About The Song
In this song, Elvis experiences intense emotions because he is deeply in love. This girl has him feeling unsteady, and it’s even affecting his ability to speak clearly. He questions, “What’s wrong with me?”
This marked Presley’s second-largest hit in the United States (following “Don’t Be Cruel”/”Hound Dog”), spending eight weeks at the top of Billboard’s Top 100 Singles chart and a ninth week at #1 on the Jukebox chart.
Songwriter Otis Blackwell penned this song on a challenge. One of the owners of Shalimar Music (Blackwell’s publishing company) entered Blackwell’s office while he was struggling to create a follow-up to “Don’t Be Cruel.” As Al Stanton approached Blackwell, he was shaking a bottle of Pepsi. Stanton suggested to Blackwell, “How about writing a song called ‘All Shook Up’?” According to Blackwell, the song was completed within a couple of days.
Even though Blackwell is the sole composer, Presley shared the songwriting credit, as per Colonel Tom Parker’s request. A similar situation occurred with “Don’t Be Cruel.”
Billboard declared this as the #1 single of 1957. “Don’t Be Cruel” held the #1 position in 1956, making it the only instance in Billboard history where the same artist recorded the #1 hit singles for two consecutive calendar years.
At the time of this song’s release, Presley was experiencing a remarkable run of success. In 1956, he held the #1 single for 25 weeks with hits like “Heartbreak Hotel” (8 weeks), “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” (1), and “Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog” (11 weeks, with both sides alternating at #1), and “Love Me Tender” (5). In 1957, he spent an additional 25 weeks at #1 with songs such as “Too Much” (3 weeks), “All Shook Up” (8), “Teddy Bear” (7), and “Jailhouse Rock” (7).
While many artists have covered this song, only two managed to chart with it. The first was Suzi Quatro, an American rocker who achieved significant success in the UK and is best known in her home country for her role as Leather Tuscadero on the TV series Happy Days. She performed the song, along with “Heartbreak Hotel,” on a 1977 episode of the show. In 1974, her cover reached #85 in the US and caught the attention of Elvis, who invited her to visit him during her tour in Memphis. She declined the offer, citing fear, but remained a devoted fan and considered him a pivotal influence on her career.
Billy Joel recorded the song for the 1992 movie Honeymoon In Vegas, where Elvis had a prominent presence. His version reached #92 in America and also reached #27 in the UK.
This song served as the foundation for a musical called “All Shook Up,” which premiered on Broadway in 2005. The production incorporated various Elvis Presley songs into a storyline inspired by Shakespeare’s play “Twelfth Night.”
In 2009, The Performing Rights Society declared this as the most frequently played Elvis song in public places in the UK.
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Lyrics Song
A well I bless my soul
What’s wrong with me?
I’m itching like a man on a fuzzy tree
My friends say I’m actin’ wild as a bug
I’m in love
I’m all shook up
Mm mm oh, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah!Well, my hands are shaky and my knees are weak
I can’t seem to stand on my own two feet
Who do you thank when you have such luck?
I’m in love
I’m all shook up
Mm mm oh, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah!Well, please don’t ask me what’s on my mind
I’m a little mixed up, but I’m feelin’ fine
When I’m near that girl that I love best
My heart beats so it scares me to death!She touched my hand what a chill I got
Her lips are like a volcano that’s hot
I’m proud to say she’s my buttercup
I’m in love
I’m all shook up
Mm mm oh, oh, yeah, yeah!My tongue gets tied when I try to speak
My insides shake like a leaf on a tree
There’s only one cure for this body of mine
That’s to have the girl that I love so fine!She touched my hand what a chill I got
Her lips are like a volcano that’s hot
I’m proud to say she’s my buttercup
I’m in love
I’m all shook up
Mm mm oh, oh, yeah, yeah!
Mm mm oh, oh, yeah, yeah!
I’m all shook up