Thirty-Nine & Holding
Jerry Lee Lewis · Other Songs - Jerry Lee Lewis
He's out there somewhere every night
Where the music's playing loud
Doing all the 50's steps, in a 1980 crowd
The dim lights hide his millage lines
The Clairol hides the gray
And he won't mention anything
That gives his age away
Lord, he's thirty-nine and holding
Holding everything he can
From seventeen to twenty-five
He'll prove he's still a man
He's holding to a candle
And it's burning at both ends
He's thirty-nine and holding
Holding everything he can
You can bet he'll never see
Thirty-nine again
He should have turned loose long ago
But still he's hangin' it in
He still thinks that he is the man
That he used to be
He's thirty-nine and holding
And acting twenty-three
Lord, He's thirty-nine and holding
Holding everything he can
From seventeen to twenty-five
To prove he's still a man
He's holding to a candle
My God, it's burning at both ends
He's thirty-nine and holding
Holding everything he can
Where the music's playing loud
Doing all the 50's steps, in a 1980 crowd
The dim lights hide his millage lines
The Clairol hides the gray
And he won't mention anything
That gives his age away
Lord, he's thirty-nine and holding
Holding everything he can
From seventeen to twenty-five
He'll prove he's still a man
He's holding to a candle
And it's burning at both ends
He's thirty-nine and holding
Holding everything he can
You can bet he'll never see
Thirty-nine again
He should have turned loose long ago
But still he's hangin' it in
He still thinks that he is the man
That he used to be
He's thirty-nine and holding
And acting twenty-three
Lord, He's thirty-nine and holding
Holding everything he can
From seventeen to twenty-five
To prove he's still a man
He's holding to a candle
My God, it's burning at both ends
He's thirty-nine and holding
Holding everything he can
Thirty-Nine & Holding
Jerry Lee Lewis delivers a raw, blues-infused rock performance on 'Thirty-Nine & Holding,' a track that exemplifies his signature blend of country roots and electric intensity. Released during a period where Lewis solidified his status as a pioneer of rock and roll, the song showcases his virtuosic piano playing and impassioned vocals. The recording captures the frenetic energy characteristic of his live shows, blending the rhythmic drive of the blues with the aggressive sound of early rock. As part of his extensive discography, this work reflects the era's transition from honky-tonk to mainstream rock, cementing Lewis's legacy as a transformative figure in American music history.