ZZ Top Covers Elvis’s “Jailhouse Rock” LIVE On Their First European Tour ’80 And Nail It!

Let’s Rock!

Man, this really brings us back to see these young bearded men jamming’ out to “Jailhouse Rock”, one of the greatest classics from the Elvis era.

“Let’s rock; everybody, let’s rock. Everybody in the whole cell block.”

Dusty’s southern, raspy vocals on this iconic song blow the crowd away at this German TV Show Rockpalast in 1980 and bring them to their feet. We’re not even sure if they knew the words but they sure look like they’re having a good time!

Fun Fact: Gibbons and Hill have been growing their beards since 1979.

It is honestly hard for us to not dance in our seats just watching Dusty and Billy execute this awesome rockin’ blues song way back when. We figured we would throw this back as a tribute to The King of Rock n’ Roll who’s anniversary of death was just this last Sunday.

“We cant sound as good as elvis no matter how hard we try, elvis is better“- Dusty Hill 

 RIP Elvis Presley 8/16/77

+ Jailhouse Rock Lyrics +

The warden threw a party in the county jail
The prison band was there and they began to wail
The band was jumpin’ and the joint began to swing
You should’ve heard them knocked-out jailbirds sing

Let’s rock; everybody, let’s rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock

Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone
Little Joe was blowin’ on the slide trombone
The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang
The whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang

Let’s rock; everybody, let’s rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock

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”

Let’s rock; everybody, let’s rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock

Sad sack was sittin’ on a block of stone
Way over in the corner weepin’ all alone
The warden said, “Hey, buddy, don’t you be no square
If you can’t find a partner, use a wooden chair”

Let’s rock; everybody, let’s rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock

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 want to stick around a while and get my kicks”

Let’s rock; everybody, let’s rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock

Dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
Dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
Dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
Dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
Dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock