Black Velvet by Alannah Myles Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Soul of Southern Rock
Lyrics
Jimmy Rodgers on the Victrola up high
Mama’s dancin’ with baby on her shoulder
The sun is settin’ like molasses in the sky
The boy could sing, knew how to move everything
Always wanting more, he’d leave you longing for
Black velvet and that little boy’s smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that’ll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
Up in Memphis the music’s like a heat wave
White Lightnin’ bound to drive you wild
Mama’s baby’s in the heart of every school girl
“Love Me Tender” leaves ’em cryin’ in the aisle
The way he moved, it was a sin, so sweet and true
Always wanting more, he’d leave you longing for
Black velvet and that little boy’s smile
Black velvet and that slow southern style
A new religion that’ll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
Every word of every song that he sang was for you
In a flash he was gone, it happened so soon
What could you do?
Black velvet and that little boy’s smile
Black velvet in that slow southern style
A new religion that’ll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
Black velvet and that little boy’s smile
Black velvet in that slow southern style
A new religion that’ll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
If you please
If you please
If you please
Mmhmm
Mmhmm
When Alannah Myles unleashed ‘Black Velvet’ upon the airwaves in 1989, she not only captured the essence of Southern rock but crystallized an era’s fascination with iconic Americana. The song’s sultry undertone and blues-inflected melodies evoke a musical pilgrimage to a heartland serenaded by gravelly voices and guitar twangs.
Even decades later, ‘Black Velvet’ stands as a monument to the enduring legacy of a music legend. The lyrics weave a tapestry of emotion and reverence, threading the listener through a narrative as textured as the titular fabric. Let’s dive into the stitches that hold together this timeless piece of artistry.
Sonic Homage to The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll
At its core, ‘Black Velvet’ is an ode to the legend of Elvis Presley. References to ‘Mama’s dancin’ with baby on her shoulder’ and ‘White Lightnin’
impart a vivid picture of the South during the heyday of rock ‘n’ roll, while ‘Jimmy Rodgers on the Victrola up high’ harks back to the roots of American music. Myles invokes the cultural backdrop of Presley’s ascent, an era suffused with heat, rhythm, and blues.
Velvet Voices: The Textures of Lyricism
The juxtaposition of ‘black velvet’ against ‘that little boy’s smile’ paints a portrait of complex sensuality. This texture in the lyrics suggests depth beyond the silken surface of fame—hinting at the intimate, perhaps vulnerable, nature of the boy behind the myth.
Through the repeated invocation of this rich fabric, Myles symbolizes the tactile legacy left by Elvis; a sensory memory that is as smooth and seductive as the material itself. It’s a metaphor for his music, which could simultaneously comfort and electrify the soul.
A New Religion: Devotion Beyond the Lyrics
The chorus line ‘A new religion that’ll bring ya to your knees’ is more than hyperbole. It reflects the quasi-spiritual fervor stirred by rock ‘n’ roll rebellion and the fervid worship of its ‘prophet,’ Elvis. The song acknowledges the transformative power of music and its ability to elicit a physical response.
Using religious imagery, Myles speaks to the profound influence of Presley’s music, suggesting it possessed a near-sacred quality for those moved by its rhythm, and that such an impact is undiminished by the passing of time.
The Heartthrob Effect: A Line that Leaves Them Longing
The song isn’t shy to highlight the magnetism of the ‘little boy’s smile.’ References to ‘mama’s baby in the heart of every school girl’ and the evocative ‘love me tender leaves ’em crying in the aisle’ not only underline the charisma of the young rock idol but the universality of his appeal.
Myles encapsulates the zeitgeist of a generation caught in the throes of first love—a love that is as much about the music as it was about the man. The lines communicate a shared yearning, a collective memory of desire and adulation.
Black Velvet’s Hidden Meanings and Lasting Echoes
Perhaps one of the song’s most poignant insights lies beneath its descriptions of sound and style—the acknowledgment of the transience of life. ‘In a flash, he was gone, it happened so soon’ delivers a somber reminder that even legends are mortal.
Yet, even as Myles alludes to the abrupt end of an era, ‘Black Velvet’ is ultimately a testament to the imperishability of legacy. It’s a song that not only pays tribute to one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century but also serves as a reminder that art, like velvet, leaves a touch that endures long after its creator has departed.
