"Heartbreak Hotel"
Listening Guide
Embedded Files
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
Timing
Text and Form
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.
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