About Song
“Good Rockin’ Tonight” is a classic rock and roll song that holds historical significance in the career of Elvis Presley. This energetic track marked one of Presley’s early recordings and showcases the influence of rhythm and blues on the emerging rock and roll genre. Here is a detailed overview of “Good Rockin’ Tonight”:
Origins: “Good Rockin’ Tonight” was originally a jump blues song written by Roy Brown in 1947. Brown’s version was influential in the R&B and jump blues scene. The song’s lyrics and rhythm, focusing on the excitement of a rocking party, made it a natural fit for the emerging rock and roll genre.
Elvis’s Version: Elvis Presley recorded his rendition of “Good Rockin’ Tonight” in 1954 for his first commercial single. It was one of the tracks that helped introduce Elvis to a wider audience. His version retains the original song’s exuberant spirit while infusing it with his signature rock and roll style.
Musical Style: “Good Rockin’ Tonight” is characterized by a lively tempo, a prominent rhythm and blues beat, and Elvis’s energetic vocals. It captures the essence of early rock and roll, with a fusion of rhythm and blues, gospel, and country influences.
Lyrics: The song’s lyrics reflect the excitement of a night of lively music, dancing, and revelry. The singer anticipates a good time with lines like “Well, I heard the news, there’s good rockin’ tonight” and “I’m gonna hold my baby as tight as I can.”
Chart Success: Elvis Presley’s version of “Good Rockin’ Tonight” was a commercial success, and it helped establish him as a rising star in the music industry. The single performed well on regional charts and laid the foundation for his future success.
Legacy: The song holds historical significance as one of Elvis’s early hits and as a marker of the emergence of rock and roll music. Elvis’s rendition is often cited as one of the key tracks that helped popularize the genre.
Influence: “Good Rockin’ Tonight” had a lasting influence on the development of rock and roll, inspiring other artists and contributing to the genre’s evolution.
Elvis Presley’s recording of “Good Rockin’ Tonight” is a vital part of the history of rock and roll. It’s a spirited and infectious track that captured the essence of the genre’s early days and played a significant role in Elvis’s journey to becoming the “King of Rock and Roll.”
Video
Lyrics
“Good Rockin’ Tonight”
Well, I heard the news
there’s good rockin’ tonight.
Well, I heard the news
There’s good rockin’ tonight.I’m gonna hold my baby
as tight as I can.
Tonight she’ll know
I’m a mighty, mighty man.
I heard the news,
there’s good rockin’ tonight.I say, well, meet me in a hurry
behind the barn,
Don’t you be afraid, darling,
I’ll do you no harm
I want you to bring
along my rockin’ shoes,
‘Cause tonight I’m gonna rock away
all my blues.
I heard the news,
there’s good rockin’ tonight.Well, we’re gonna rock. We’re gonna rock.
Let’s rock. Come on and rock.
We’re gonna rock all our blues away.Have you heard the news?
Everybody’s rockin’ tonight.
Have you heard the news?
Everybody’s rockin’ tonight.I’m gonna hold my baby
as tight as I can,
Well, tonight she’ll know
I’m a mighty, mighty man.
I heard the news,
There’s good rockin’ tonight.Well, we’re gonna rock, rock, rock,
Come on and rock, rock, rock,
Well, rock, rock, rock, rock,
Let’s rock, rock, rock, rock,
We’re gonna rock all our blues away.
