About the Song
“Jailhouse Rock,” a spirited anthem, was recorded by the legendary Elvis Presley for the film of the same name. Penned by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the song was released by RCA Victor on a 45 rpm single on September 24, 1957, marking the first single from the film’s soundtrack EP. This vibrant composition swiftly ascended the charts in the U.S. and achieved top 10 status in various other countries, cementing its place as a timeless classic. Notably, “Jailhouse Rock” has garnered recognition from esteemed institutions such as the Grammy Hall of Fame and the American Film Institute.
The song’s characters and themes add depth to its narrative. Shifty Henry, mentioned in the lyrics, was a notable Los Angeles musician rather than a criminal, and the Purple Gang referenced was a real mob. The term “Sad Sack” draws from a U.S. Army nickname during World War II for an unfortunate individual, also coinciding with the name of a popular comic strip and character.
According to Rolling Stone, Leiber and Stoller crafted a “decidedly silly” theme song for Presley’s third movie, intending it as a tongue-in-cheek creation reminiscent of their work for The Coasters. Despite the playful nature of the lyrics, Presley approached the song with a straight rock & roll rendition, delivering a performance that captured the essence of the genre. The intensity of Presley’s delivery, particularly during Scotty Moore’s guitar solo introduction, contributed to the song’s energetic and compelling quality.
“Jailhouse Rock” holds a unique place in musical history, with scholars and critics delving into its layers of meaning. Gender studies scholars point to the song’s famous reference to homoerotics behind bars, while music critic Garry Mulholland notes that “‘Jailhouse Rock’ was always a queer lyric, in both senses.” Despite its cheeky undertones, the song’s impact resonates, and it’s acknowledged for pushing boundaries, as evidenced by the comment from Douglas Brode about the surprising approval of the production number by the censors.
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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 those 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 a purple gang
Let’s rock
Everybody, let’s rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
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”
Let’s rock
Everybody, let’s rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock, Rock, 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 the chance to make a break”
Bugsy turned to Shifty and he said, “Nix nix
I wanna stick around a while 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-