The Greatest Oldies Music

Oldies Musics

Elvis Presley – Do The Clam

Introduction

Elvis Presley’s musical legacy is a treasure trove of timeless classics, and one hidden gem that showcases his fun and infectious side is “Do The Clam.” Released in 1965, this lively tune is a testament to Elvis’s ability to infuse even the simplest dance instructions with his unmistakable charm. Let’s take a closer look at the toe-tapping joy of “Do The Clam.”

Did You Know?

Unearth some fascinating facts about “Do The Clam” and the iconic artist behind it:

  1. Film Tie-In: “Do The Clam” was featured in the 1965 musical film “Tickle Me,” where Elvis Presley starred as a singing rodeo cowboy. The song, accompanied by Elvis’s energetic dance moves, added a memorable touch to the film.
  2. Dance Craze: The song introduces listeners to the “Clam” dance, a quirky and delightful routine that became a sensation during the ’60s. Explore how this dance craze captivated audiences and contributed to the song’s popularity.
  3. Chart Success: Despite being a departure from Elvis’s typical rock sound, “Do The Clam” found its way onto music charts, showcasing the artist’s ability to experiment with different styles while maintaining his chart-topping status.
  4. Recording Anecdotes: Delve into the behind-the-scenes stories of the song’s recording process. From Elvis’s playful approach to the collaboration with musicians, discover the creative dynamics that shaped “Do The Clam.”
  5. Cultural Impact: Examine the song’s impact on popular culture, both in the ’60s and beyond. Uncover how “Do The Clam” left an imprint on dance trends and influenced subsequent generations of artists.

Video

Lyrics: Do The Clam

Hey everybody gather round
N’ listen to that bongo sound
Grab the first one in your reach
Now we’re going to shake the beachDo the Clam, do the Clam
Grab your barefoot baby by the hand
Turn n’ tease, hug n’ squeeze
Dig right in n’ do the ClamYou can get your heart to spin
On the outside looking in
Moon ain’t gonna last all night
Well, let’s work up an appetiteDo the Clam, do the Clam
Grab your barefoot baby by the hand
Turn n’ tease, hug n’ squeeze
Dig right in n’ do the Clam

Everybody’s got that beat
Well, listen to those happy feet
Ain’t you glad that you found out
What the Clam is all about

Do the Clam, do the Clam
Oh and grab your barefoot baby by the hand
Turn n’ tease, hug n’ squeeze
Dig right in n’ do the Clam

Do the Clam, do the Clam
Oh and grab your barefoot baby by the hand
Turn n’ tease, hug n’ squeeze
Dig right in n’ do the Clam
Dig right in n’ do the Clam

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STONEWALL JACKSON ASKED TOM T. HALL TO WRITE A PRISON SONG, BUT HALL COULD NOT DO IT BECAUSE HE HAD NEVER ACTUALLY BEEN TO PRISON. Tom T. Hall spent his early career turning out the kind of polished, commercial hits that Nashville publishers lived for. He could write what people expected, but he always felt like a fraud. When Stonewall Jackson approached him requesting a prison song—hoping to capture that rugged, authentic aura Johnny Cash was building—Hall hit a wall. He stared at his notepad, realized he had no genuine experience with a cell, and flatly refused to fake it. He was a songwriter, not an actor, and his pride kept him from writing about a world he didn’t know. His wife, Dixie, cut through the tension with a simple reminder: he had indeed spent a week in a county jail in Kentucky after a traffic violation. That memory was not cinematic or heroic. It was just mundane, quiet, and uncomfortable. It involved bad food, the sound of iron bars, and the slow, agonizing crawl of days where the jailer’s wife suddenly started looking like the most beautiful woman on earth. He stopped writing songs that invented generic situations and started reporting the people and places he actually encountered. The result was his first number one hit, written like a man telling a story across a kitchen table. Stonewall Jackson never got his song, but Hall finally found his own voice in the silence of that jail cell.

Elvis Presley did not go to Hollywood simply because he wanted to be a movie star. He wanted to act. He admired performers such as James Dean and Marlon Brando and hoped that, given the right material, audiences might eventually see him as more than the singer whose voice and movements had turned popular culture upside down.

Long before the private planes, expensive cars and Graceland, Elvis Presley knew what it meant to live with very little. His childhood in Tupelo stayed with him even after fame transformed his life. Money changed what Elvis could afford, but it never completely erased the memory of struggling.

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