Jerry Lee Lewis

Released: November 11, 1957

Songwriter: Jack Hammer Otis Blackwell

Producer: Sam Phillips (Producer)

You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain
Too much love drives a man insane
You broke my will
But, what a thrill
Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!

I laughed at love 'coz I thought it was funny
You came along and you moved me, honey
I've changed my mind
This love is fine
Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!

Kiss me, baby
Mmmmh, it feels good
Hold me, baby
Well, I'm off to love you like a lover should
Oh! You're fine so kind
Got to tell this world that you're mine, mine, mine, mine

I chew my nails and then I twiddle my thumbs
I'm real nervous but it sure is fun
Come on, baby
You drive me crazy
Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!

(Piano solo)

Well, kiss me, baby
Mmmmh, it feels good, yeah
Hold me, baby
Well, I'm off to love you like a lover should
You're fine so kind
Got to tell this world that you're mine, mine, mine, mine

I chew my nails and I twiddle my thumbs
I'm real nervous but it sure is fun
Come on, baby
You're driving me crazy
Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!

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

The Great Ball of Fire (EP)

From the albums

Jerry Lee’s Greatest! (1961)
The Golden Hits of Jerry Lee Lewis (1964)
Live at the Star Club, Hamburg (1964)
Original Golden Hits, Volume 1 (1969)
Top Gun (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1986)
Stand by Me (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1986)
Billboard Top Rock’N’Roll Hits - 1958 (1988)
Stealing Home (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1988)
The Jerry Lee Lewis Anthology: All Killer No Filler! (1993)
The Sun Records Collection (1994)
Happy Days Jukebox (1996)
Loud, Fast & Out of Control (The Wild Sounds Of ’50s Rock) (1999)
Live at Third Man Records (2011)
Sun 60th Anniversary (2012)
The Essential Jerry Lee Lewis (2013)
Top 2000 Volume 10 (2018)

Jerry Lee Lewis popular songs

Great Balls of FireJerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis

The Great Ball of Fire (EP)