(The power compels me)
Yesterday, at the local pub, I was having a conversation with a fellow about music. Eventually the conversation veered towards Elvis. We became stuck in his gravitational pull. This guy maintained that all of his music is "depressing," that it all is the product of a depressed mind. I requested that the bartender turn up the jukebox, reminding him that I have a hearing disability associated with age, and to not turn it up qualifies as discrimination. Then, I played "Little Sister"...
The place was lit afire with the raw sexual energy of E.
I sang it word for word along with Elvis, even besting him at spots. The crowd seemed to love this. In one of the musical interludes a woman at the bar said something about the song and I responded, "Yeah, it's about him fucking the little sister."
They turned - almost all of them, almost immediately - against me. I tried to explain that I didn't write the song. This seemed to have no effect. Then the woman said, "You were doing great up until that."
"Elvis did this to us!", I pleaded.
After more than 50 years that reprobate still has the dynamic energy to come back and haunt society in this way. I denounced it as the devil's music, offered to burn all his records, prayed for him, called upon the healing power of the holy spirit... nothing worked. They had turned and there was no winning them back. Even my buddy, the bartender, showed obvious signs of disfavor, growing increasingly agitated with each passing moment.
It made no sense. Certainly these people must have understood that I am not Elvis, that I am not to blame for the sin of his carnality.
There was no reasoning with them. Now I know how the big E.P. must have felt.
The truth is a lonely business.
Here is what caused all the ruckus:
Well, I dated your big sister
And took her to a show
I went for some candy
Along came Jim Dandy
And they snuck right out the door
Little sister, don't you
Little sister, don't you
Little sister, don't you kiss me once or twice
Then say it's very nice
And then you run
Little sister, don't you
Do what your big sister done
Every time I see your sister
Well she's got somebody new
She's mean and she's evil
Like that old boll weevil
Guess I'll try my luck with you
Little sister, don't you
Little sister, don't you
Little sister, don't you kiss me once or twice
Then say it's very nice
And then you run
Little sister, don't you
Do what your big sister done
Well, I used to pull your pigtails
And pinch your turned-up nose
But you been a growin'
And baby, it's been showin'
From your head down to your toes
Little sister, don't you
Little sister, don't you
Little sister, don't you kiss me once or twice
Then say it's very nice
And then you run
Little sister, don't you
Do what your big sister done
Written by: Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, 1961
.
