About the song
The “Million Dollar Quartet” is a legendary recording capturing a spontaneous jam session among four iconic figures in rock and roll history: Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash. This historic event took place on December 4, 1956, at Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, under the keen eye of Sam Phillips, the legendary owner of Sun Records.
The session came about unexpectedly. Carl Perkins, already famous for hits like “Blue Suede Shoes,” had scheduled a recording session that day with his brothers and drummer W.S. Holland. Sam Phillips had enlisted a young and talented pianist, Jerry Lee Lewis, to accompany Perkins. As Perkins and his band were recording, Elvis Presley, who had recently moved to RCA Victor but still had close ties with Sun Records, dropped by with his girlfriend, Marilyn Evans. Elvis joined the session, listening to Perkins’ tracks and eventually joining in on the jam.
Johnny Cash, a rising star in country music signed to Sun Records, also made an appearance that day. According to Cash’s autobiography, he had arrived early to listen in on Perkins’ session. The convergence of these four artists in one room was a stroke of luck and genius. Jack Clement, the engineer that day, recognized the significance of the moment and decided to record the jam session.
The atmosphere in the studio was electric as these young, vibrant artists played off each other’s energy. They covered gospel songs and other tunes they all knew well, showcasing their musical versatility and camaraderie. Elvis, already a national sensation, naturally became the focal point of the session, though each artist brought their own unique style to the mix.
The session gained media attention when Phillips called the Memphis Press-Scimitar, prompting entertainment editor Bob Johnson and UPI representative Leo Sora to rush to the studio with photographer George Pierce. Johnson’s subsequent article, published the next day under the title “Million Dollar Quartet,” featured a now-famous photograph of Presley at the piano, surrounded by Lewis, Perkins, Cash, and Evans.
Initially released in Europe in 1981 as “The Million Dollar Quartet,” the recordings have since become a cherished piece of rock and roll history. Additional tracks discovered later were compiled into “The Complete Million Dollar Session,” further solidifying the session’s status as a seminal moment in popular music. The spontaneity, talent, and sheer joy captured in these recordings continue to resonate with music lovers worldwide, illustrating the enduring legacy of these four pioneering artists and their impromptu gathering that forever shaped the course of rock and roll.
Video
Lyrics
Well, I’m gonna lay down my burden (His burden)
Down by the riverside (Riverside)
Down by the riverside (Riverside)
Down by the riverside
I wanna lay down my burden (His burden)
Down by the riverside
Study (Study) war (war) no (no) moreWell, I ain’t a-gonna study war no more
I ain’t a-gonna study war no more
Aain’t a-gonna study (gonna study) war (war) no more, no more, no more, no more
Well, ain’t a-gonna study war no more
Ain’t a-gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study (Study) war no moreWell, I’m gonna put on my long white robe (Yeah)
Down by the riverside (Uh-huh)
Down by the riverside (Yeah)
Down by the riverside
I’m gonna put on my long white robe (Oh yeah)
Down by the riverside (Uh-huh)
Study war no moreWell, I ain’t a-gonna study war no more
Well, I ain’t a-gonna study war no more
Ain’t a-gonna study war no more, no more, no more, no more
Ain’t a-gonna study war no more
Ain’t a-gonna study war no more
Ain’t a-gonna study (Study) war no more (play it, Carl)