Elvis Presley LyricsA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X W Y Z

Got a Lot o' Livin' to Do

Words & Music by Aaron Schroeder / Ben Weisman

Ben Weisman: 'In 1957, I flew to Hollywood to finally meet Elvis. Our meeting was at Paramount Studios where he was recording the soundtrack for his film, Loving You.

It was late in the day, and Elvis had already recorded quite a few songs.

'During a break in the session, I noticed Elvis sitting alone in the corner, adlibbing some blues on the guitar. I wandered over to the piano next to him, sat down and joined in. He didn't look up, kept on playing and even changed keys on me, but I followed along. Then he looked up with that smile he was famous for, and asked who I was and what I was doing in the studio? I told him I was invitedto the session and that I composed one of the songs he was about to record called 'Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do'. He immediately called out to his musicians, 'Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do', and they recorded it on the spot.

'During the early period of those sessions, he would get so carried away, he would forget to sing directly into the mike. His close friends, the studio musicians, would start dancing around him, creating a great deal of excitement. It made a tremendous impression on me, and the feeling is still with me today. Little did I know that because of that meeting, I would end up writing fifty-seven songs for Elvis - more than any other songwriter. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined the impact he was about to make on the world'.

January 8, 1957 - Elvis celebrates his twenty-second birthday at home with his parents.

The Memphis Draft Board announces at a press conference that Elvis Presley will be classified 1A, meaning he will most likely be drafted in the next six to eight months.

While at home Elvis stips by to see Dixie Locke, who has recently married.

January 12, 1957 Radio Recorders - Hollywood, California

I Believe H2WB 0253-09
Tell Me Why H2WB 0254-05
Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do H2WB 0255-09
All Shook Up H2WB 0256-10

January 13, 1957 Radio Recorders - Hollywood, California

Mean Woman Blues H2WB 0257-14
Peace In The Valley H2WB 0258-09
I Beg Of You (Alternate Master) H2WB 0259-12
That's When Your Heartaches Begin H2WB 0260-SP
Take My Hand Precious Lord H2WB 0261-14

January 15, 1957 Paramount Sound Stage - Hollywood, CA

(Let's Have A) Party (Alternate Master - Movie Version) SPA5 2868-07
Lonesome Cowboy H2WB 2194-SP

January 16, 1957 Paramount Sound Stage - Hollywood, CA

Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do (Alternate Master) HRA1 8674-17
Teddy Bear H2WB 2193-13

January 18, 1957 Paramount Sound Stage - Hollywood, CA

One Night Of Sin NPA5 5820-NA
Blueberry Hill WPA5 2589-02
Hot Dog H2WB 2196-17
Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do (Finale) WPA5 2587-13

January 19, 1957 Radio Recorders - Hollywood, California

It Is No Secret (What God Can Do) H2WB 0282-13
Blueberry Hill H2WB 0283-09
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You H2WB 0284-15
Is It So Strange? H2WB 0285-12

January 21, 1957 Paramount Sound Stage - Hollywood, California

(Let's Have A) Party H2WB 2195-11
Mean Woman Blues (Alternate Intro Version) SPA5 2870-07
Mean Woman Blues (Movie Version Composite) SPA5 2870-SP

February 14, 1957 Radio Recorders - Hollywood, California

Loving You (Farm Version 3) WPA5 2538-12
Loving You (Main Version 2) WPA5 2539-21

February 23, 1957 Radio Recorders - Hollywood, California

Don't Leave Me Now H2WB 0414-29
I Beg Of You H2WB 0259-34
One Night H2WB 0415-10
True Love H2WB 0416-20
I Need You So H2WB 0417-08

February 24, 1957 Radio Recorders - Hollywood, California

Loving You H2WB 0418-04
When It Rains It Really Pours H2WB 0419-08

March is a busy month for Elvis. He finishes the movie 'Loving You'.

On Saturday, March 17, 1957, a day after they returned to Memphis, Elvis' mother and father called real estate agent Virginia Grant to see what she had to offer. Grant wasted no time. That day she showed them two properties, leaving Graceland to last. By 6 p.m. she had accepted a $1,000 deposit from the Presleys and drawn up a provisional sales contract detailing the terms of sale, including an asking price of $90,000.

At 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 19, 22-year-old Elvis, accompanied by his parents, met Grant at Graceland.

Elvis surveyed the property for a few minutes, then baptized the house by playing some Rock & Roll at a piano.

Elvis decides to buy Graceland after seeing it once. Elvis, Vernon and Gladys Presley signed the sales contract on the spot as purchasers, and a closing date was set for Tuesday, March 26, at 4:30 p.m.

(Vernon and Gladys moved in on this date while Elvis was on tour.)

Got a Lot o' Livin' to Do

Oh yes I've got a lot o' living to do
A whole lot o' loving to do
Come on baby, to make a party takes two
Oh yes I've got a lot o' living to do
A whole lot o' loving to do
And there's no one who I'd rather do it with-a than you

There's a moon that's big and bright in the milky way tonight
But the way you act you never would know it's there
So baby, time's a wasting
A lot of kisses I ain't been tasting
I don't know about you but I'm gonna get my share

Oh got a lot o' living to do
A whole lot o' loving to do
Come on baby, to make a party takes two
Oh yes I've got a lot o' living to do
A whole lot o' loving to do
And there's no one who I'd rather do it with-a than you

There's a balmy little breeze
That's whistling through the trees
And it's telling you to pitch a little woo with me
Why don't you take a listen
You'll never know what you've been missing
Cuddle up a little closer and be my little honey bee

Oh got a lot o' living to do
A whole lot o' loving to do
Come on baby, to make a party takes two
Oh yes I've got a lot o' living to do
A whole lot o' loving to do
And there's no one who I'd rather do it with-a than you

You're the prettiest thing I've seen
But you treat me so doggone mean
Ain't you got no heart, I'm dying to hold you near
Why do you keep me waiting
Why don't you start co-operating
And the things I say are things you want to hear

Oh got a lot o' living to do
A whole lot o' loving to do
Come on baby, to make a party takes two
Oh yes I've got a lot o' living to do
A whole lot o' loving to do
And there's no one who I'd rather do it with-a than you

Recorded: 1957/01/12, first released on Loving You

From the movie Loving You