jail/prison. Next, why would a girl be in a prison with men? Also, Elvis didn't write it, Leiber & Stoller did. Not sure what they were thinking; probably that the general public wouldn't make anything of it. But those are some pretty suggestive lyrics.
hi!
soO personally, i think that despite all the lyric decoding, this song is purely....about dancing and having a good time!! If you look at the music video, elvis just wants to show off his cool dance moves and sing + dance with the rest of the guys. I'm pretttyy sure that "Purple Gang" refers to a crime gang, so I would interpret this as being the sort of people who are in the prison and need to just get up and dance....even if it's with a wooden chair!
thanks ;>>
Hey this is a really cool song what d'ja say han???
I am sorry guys the other Jailhouse Rock is incorrect this is the right one
Great movie and great song
This song is about rapists, drug addicts, and convicted terrorists all getting together to play music, and escape from a heavily guarded jail. lol. Ok, So I dont know what its about.