Sex in lyrics

When Elvis wiggled his hips he knew exactly what he was doing.

Elvis wasn’t the polite innocent he pretended to be. His act was pure sex. He chose to cover songs like Shake Rattle and Roll with their overt sexuality knowing exactly what they were about. Elvis was sex on wheels.

It was no wonder that the repressed prudish post-war generation were so up in arms, Elvis brought in a wave of liberalism and non-conformity that swept away all the grey fifties and heralded the rebellion of the sixties.

Black musicians like Joe Turner were already singing about sex and having a wail of a time. It was the white culture that needed to catch up. But the record company was a bit slow. They insisted he clean up the lyrics a bit. They didn’t like  – Way you wear those dresses The sun comes shinin’ through  I can’t believe my eyes  All that mess belongs to you. They seemed to think there were sexual connotations.

There were.

Elvis opened the flood gate.

Shake Rattle and Roll

Get outta that bed
Wash your face and hands
Get outta that bed
Wash your face and hands
Well, you get in that kitchen
Make some noise with the pots and pans

Way you wear those dresses
The sun comes shinin’ through
Way you wear those dresses
The sun comes shinin’ through
I can’t believe my eyes
All that mess belongs to you

I believe to the soul
You’re the devil and now I know
I believe to the soul
You’re the devil and now I know
Well, the more I work
The faster my money goes

I said shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Well, you won’t do right
To save your doggone soul

Yeah, blow, Joe

I’m like a one-eyed cat
Peepin’ in a seafood store
I’m like a one-eyed cat
Peepin’ in a seafood store
Well, I can look at you
Till you ain’t no child no more

Ah, shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Well, you won’t do right
Yo save your doggone soul

I get over the hill
And way down underneath
I get over the hill
And way down underneath
You make me roll my eyes
Even make me grit my teeth

I said shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll
Well, you won’t do nothin’
To save your doggone soul

Shake, rattle and roll