Song Details
- Artist
- Carl Perkins
- Album
- Single
- Released
- 1956
- Genre
- Rockabilly, Rock & Roll
- Length
- 2:15
¶ Deep Analysis
"Blue Suede Shoes" is the first true rockabilly anthem. It combined elements of blues, country, and pop into a new sound that would define the genre.
The Inspiration
Perkins was inspired to write the song after seeing a dancer at a show warn his partner not to step on his "suedes." He reportedly wrote the lyrics on a brown paper sack.
Musically, it features a driving backbeat and Perkins' sharp, staccato guitar licks. The lyrical structure ("One for the money, two for the show...") is taken from a nursery rhyme but given a rebellious twist.
@ History & Impact
-
1
Crossover Hit
It was the first song to top the pop, country, and R&B charts simultaneously, proving the mass appeal of the rockabilly sound.
-
2
Elvis Version
While Elvis Presley's cover is perhaps better known today, Perkins' original version was the bigger hit at the time of release. Elvis recorded his version as a tribute to Perkins while he was recovering from a car accident.