Did you know

1. Background: “Heartbreak Hotel” was written by Mae Boren Axton, Thomas Durden, and Hoyt Axton. It was inspired by a newspaper article about a man who had committed suicide, and it’s a melancholic song that tells the story of someone who has lost everything and is staying at the titular “Heartbreak Hotel.”
2. Significance: The song is often regarded as one of the first rock and roll records to achieve widespread success. It is considered a pivotal moment in the evolution of popular music, helping to establish Elvis Presley as the “King of Rock and Roll.”
3. Chart Success: “Heartbreak Hotel” quickly became a chart-topping hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining there for seven weeks. It also topped the country and R&B charts, showcasing its broad appeal.
4. Musical Style: The song features Elvis’s signature rockabilly style, characterized by his distinctive vocal delivery and a prominent rhythm and blues influence. It includes a memorable guitar riff and a prominent use of echo effects on Elvis’s vocals.
5. Cultural Impact: “Heartbreak Hotel” not only marked a breakthrough in Elvis’s career but also had a profound impact on the music industry. It helped popularize rock and roll and paved the way for the genre’s further development.
6. Legacy: The song is regarded as one of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time and has been covered by countless artists in various genres. Elvis’s performance of “Heartbreak Hotel” is a quintessential example of his charismatic and energetic stage presence.

Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” remains an enduring classic that continues to be celebrated for its historical significance in the evolution of popular music and its timeless appeal as a rock and roll masterpiece.

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Lyrics

Well, since my baby left me
Well, I found a new place to dwell
Well, it’s down at the end of Lonely Street
At Heartbreak Hotel

Where I’ll be, I’ll be so lonely baby
Well, I’m so lonely
I’ll be so lonely, I could die

Although it’s always crowded
You still can find some room
For broken-hearted lovers
To cry there in their gloom

They’ll be so, they’ll be so lonely baby
They get so lonely
They’re so lonely, they could die

Now, the bell hop’s tears keep flowin’
And the desk clerk’s dressed in black
Well, they’ve been so long on Lonely Street
They’ll never, never look back

And they get so, they get so lonely baby
Well they are so lonely
They’re so lonely, they could die

Well, now, if your baby leaves you
And you got a tale to tell
Well, just take a walk down Lonely Street
To Heartbreak Hotel

Where you will be, you will be so lonely baby
Well you will be lonely
You’ll be so lonely, you could die

Although it’s always crowded
But you still can find some room
For broken-hearted lovers to cry there in their gloom

Where they get so, they get so lonely baby
Well they’re so lonely
They’ll be so lonely, they could die