# The homosexual connotations of "Jailhouse Rock". **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 23, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453 "2004-07-23T01:49:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/1 "2004-07-23T01:49:04Z")
The relevent lyrics… > [@](#): > > Number forty-seven said to number three: > "you’re the cutest jailbird I ever did see. > I sure would be delighted with your company, > Come on and do the jailhouse rock with me… > > Shifty henry said to bugs, “for heaven’s sake, > No one’s lookin’, now’s our chance to make a break.” > Bugsy turned to shifty and he said, “nix nix, > I wanna stick around a while and get my kicks.” All the lyrics… [http://www.lyrics-site.net/Jailhouse\_Rock\_Lyrics.html](http://www.lyrics-site.net/Jailhouse_Rock_Lyrics.html) Was Elvis really professing leanings? I hope so. He would have been a ground breaker. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/2 "2004-07-23T01:53:09Z")
Considering Elvis didn’t actually write the song, I don’t think he was professing anything there. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/3 "2004-07-23T01:54:47Z")
Elvis may have been many, many things but “gay” or “gay-leaning” was not among them. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/4 "2004-07-23T02:04:17Z")
> [@Neurotik](#): > > Considering Elvis didn’t actually write the song, I don’t think he was professing anything there. I know he didn’t write it. But he did record it. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/5 "2004-07-23T02:06:42Z")
Just as he recorded many a Lieber-Stoller composition. You’re reaching here, buddy. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/6 "2004-07-23T02:09:54Z")
Hey **Reeder** : I was in the service, just like you. Lotsa’ times us guys would work out some fast dance steps with each other in the barracks so we could be cool with the girls Saturday night. It didn’t mean the guys dancin’ were gay. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/7 "2004-07-23T02:11:26Z")
> [@John Carter of Mars](#): > > Hey **Reeder** : I was in the service, just like you. Lotsa’ times us guys would work out some fast dance steps with each other in the barracks so we could be cool with the girls Saturday night. It didn’t mean the guys dancin’ were gay. Did you call the guy you were dancing with the cutest soldier you had ever seen? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/8 "2004-07-23T02:18:32Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > Did you call the guy you were dancing with the cutest soldier you had ever seen? Um, no. But you’re pretty cute, **Reeder**. At least when you post in Cafe Society. When you get off into The Pit or GD, Man, this Jekyl-Hyde thing happens. You get all outta’ sorts over in those places. Maybe you should just stay here… ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/9 "2004-07-23T02:29:23Z")
Been done before. > **[What \*exactly\* was Elvis singing about in "Jailhouse Rock"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=130984)** > > Specifically the third verse: I know what that sounds like to me, but I can’t believe it would get by the censors in the 50s. Then again, the “Boston Charlie” song from Pogo is supposedly about the same thing. Were Tool ripping off Elvis when they... > **[Homosexual reference in "Jailhouse Rock"](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=170987)** > > Yes? No? County jails can have male and female prisoners. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/10 "2004-07-23T02:53:43Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Been done before. > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=130984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=130984) > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=170987](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=170987) > > County jails can have male and female prisoners. Not in 1957. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/11 "2004-07-23T03:01:46Z")
OK Reeder, you win, Elvis was queer. Now go to bed. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/12 "2004-07-23T03:23:00Z")
> [@astro](#): > > OK Reeder, you win, Elvis was queer. Now go to bed. Why do you hate Elvis? ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/13 "2004-07-23T04:21:23Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > Why do you hate Elvis? You effectively ask whether Elvis is queer, **astro** says yes, and he’s the one that hates Elvis? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/14 "2004-07-23T04:25:23Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > Why do you hate Elvis? Because, in the song lyrics of [Pinkard and Bowden](http://www.pinkardandbowden.com/): > [@](#): > > Elvis was a narc, > In rhinestones after dark > He did his best to kep Memphis drug-free. > He knew every pill he’d eat > Would be one less on the street, > Elvis took 'em all for you and me. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/15 "2004-07-23T18:48:02Z")
> [@AndrewT](#): > > You effectively ask whether Elvis is queer, **astro** says yes, and he’s the one that hates Elvis? :smack: I didn’t ask if Elvis was gay. I never said Elvis was gay. I asked if the song had gay connotations about it. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/16 "2004-07-23T19:03:40Z")
Hell, that’s nothin’. > [@](#): > > Spider murphy played the tenor saxophone, > Little joe was blowin’ on the slide trombone. Is that what the kids are calling it these days? > [@](#): > > The warden said, “hey, buddy, don’t you be no square. > If you can’t find a partner use a wooden chair.” I don’t even want to know what _that’s_ referring to. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/17 "2004-07-23T19:31:38Z")
Since [Elvis is everywhere,](http://www.geocities.com/multielvi/mojo.html) I don’t see any problem with the notion that he liked guys. What’s wrong with a bisexual Elvis? After all, there’s a little bit of Elvis in each and every one of us… ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/18 "2004-07-23T20:20:26Z")
I have seen Graceland, I have seen Elvis’s furniture, I have seen Elvis’s clothes. He was not Gay. I have seen Liberace’s home, Liberace’s furniture, and Liberace’s clothes. He, without a flaming doubt, was Gay. As to whether Jailhouse rock was hinting about happyhomohijinx in the slammer, I don’t doubt there was a wink and a nod towards that - but when the song was written, I don’t think it was a subtle call to arms for Gay lib…although, it sure would have been a kick to see the Village People sing it back in their heyday. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/19 "2004-07-23T20:22:05Z")
Elvis in the '68 comeback special was hot as liquid fuck (particularly in the black leather). Thought I’d just toss that out there. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2004, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453/20 "2004-07-25T04:29:26Z")
> [@John Carter of Mars](#): > > Hey **Reeder** : I was in the service, just like you. Lotsa’ times us guys would work out some fast dance steps with each other in the barracks so we could be cool with the girls Saturday night. It didn’t mean the guys dancin’ were gay. Yeah…sure…we believe you… 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-homosexual-connotations-of-jailhouse-rock/256453.md?page=2)