"Heartbreak Hotel"

Listening Guide

Composer: Tommy Durden and Mae Boren Axton

Composition: Heartbreak Hotel

Date: 1956 recording by Elvis Presley

Genre: Rock and Roll

Form: Strophic

Nature of Lyrics: About a hotel that embodies the feelings of being heartbroken

Performing Forces: Elvis Presley – lead vocals, Scotty Moore – electric guitar, Chet Atkins – acoustic guitar, Bill Black – double bass, D.J. Fontana – drums, Floyd Cramer – piano

What we want you to remember about this composition:

  • Each verse repeats the same form, always ending with "Heartbreak is so lonely…"
  • Each verse follows an 8-bar chord progression
  • Notice how Presley's singing style is a mix of blues, country, and gospel influences

Timing

Text and Form

Verse 1:

Well, since my baby left me,

I found a new place to dwell

Its down at the end of lonely street

At heartbreak hotel.

Heartbreak is so lonely baby,

Heartbreak so lonely,

Heartbreak is so lonely I could die

Verse 2:

And although it's always crowded,

You still can find some room

For broken hearted lovers

To cry away their gloom.

Heartbreak is so lonely baby,

Heartbreak so lonely,

Heartbreak is so lonely they could die

Verse 3:

Well, the bell hops tears keep flowin',

And the desk clerks dressed in black.

Well they been so long on lonely street

They ain't ever gonna look back.

Heartbreak is so lonely baby,

Heartbreak so lonely,

Heartbreak is so lonely they could die

Verse 4:

Hey now, if your baby leaves you,

And you got a tale to tell.

Just take a walk down lonely street

To heartbreak hotel.

Where you will be lonely baby,

Where you will be lonely,

You'll be so lonely you could die

Verse 5:

Guitar solo followed by piano solo

Verse 6:

And although it's always crowded,

You still can find some room

For broken-hearted lovers

To cry away their gloom.

Heartbreak is so lonely baby,

Heartbreak so lonely,

Heartbreak is so lonely they could die.