Context

This line is from the song "Jailhouse Rock," sung by Elvis Presley and written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, from the album Jailhouse Rock (1957).

This song was featured in Elvis’s third film, Jailhouse Rock, about an ex-con who makes it big as a singer once he gets out of prison. About halfway through the movie, Elvis (who plays Vince Everett) sings and dances with a bunch of other guys in stripes in a stylized cell block to get ready for a big television appearance. Hey, if there’s one thing the all-American kids of the '50s loved, it was convicted murderers enjoying themselves in prison. And that’s basically what "Jailhouse Rock" is all about—having a good time even though you’re locked up in the Big House.

Where you've heard it

Anywhere people are having a good time in prison (which isn’t too often), you’ll probably hear “Jailhouse Rock” being sung.

The Blues Brothers also like to jailhouse rock when they have to.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Hey, who can blame those guys (or gals) in jail for wanting to have a little fun? Unless you have some hardline law-and-order types at your next dinner party, you’re free to quote these lyrics without anyone thinking you’re being out of line.