Back in the day, who'd a thunk?

Maybe because the advent of this song was as notable as aliens landing in Central Park. Consider that the three cousins - Evangelist and commercial affection connoisseur Jimmy Swaggart, Rock and Roll founding father Jerry Lee Lewis and Urban Cowboy movement icon Mickey Gilley - came from the Mississippi Delta fields of Ferriday-Vidalia, Louisiana and were not influenced by cosmopolitan diversity and classical music training.

The strange brew that led to Rock and Roll had bits of black juke joint blues, country church Gospel singing, country picking virtuosity heard on WSM and the fertile longings and imaginations of hot blooded boys itching to get out of the dirt farm wasteland and into something, maybe anything.

Thinking that this was the pop music of the 50's is analogous to thinking of letters as the internet of the 1800's. Kinda functions that way, but predates the paradigm.

I'm always a little amused that
Jerry Lee Lewis,
Mickey Gilley
Jimmy (Lee) Swaggart are cousins!

Last man standing.

Unfortunately I fail to see why people like this song.  It's not particularly catchy.  The lyrics are as banal as modern pop.  There's nothing notable in the performance.

I guess this was the pop music of the 50's, but I don't feel it holds up in any way today, or is otherwise worth remembering.

Last man standing.

It is statistically correct that among African-American families, the average generational span is 13 years ... that means 13 year old mothers, 26 year old grandmothers, 39 year old great grand mothers, and so on. All on welfare, of course. It is also pretty accurate that among the lowest classes of White people in the USA, the same lowered age of first birthing is seen. Your average white trash girl of 14 is most likely already a mother or mother to be. Other countries, particularly India and the Middle East, but also Latin America and some areas of Africa, consider a female to be marriageable as soon as the first menses begin — which in the tropical regions can be as young as 10 years old. What of the men, usually aged over 30, who marry these girls? What of the many Latino immigrant families right here in the Nashville area which have mothers who are 14 or 15 and whose husbands are in their 30's. There have been several cases in the local courts where NeoCon prosecutors have attempted to persecute husbands whose wives were under the age of 18, even though they appeared to be happily married, with children attending school, and with all the trappings of a new immigrant family making their homes in the land of golden sidewalks. Same thing with some Somalia families here with child-bride wives of 13 or 14 who were arrested by the Truant Officer ....

Racists rants nothwithstanding, you have it completely backwards. Female circumcision is specifically prohibited ("haram") in Islam. Males are also rarely circumcised in most traditional cultures. In the cultures where this occurs, practices of this sort are found almost exclusively among the non-Muslims, rather than Muslims. And in areas where Shar'ia becomes dominant, these abhorrent practices cease. And yes, Muslims do consider women to be humans--they often elect them to be senators, parliamentarians, and heads of state, as well as regional governors and federal judges. So take your ignorance elsewhere, it doesn't belong among the great music and community of Radio Paradise.

Well, OK, then .. BTW my Grandmother married at age 13, birthed 16 children, 9 surviving. . . . . .
(see below)
. . . . . Religious zealotry aside, I am infinitely more outraged over the treatment of children as sex-slaves and as targets of religious mutilation than the latest ululations over Dakota Fanning's imaginary rape scene.

The point of this whole exercise is that everyone has their own perception. I agree with you that sexual activities between a child and an adult are indefensible. There is no debate about that. Likewise, the fact that Jerry Lee Lewis most likely took advantage of a naive and silly girl who was at that time emotionally immature but physically mature was also indefensible. However, at the end of the day, everything worked out between them, presumably. One can't speak to the amount of screwed up baggage Myrna must still carry, however. Only she can say one way or the other.
So you see, we are both on the same sheet of music here, I just choose to look at all shades of gray instead of only black and white.
Cheers,
Dave

Of course, some of those countries, specifically the Moslems, carve away the labia majoria and the clitoris, usually using unsterilized knives or pieces of "holy glass". Interesting that those so-called religious folks don't worry about the emotional effect on the victims. But, wait, they don't consider females to be humans, now do they.

If you think sex with 13-year-olds is OK (cousin or not), then that's your opinion, and you're entitled to it.
I happen to think it's indefensible, so call me a prude.

So I guess we can't count on your guest appearance in R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet."
Charlie Chaplin had a thing for young girls as well...

Well, I agree, in principal, but every time I hear his name I can't help thinking he married his 13-year-old cousin. I'm sorry, but that is just repellant. That aside, the music speaks for itself.