Deep Purple drew inspiration from early American rock, and the lyrics of this song are made up of bits from songs by Little Richard, Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry. The first verse borrows from Richard's songs "Good Golly Miss Molly," "Tutti Frutti" and "Lucille." The second verse is pulled from the soul classic "Rip It Up," as well as Elvis' "Hard Headed Woman" and Berry's "Some People." Deep Purple would later pay tribute to Little Richard when they named their 1987 album The House of Blue Light, after a line in "Good Golly Miss Molly."
According to Ian Gillan's autobiography, this song was called "Kneel and Pray" for some time.
Audio : Deep Purple In Rock 1970 Version with "Doing Their Thing" 1970 Video Scenes
Lyrics
Good golly, said little miss molly
When she was rockin' in the house of blue light
Tutti frutti was oh so rooty
Rockin' to the east and west
Lucille was oh so real
When she didn't do her daddies will
Come on baby, drive me crazy, do it, do it
I'm a speed king you go to hear me sing
I'm a speed king see me fly
Saturday night and I just got paid
Gonna fool about ain't gonna save
people gonna rock some people gonna roll
Gonna have a party to save my soul
Hard headed woman and a soft hearted man
They been causing trouble since it all began
Take a little rice take a little beans
Gonna rock and roll down to New Orleans
I'm a speed king you go to hear me sing
I'm a speed king see me fly, oh
Oh oh c'mon oh oh
Good golly, said little miss molly
When she was rockin' in the house of blue light
Tutti frutti was oh so rooty
Rockin' to the east and west
Hard headed woman and a soft hearted man
They been causing trouble since it all began
Take a little rice take a little beans
Gonna rock and roll down to New Orleans
I'm a speed king you go to hear me sing
I'm a speed king see me fly
I'm a speed king you go to hear me sing
I'm a speed king see me
I'm a speed king you go to hear me sing
I'm a speed king see me fly
Songwriters: Ian Gillan / Ian Paice / Jon Lord / Ritchie Blackmore / Roger Glover
Speed King lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
