About the song
Elvis Presley’s **“Polk Salad Annie”** is a thrilling, swampy Southern rock anthem that showcases the King of Rock and Roll’s electrifying stage presence and deep connection to blues and soul influences. Originally written and recorded by Tony Joe White in 1968, the song found new life in the hands of **Elvis Presley**, whose dynamic performances transformed it into a high-energy, crowd-pleasing spectacle during his live shows in the 1970s.
With its raw, blues-infused guitar licks and pulsating rhythm, **“Polk Salad Annie”** tells the story of a tough, rural Louisiana woman who survives on polk salad, a wild plant often eaten by poor Southern families. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of hard living in the Deep South, complete with alligators, a hardworking mother, and the rough realities of poverty. Elvis, always a master of storytelling through song, delivers the lyrics with a mix of grit, humor, and larger-than-life charisma that captivates audiences.
One of the most remarkable aspects of **Elvis Presley**’s interpretation is the way he injects raw energy into the song. His live performances—especially those from his Las Vegas residency—are legendary, featuring dramatic pauses, playful spoken interludes, and powerful vocal inflections that make each rendition feel spontaneous and exciting. Backed by a fiery brass section and his signature swagger, Elvis elevates the song from a regional Southern tale to a nationwide rock-and-roll spectacle.
**“Polk Salad Annie”** stands as a testament to **Elvis Presley**’s ability to take an existing song and completely own it, reshaping it into something uniquely his own. His version bridges the gap between rock, blues, and soul, embodying the spirit of the American South while delivering a show-stopping performance that remains unforgettable.
Video
Lyrics
If some of ya’ll never been down south too much
Some y’all never been down s-
I’m gonna tell you a little story so’s you’ll understand what I’m talkin’ about
Down there we have a plant that grows out in the woods, and the fields
And it looks somethin’ like a turnip green
Everybody calls it polk salad
Now that’s polk salad
Used to know a girl lived down there and she’d go out in the evenings and
Pick her a mess of it
Carry it home and cook it for supper
Because that’s about all they had to eat
But they did all right
Down in Louisiana, where the alligators grow so mean
Lived a girl, that I swear to the world
Made the alligators look tame
Polk salad Annie, gators got your granny
Everybody said it was a shame
Because her momma was a workin’ on the chain gang
A mean vicious woman
Everyday before supper time, she’d go down by the truck patch
And pick her a mess of polk salad, and carry it home in a tow sack
Polk salad Annie, the gators got your granny
Everybody says it was a shame
Because her momma was a workin’ on the chain gang
A wretched, spiteful, straight-razor totin’ woman
Lord have Mercy, pick a mess of it
Sock a little polk salad to me
Her daddy was lazy and no-count, claimed he had a bad back
All her brothers were fit for
Was stealin’ watermelons out of my truck patch
Polk salad Annie, the gators got your granny
Everybody said it was a shame
Because her momma was a workin’ on the chain gang
Yeah, sock a little polk salad to me, you know I need me a mess of it
Sock a little
Sock a little polk salad to me, you know I need a real mess of it (chick-a-boom)
Sock a little polk salad, you know I need a real (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)
