Elvis Presley - Hound Dog Lyrics

Elvis Presley Lyrics

"Hound Dog"

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

When they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah, they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

Ah, ah
Ah, ah

When they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah, they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

Ah, ah
Ah, ah

When they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
You know, they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
You ain't no friend of mine

Submit Corrections

Thanks to Mary Shipley for correcting these lyrics.

Writer(s): Mike Stoller, Jerry Leiber

This song was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Leiber said that writing the tune took only twelve minutes.

Jerry Leiber explained to Rolling Stone how he wrote for Big Mama Thornton, "I had to write a song for her that basically said, "Go fuck yourself." But how to do it without actually saying it? And how to do it telling a story? I couldn't just have a song full of expletives. Hence the hound dog. Right. 'You ain't nothin' but a motherfucker'."

Elvis Presley based his version of the song on Freddie Bell and the Bellboys' performance with amended lyrics which he attended in Las Vegas in 1956.

The Latin riff that was used in "Hound Dog" was known as "Habanera rhythm", that is a Spanish and African-American musical beat form.

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller haven't praised Elvis Presley's version of their song. Leiber, in particular, told on the UK show Songbook, "It was a song that had to do with obliterated romance. ...And 'you ain't caught a rabbit, and you ain't no friend of mine' is inane. It doesn't mean anything to me."

Mike Stoller recalled about hearing this version of the song, "I heard the record and I was disappointed. It just sounded terribly nervous, too fast, too white. But you know, after it sold seven or eight million records it started to sound better. I should also say that the other things we did with Elvis I liked very much."

compilation: "Elvis' Golden Records" (1958)

Elvis Presley - Elvis' Golden Records compilation cover

That's When Your Heartaches Begin

(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear

Love Me Tender

Treat Me Nice

Any Way You Want Me (That's How I Will Be)

I Want You, I Need You, I Love You

soundtrack: "Elvis (NBC TV Special)" (1968)

Elvis Presley - Elvis (NBC TV Special) soundtrack cover

Trouble

Guitar Man

Lawdy Miss Clawdy

Baby, What You Want Me To Do

Heartbreak Hotel

Hound Dog

All Shook Up

Can't Help Falling In Love

Jailhouse Rock

Love Me Tender

Where Could I Go But To The Lord

album: "Elvis In Person At The International Hotel" (1969)

Elvis Presley - Elvis In Person At The International Hotel album cover

Blue Suede Shoes

Johnny B. Good

All Shook Up

Are You Lonesome Tonight?

Hound Dog

I Can't Stop Loving You

Can't Help Falling In Love

album: "Elvis: As Recorded At Madison Square Garden" (1972)

Elvis Presley - Elvis: As Recorded At Madison Square Garden album cover

That's All Right, Mama

Proud Mary

Never Been To Spain

You Don't Have To Say You Love Me

You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear

Don't Be Cruel

Love Me Tender

The Impossible Dream

Introductions by Elvis

Funny How Time Slips Away

I Can't Stop Loving You

Can't Help Falling In Love

End Theme

(Instrumental)

album: "Aloha From Hawaii: Via Satellite" (1973)

Elvis Presley - Aloha From Hawaii: Via Satellite album cover

See See Rider

Burning Love

Something

You Gave Me A Mountain

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

I Can't Stop Loving You

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

An American Trilogy

A Big Hunk O' Love

Can't Help Falling In Love

album: "Elvis: As Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis" (1974)

Elvis Presley - Elvis: As Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis album cover

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

Your Mama Don't Dance

I Can't Stop Loving You

Can't Help Falling In Love

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"Hound Dog" lyrics

Elvis Presley Lyrics