Elvis Presley – “Guitar Man”: A Gritty Ode to the Working Musician
Originally recorded by Elvis Presley in 1967 and released as a single in 1968, “Guitar Man” is a standout track that marked a return to a rawer, rootsier sound for the King. Written by Jerry Reed, who also played the dynamic lead guitar on the recording, the song was a fusion of country, blues, and rock—with a rebellious spirit that felt more aligned with Elvis’s early Sun Records era than much of his polished Hollywood soundtrack material from the mid-’60s.
Lyrically, “Guitar Man” tells the story of a traveling musician hustling his way through tough gigs and low-paying jobs, driven by passion more than profit. The opening line—“Well, I quit my job down at the car wash, left my mama a goodbye note”—sets the tone for a life on the road, filled with uncertainty, grit, and restless ambition. It’s a classic tale of chasing dreams, a theme that resonated strongly with Elvis’s own story and the ethos of American rock and roll.
The original 1967 recording is notable for its stripped-down feel and Jerry Reed’s fast-picking, twangy guitar work, which gives the song its driving energy. Elvis’s vocals are relaxed but powerful, infused with swagger and authenticity. He sounds engaged and invigorated—something fans had been yearning for after a string of lightweight movie songs.
In 1981, long after Elvis’s passing, RCA released a remixed version of “Guitar Man” produced by Felton Jarvis, blending Elvis’s original vocals with new instrumental backing. This version featured a modernized sound with a more contemporary country-rock arrangement and reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart—making it Elvis’s last posthumous number-one country hit.
“Guitar Man” stands today as one of the most respected tracks from Elvis’s late-’60s catalog. It was also included on the 1968 album Clambake (in its original version) and has since become a fan favorite for those who appreciate Elvis’s musical versatility and connection to Southern roots music.
Whether in its original 1967 form or its slicker 1981 reworking, “Guitar Man” captures Elvis Presley at his most down-to-earth and relatable—a man with a voice, a story, and a guitar, doing what he loved best: singing his heart out.
Video
Lyric
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
Well, I quit my job down at the car wash,
Left my mama a goodbye note,
By sundown I’d left Kingston,
With my guitar under my coat,
I hitchhiked all the way down to Memphis,
Got a room at the YMCA,
For the next three weeks I went huntin’ them nights,
Just lookin’ for a place to play,
Well, I thought my pickin’ would set ’em on fire,
But nobody wanted to hire a guitar man.Well, I nearly ’bout starved to death down in Memphis,
I run outta money and luck,
So I bought me a ride down to Macon, Georgia,
On a overloaded poultry truck,
I thumbed on down to Panama City,
Started pickin’ out some o’ them all night bars,
Hopin’ I could make myself a dollar,
Makin’ music on my guitar,
I got the same old story at them all night piers,
There ain’t no room around here for a guitar man
We don’t need a guitar man, sonSo I slept in the hobo jungles,
Roamed a thousand miles of track,
Till I found myself in Mobile Alabama,
At a club they call Big Jack’s,
A little four-piece band was jammin’,
So I took my guitar and I sat in,
I showed ’em what a band would sound like,
With a swingin’ little guitar man.
Show ’em, sonIf you ever take a trip down to the ocean,
Find yourself down around Mobile,
Make it on out to a club called Jack’s,
If you got a little time to kill,
Just follow that crowd of people,
You’ll wind up out on his dance floor,
Diggin’ the finest little five-piece group,
Up and down the Gulf of Mexico,
Guess who’s leadin’ that five-piece band,
Well, wouldn’t ya know, it’s that swingin’ little guitar man.[The TV-special verse:]
Well, I came a long way from the carwash,
Got to where I said I’d get
Now that I’m here I know for sure
I really ain’t got there yet
Think I’ll start all over
Swing my guitar over my back
I’m gonna get myself back on the track
I’ll never, never ever look back
I’ll never be more than what I am
Wouldn’t you know
I’ m a swinging little Guitar man
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