Jerry Lee Lewis

Songwriter: Sonny Throckmorton

Producer: Bones Howe

At a bar in Memphis an old man came in
I thought he was out of his his head
Being a young man, I just laughed it off
I'm dreaming that he understood

I'll never again turn the young ladies heads
Or go running off into the wind
I'm three quarters home now from the start to the end
I wish I was eighteen again

I wish I was eighteen again
My God, I'd like to go back
Where I've never been but old folks, old oaks
They stand tall but just pretend
I wish I was eighteen again

Time turns the pages and life it goes so fast
The years turn the black hair to gray
I talked to young folks but they don't understand
The things this old man's has to say

Oh, I wish I was eighteen again
Going back where I've never been
But old folks, old oaks
Standing tall, just pretend
I'll never be eighteen again

Jerry Lee Lewis was a leading figure in the popularization of rock & roll during the 1950s. He was first signed to Sun Records in 1956 where he was labelmates with Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and other early rock artists. Of those musicians, however, he was the only piano player and combined with his heavy-handed playing style, sexually suggestive lyrics, and provocative stage antics he came to epitomize the rebelliousness of the genre.

He rose to international fame for his 1957 versions of the songs “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On.”

Lewis' popularity rapidly tumbled, however, when in 1958, when at the age of 22, he married his 13-year-old cousin. Though this scandal continued to tarnish his image, Lewis never retired from music. As of October 2015, he continues to perform live.

more tracks from the album

Live at Third Man Records

From the albums

Jerry Lee Lewis (1979) (1979)
Live at Third Man Records (2011)

Jerry Lee Lewis popular songs

I Wish I Was Eighteen AgainJerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis

Live at Third Man Records