Quotes by Elvis
There are plenty of Elvis sayings and quotes in the hearts of his family, friends and fans. Read a few popular Elvis sayings below. These Elvis quotes were taken mostly from interviews and live performances. If you want to learn more about the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, you can read the Elvis biography. Also, sign up for the Elvis Presley's Graceland e-newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest news from the king's castle.
“Some people tap their feet, some people snap their fingers, and some people sway back and forth. I just sorta do ‘em all together, I guess.”
- Elvis in 1956, talking about his way of moving on stage.
"I ain't no saint, but I've tried never to do anything that would hurt my family or offend God...I figure all any kid needs is hope and the feeling he or she belongs. If I could do or say anything that would give some kid that feeling, I would believe I had contributed something to the world."
- Elvis commenting to a reporter, 1950's.
“Don’t criticize what you don’t understand, son. You never walked in that man’s shoes.”
- Elvis often used this adaptation of a well-known quotation.
“When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen, I was a dreamer. I read comic books and I was the hero of the comic book. I saw movies and I was the hero in the movie. So every dream I ever dreamed has come true a hundred times...I learned very early in life that: ‘Without a song, the day would never end; without a song, a man ain’t got a friend; without a song, the road would never bend - without a song.' So I keep singing a song. Goodnight. Thank you.”
- From his acceptance speech for the 1970 Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation Award. Given at a ceremony on January 16, 1971. (Elvis quotes from copyrighted material with lines from the song “Without a Song”.)
“We do two shows a night for five weeks. A lotta times we’ll go upstairs and sing until daylight - gospel songs. We grew up with it...It more or less puts your mind at ease. It does mine.”
- Talking about the informal jam sessions he and the band and entourage enjoy each night during the lengthy Vegas engagements. These happen upstairs in Elvis’ suite at the Las Vegas Hilton as they all try to “wind down” from the excitement and energy of the live shows. Quote is from a 1972 taped interview used in MGM’s documentary "Elvis on Tour."
“I’ve never gotten over what they call stagefright. I go through it every show. I’m pretty concerned, I’m pretty much thinking about the show. I never get completely comfortable with it, and I don’t let the people around me get comfortable with it, in that I remind them that it’s a new crowd out there, it’s a new audience, and they haven’t seen us before. So it’s got to be like the first time we go on.”
- From a 1972 taped interview used in MGM’s documentary "Elvis on Tour"
“The first time that I appeared on stage, it scared me to death. I really didn’t know what all the yelling was about. I didn’t realize that my body was moving. It’s a natural thing to me. So to the manager backstage I said, ‘What’d I do? What’d I do?’ And he said “Whatever it is, go back and do it again.”
- From a 1972 taped interview used in MGM’s documentary "Elvis on Tour"
“Man, I was tame compared to what they do now. Are you kidding? I didn’t do anything but just jiggle.”
- From the press conference prior to his record-breaking Madison Square Garden shows in New York City, 1972
“...the image is one thing and the human being is another...it’s very hard to live up to an image.”
- From the press conference prior to his record-breaking Madison Square Garden shows in New York City, 1972
“A live concert to me is exciting because of all the electricity that is generated in the crowd and on stage. It’s my favorite part of the business - live concerts.”
- Elvis at a press conference prior to his 1973 television special, "Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii, via Satellite"
“ ‘Til we meet again, may God bless you. Adios.”
- Said in 1977 at the end of a concert during his last tour