AboutMel Priddle Expertise For 50 years I have been listening to, buying and searching into the music of Elvis Presley. If you have a question relating to any song that Elvis recorded (officially, unofficially or privately), then I guarantee to give you an answer. Likewise with his movies. Questions relating to Elvis' private life I prefer to leave to others.
Experience Ex-cinema manager, film publicist, record merchandiser, and Elvis music lover since 1955.
Question Hi Mel,
I am doing a music project on Elvis's Hound Dog song and need some info on the meaning of the lyrics. Anything u can send me would be great.
Thanks
Debbie
Answer Hello Debbie,
I don't usually go in for analysing songs too much. I just like to listen to them for their entertainment value, but I'll give it a go for you.
Remembering that the song was written as a "blues" and was first sung by a woman, I would think that "Hound Dog" was an allegorical term for a useless, lazy husband who didn't fulfil his initial promise and was no better than an old hound forever sleeping on the porch and getting under people's feet:
"Cryin' all the time"..... meaning constantly moaning and whining.
"They said you was high classed"..... meaning that he turned out to be just the opposite.
"You ain't never caught a rabbit"..... meaning he isn't putting food on the table for his wife and family.
"You ain't no friend of mine"..... meaning that he is probably seeking his female companionship elsewhere.
It's well known that Elvis disliked this song, but it became a popular part of his stage act in the early days, and he had no choice but to record it. His classic recording is a simple a rock 'n' roll version of Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton's original. I doubt very much that Elvis himself really worried too much about the meaning behind the lyrics.
