Learn English with Songs – Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley

Are you ready to dance? Because it is impossible not to move your body to this song!

The following song is by the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. Jailhouse Rock was released in 1957 and went straight to #1 in both North America and Great Britain.

This is what you have to do:

1. Read the lyrics
2. Understand the vocabulary
3. SING! (and DANCE!)

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 the Purple Gang.
Let’s rock, everybody, 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, everybody, 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 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 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, everybody, let’s rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock.

Vocabulary

Warden – an official who is in charge of a prison.

County jail – a county is an area of a state or country that is larger than a city and has its own government to deal with local matters and jail is, of course, a place where people are kept when they have been arrested and are being punished for a crime.

Band – a usually small group of musicians who play popular music together.

Wail – to make a loud, long cry of sadness or pain.

Joint – a particular place.

Knocked out – unconscious, beaten up.

Jailbirds – the men in jail.

Cell block – a large single building or part of a complex subdivided into separate prison cells.

Tenor saxophone – a medium-sized member of the saxophone family.

Slide trombone –  a brass instrument with a lower tone than a trumpet.

Delighted – made very happy : full of great pleasure or satisfaction.

Weeping – having thin branches that hang down toward the ground.

Don’t you be no square – an expression that means don’t be so old fashioned, conservative or unimaginative.

Stick around a while – stay for a little longer.

Music Video

Once you know the lyrics, why not see this performance live?