Jerry Lee Lewis

Songwriter: A.P. Carter Traditional

I was standin' by my window
On a cold and cloudy day
When I saw that hearse come rollin'
For to carry my mother away

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by?
There's a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Undertaker, undertaker
Undertaker, please drive slow
For the party you are haulin'
Lord, I hate to see here go

Will the circle be unbroken
By and by, Lord, by and by?
There's a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

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 Essential Jerry Lee Lewis

From the albums

Rural Route #1 (1972)
The Essential Jerry Lee Lewis (2013)

Jerry Lee Lewis popular songs

Will the Circle Be UnbrokenJerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis

The Essential Jerry Lee Lewis