Introduction

Heartbreak Hotel is a 1956 song recorded by American singer Elvis Presley. It was released as a single on January 27, 1956, Presley’s first on his new record label RCA Victor. The song was written by Mae Boren Axton and Tommy Durden, with credit being given also to Presley.

Presley recorded “Heartbreak Hotel” on January 10, 1956, in a session with his band, the Blue Moon Boys, the guitarist Chet Atkins and the pianist Floyd Cramer. The song comprises an eight-bar blues progression, with heavy reverberation throughout the track, to imitate the character of Presley’s Sun recordings.

The song was released at a time of great change in American music, as rock and roll was beginning to emerge from the margins of society and into the mainstream. “Heartbreak Hotel” was one of the first rock and roll songs to achieve widespread popularity, and it is considered to be one of the most influential songs of all time.

The song was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and on the UK Singles Chart. It also sold over two million copies in the United States alone. The song’s success helped to make Presley a star and to popularize rock and roll around the world.

“Heartbreak Hotel” has been covered by many artists, including The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, and U2. It is still a popular song today, and it is considered to be a classic of rock and roll.

Here are some of the reasons why “Heartbreak Hotel” is considered to be such an important song:

  • It was one of the first rock and roll songs to achieve widespread popularity.
  • It helped to make Elvis Presley a star.
  • It is a well-written and well-performed song that has stood the test of time.
  • It is considered to be one of the most influential songs of all time.

Music-versary: Elvis' Heartbreak Hotel was released on January 27, 1956 |  SiriusXM

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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