High School Confidential

Album: Jerry Lee Lewis (1958)
Charted: 12 21
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song about shaking things up at the high school hop had unfortunate timing: It was riding up the charts when news of Lewis' marriage to his 13-year-old second cousin broke out. Upon hearing this, Sun Records canceled distribution of the record to DJs and it stalled at #21 on the chart. The song's sharp decline down the chart is shown in the biopic Great Balls Of Fire. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Denny - Pittsburgh, PA
  • This was the title track to a movie in which Lewis appeared. There was a sequel to the movie called College Confidential, which had no theme song and no Lewis.
  • Unlike his previous hits "Crazy Arms" and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On,'" Lewis wrote "High School Confidential" himself.

Comments: 2

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 30th 1965, Jerry Lee Lewis performed "High School Confidential" on the ABC-TV program 'Shindig!'...
    Seven years earlier on May 18th, 1958 it entered Billboard's Hot 100 at position #34; and on June 15th it peaked at #21 (for 1 week) and spent 11 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #5 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart and #9 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart...
    The week it entered the Top 100 at #34, it was tied at that position with two other songs, "Let The Bells Keep Ringing" by Paul Anka and "The Walk" by Jimmy McCracklin...
    'The Killer' will celebrate his 79th birthday in three months on September 29th, 2014.
  • Linc from Beaumont, TxJerry also wrote another song himself called the Lewis Boogie.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

La La Brooks of The Crystals

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.