--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started out just as Elvis was going…" description: "\"I started out just as Elvis was going into the army, Jerry Lee Lewis married his 14-year-old cousin, and Little Richard became a priest.\" — Neil Sedaka" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c3/neil-sedaka-10857_army_i-started-out-just-as-elvis-was-going-in_2216157.jpg" --- # I started out just as Elvis was going into the army, Jerry… ![“I started out just as Elvis was going into the army, Jerry Lee Lewis married his 14-year-old cousin, and Little Richard became a priest.” quote by Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c3/neil-sedaka-10857_army_i-started-out-just-as-elvis-was-going-in_2216157.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c3/neil-sedaka-10857_army_i-started-out-just-as-elvis-was-going-in_2216157.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c3/neil-sedaka-10857_army_i-started-out-just-as-elvis-was-going-in_2216157.jpg) > “I started out just as Elvis was going into the army, Jerry Lee Lewis married his 14-year-old cousin, and Little Richard became a priest.” [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker juxtaposes famous musicians' controversial personal lives to highlight the unpredictable nature of fame. **In simple terms:** Fame often hides wild personal stories. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about celebrity lives. Themes celebrity controversy history Mood curious reflective Type cultural observational When to use this quote - music history - celebrity gossip - social commentary Key Concepts culture media studies Questions to Reflect On - What drives public fascination with scandal? - How does fame affect personal choices? A Different Perspective Personal anecdotes may not represent broader truths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Army Jerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army-jerry-4927044/) [Cousin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cousin/) [Cousin Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cousin-little-4927045/) [Elvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elvis/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [His](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his/) [Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little/) [Little Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-richard-453436/) [Married 14](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married-14-4927043/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) ## Related quotes > [Elvis inspired my sideburns, but Little Richard inspired me for vocals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemmy/elvis-inspired-my-sideburns-but-little-richard-inspired-me-for-vocals/) [Lemmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemmy/) > [Plus, you know, when I was young, there was a lot of respect for clowning in rock music - look at Little Richard. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/plus-you-know-when-i-was-young-there-was-a-lot-of-respect-for/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't know who Little Richard is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bar-refaeli/i-don-t-know-who-little-richard-is/) [Bar Refaeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bar-refaeli/) > [I heard Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, and that was it. I didn't ever want to be anything else. I just started banging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-heard-little-richard-and-jerry-lee-lewis-and-that-was-it-i-didn-t/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Little Richard opens his mouth, and out comes liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-van-zandt/little-richard-opens-his-mouth-and-out-comes-liberation/) [Steven Van Zandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-van-zandt/) > [The first people I ever saw were probably Little Richard and Gene Vincent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-wood/the-first-people-i-ever-saw-were-probably-little-richard-and-gene/) [Roy Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-wood/) > [When Little Richard used to stand up and play it was just fabulous, and Liberace had the candlesticks and the rings and the gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/when-little-richard-used-to-stand-up-and-play-it-was-just-fabulous/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Little Richard played my uncle on 'Full House.' He's fabulous. I remember him being incredibly kind to me. I just remember him being super,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/little-richard-played-my-uncle-on-full-house-he-s-fabulous-i-remember/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [No man had ever knocked little Richard down. But of course Ammm was not a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/no-man-had-ever-knocked-little-richard-down-but-of-course-ammm-was/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Rock and roll came into my life when I was about 12, 13, when Little Richard and Chuck Berry had just started hitting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-cocker/rock-and-roll-came-into-my-life-when-i-was-about-12-13-when-little/) [Joe Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-cocker/) > [I love a little Richard Brautigan poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-rowe/i-love-a-little-richard-brautigan-poetry/) [Camille Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-rowe/) > [Joe Morello, my dad was really into him and Little Richard's drummer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-bonham/joe-morello-my-dad-was-really-into-him-and-little-richard-s-drummer/) [Jason Bonham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-bonham/) > [When I was 9 years old, I wanted to be the baritone sax player in the Little Richard band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/when-i-was-9-years-old-i-wanted-to-be-the-baritone-sax-player-in-the/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [Ain't nobody more punk rock than Robert Johnson, Lead Belly, even Little Richard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantastic-negrito/ain-t-nobody-more-punk-rock-than-robert-johnson-lead-belly-even/) [Fantastic Negrito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantastic-negrito/) > [I had a handful of records, but when I was 11 years old, I liked Puccini as much as Little Richard. They both made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-had-a-handful-of-records-but-when-i-was-11-years-old-i-liked/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## More by Neil Sedaka > [November, I'll give thanks that you belong to me. December, you're the present beneath my Christmas tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/november-i-ll-give-thanks-that-you-belong-to-me-december-you-re-the/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [When the Beatles came to America and took me off the map, I thought I would return the favor, and I moved the family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/when-the-beatles-came-to-america-and-took-me-off-the-map-i-thought-i/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [Music is so much a part of me: my parents told me that when I was an infant, I wouldn't eat unless the radio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/music-is-so-much-a-part-of-me-my-parents-told-me-that-when-i-was-an/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [I think there are three kinds of songs; it's only my theory: psychological, emotional, and spiritual. When you write psychologically or intellectually, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/i-think-there-are-three-kinds-of-songs-it-s-only-my-theory/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [I used to think the whole world was Jewish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/i-used-to-think-the-whole-world-was-jewish/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [I could have been bigger, but I wasn't controversial enough. I didn't do drugs or wreck rooms. There were no dramas in my private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/i-could-have-been-bigger-but-i-wasn-t-controversial-enough-i-didn-t/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [I have inner peace; I have accomplished a great deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/i-have-inner-peace-i-have-accomplished-a-great-deal/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [You have to learn how to sing from your diaphragm, and you don't become a great performer overnight. It takes a while. The more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/you-have-to-learn-how-to-sing-from-your-diaphragm-and-you-don-t/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [My songs lie somewhere in between the evergreen standards, rock n' roll and pop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/my-songs-lie-somewhere-in-between-the-evergreen-standards-rock-n-roll/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [I'm not afraid of poking fun at myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/i-m-not-afraid-of-poking-fun-at-myself/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [I didn't want to be a rock and roller. I wanted to be a Bobby Darin because he was the epitome of the performer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/i-didn-t-want-to-be-a-rock-and-roller-i-wanted-to-be-a-bobby-darin/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [I like Manchester - I've played it many times. The people have a lot of chein, a lot of heart, and the audiences are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/i-like-manchester-i-ve-played-it-many-times-the-people-have-a-lot-of/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [I remember Pavarotti telling me, 'Oh, Neil, after seventy, the voice is going to go.' But I've been lucky. You almost have to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/i-remember-pavarotti-telling-me-oh-neil-after-seventy-the-voice-is/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [I was one of the first American rock n' rollers in the '50s to go to many foreign countries. It's a wonderful thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/i-was-one-of-the-first-american-rock-n-rollers-in-the-50s-to-go-to/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [I think I was put on earth to sing and play music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/i-think-i-was-put-on-earth-to-sing-and-play-music/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) [Explore all 63 Neil Sedaka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. 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