Jailhouse Rock
Music & lyrics by: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

Originally recorded by: Elvis Presley

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 jail birds sing

Let's Rock!
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!
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!
Let's Rock!
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock!

The sad sack was a-sittin' 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!
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 a while and get my kicks"

Let's Rock!
Let's Rock!
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock!

 

 

Documentation

Jailhouse Rock was recorded in 1957 by Elvis Presley for the soundtrack to the movie of the same name, in which he starred.  In the movie, Elvis learns to sing and play a guitar in prison and later becomes a talented rock star. The song was later covered and recorded by many artists, including Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck Group, ZZ Top, and Motley Crue.


Rick Springfield performed this song while doing Smokey Joe's Cafe in New York, Oct 19 -31, 1999.

 

 

 

Footnote - the background picture was taken in Tunica, MS at Samstown on 3/8/02 by Jennifer Schiffbauer.  Rick is wearing "Elvis" glasses someone gave him.