A black tow truck with the headlights on
A-there's a slow procession 'cross the graveyard lawn
Walked up to the back of a Coupe de Ville
With a rock and roll singer sittin' at the wheel

Obituary in the paper say
'Son, you just rocked your life away'
"Don't Let Me Down" is his last request
I want a rock n' roll funeral when they lay me to rest

He was born with a rhythm burnin' in his soul
That made the whole wild world wanna rock 'n' roll
Could really hang it up and he wouldn't put it down
He rocked and he rolled around in ev'ry little town

One foot in the grave
One foot on the gas
He's an angel of the wheel
An' he's headin' home fast

Had a million women, had 'em standin' in line
Paid a hundred million dollars but he blew ninety-nine
Said, I can't take it with me so I do the next best
I want a rock 'n' roll funeral when they lay me to rest

Well, he's all dressed up in his sharkskin suit
With a horseshoe ring and his alligator boots
Backseat is full of gold records that he made
And a baby grand piano that is gold inlaid

Widow on the left, another on the right
Third one in the middle says there's a-gonna be a fight
Come here all you brothers, you can holler me death
I want a rock n' roll funeral when they lay me to rest

He was born with a rhythm burnin' in his soul
That made the whole wild world wanna rock 'n' roll
He didn't hang it up, he wouldn't put it down
'Cause he rocked an he rolled around in ev'ry little town

One foot in the grave
One foot on the gas
He's an angel at the wheel
An' he's headin' on back

Had a million women, had 'em standin' in line
A hundred million dollars but he blew ninety-nine
Can't take it with me, so I'll do my next best
I want a rock 'n' roll funeral when they lay me to rest

Woo-woo-woo-ooo!

Jerry Lee Lewis

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.