The song “Vegas” was composed for a tribute album to Elvis Presley, arguably the most famous and influential musician in history. In 1956, Presley released a version of a music called “Hound Dog” that would become one of his most recognizable songs.

Originally performed by a person named Big Mama Thornton, the music is mainly focused on the singer criticizing an unfaithful boyfriend. Moreover, it was featured in the recent Elvis biopic of the same name where in an interview, Director Baz Luhrman said of her song: “Doja and her producer with Yeti was an amazing job.”

From Clash Music: The track serves as a brilliant twist on the Presley classic ‘Hound Dog’; incorporating the classic sentiment of “you ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog…”, the track builds on this, delivering a brutal take-down of a modern ‘hound dog’ with far more directness. Doja Cat’s confident rapping is complimented gorgeously by featured Gospel singer Shonka, resulting in a track that holds no punches.

History

Everyone who has dabbled in the lyrics of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll knows the tune “Hound Dog.” Many, however, are unaware that a Black lady named Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton was the author of the song that Elvis Presley covered.

In August of 1952, Big Mama Thornton recorded the song that would become a worldwide sensation. Explicitly written for her, Big Mama Thornton’s rendition of the lyrics quickly rose to the top of the R&B chart on Billboard that same year.

Many other artists also recorded their renditions, but none of them became as famous as Elvis. In 1956, he recorded a cover of the song, which quickly became a hit and helped launch his career by topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 11 consecutive weeks.

Some people may have forgotten that the song was not originally Elvis’ because he was white and could get his rendition of “Hound Dog” to wider audiences. Some of Big Mama Thornton’s work has been forgotten. However, her influence on Elvis and American pop music has been recognized, most recently by Doja Cat with their lyrics “Vegas.”

Meaning and Symbolism

In Doja Cat Vegas lyrics, the guy is depicted as a player who is financially reliant on his girlfriend. But it seems like Doja flipped the script once she realized he was playing her. It seems to imply in the second stanza that this involves making actual physical threats, including the threat of his death.

Big Mama Thornton was content to punish her womanizing and dependent boo by cutting him off before she came around. Doja Cat, on the other hand, seems to be a modern woman who is prepared to go to extremes in the name of revenge.

The Black community, in particular, has praised the “Vegas” music video by Doja Cat for its symbolic, significant tribute to Big Mama Thornton. Her rendition of “Hound Dog” highlights the difficulty of dealing with a partner dating someone else, while Elvis Presley’s version utilizes the term more literally.

Doja Cat’s “Vegas” lyrics remain faithful to Big Mama Thornton’s rendition and the song’s original meaning. It also seems to call out Elvis: ” This ain’t stayin’ in Vegas I’m losin’ my patience/ I’m a tell everybody /more/There are sides to the story.”

Doja Cat’s song “Hound Dog” may be seen as an expose that Elvis Presley stole the idea for “Hound Dog” from a Black woman and made money from her. The significance of this fact increases because this music serves as the promotional single for a biopic about Elvis.

Additional Information

The song was released as the lead single from the original motion picture soundtrack for the movie “Elvis” by Kemosabe Records and RCA records on May 6th, 2022. The song features a snippet of the song Hound Dog from film acctress Shonka Dukureh’s recording.

Lyrics

[Intro: Shonka Dukureh]

Yeah, ah, get it
Yeah, ah, get it
Yeah, yeah, ah, get it
Yeah, ah, get it
Yeah, ah, get it
Yeah

[Chorus: Doja Cat, Shonka Dukureh]

Dog, player, ah, get it
Fraud, player, ah, get it
I understand, I understand
You ain’t the man, you ain’t a man
(You ain’t nothin’ but a)
Hound dog, hound dog, hound dog
(You ain’t nothin’ but a)

[Verse 1: Doja Cat, Shonka Dukureh]

Player gettin’ valeted around in that ho whip
Two fingers up, one down with my toes ten
Flewed out with my boobs out, put a cork in it
Love it when you be cryin’ out when I’m corseted
I don’t think you gon’ make it, do not let me start ragin’
I’m losin’ my patience, this ain’t stayin’ in Vegas (you ain’t nothin’ but a)
There’s more sides to the story, I’ma tell everybody
Had your ass sittin’ courtside with your arm around me
Had your ass sittin’ first class with your burnt ass out in Abu Dhabi
Could’ve been what we should’ve been, but you lost a bet, now you gotta find me
Find a seat, I ain’t playin’ this hide and seek
High school when you finally peaked
Hound dog, come find a treat
I’m a bad bitch, but

[Chorus: Doja Cat, Shonka Dukureh]

You ain’t nothin’ but a
Dog, player, ah, get it
Fraud, player, ah, get it
I understand, I understand
You ain’t the man, you ain’t a man
(You ain’t nothin’ but a)
Hound dog, hound dog, hound dog
Yeah, yeah, said (you ain’t nothin’ but a)

[Verse 2: Doja Cat, Shonka Dukureh]

I get it, I know you got some other- you wanted
I get it, you needed someone that could prove you wrong
So I reckon, you leave all of your problems at the door to my city
You gon’ need to tell my brothers where you from
And I admit it, I still got empathy
And you gon’ feel it for two weeks
When I release you in them streets (you ain’t nothin’ but a)
And keep my nina in discrete, keep the cleanin’ my Jeep
And put that Yeezy in your teeth, let my demons off they leashes
If you even think to speak I’ma give a whole new meaning
When you said you live in a dream, we can keep that- asleep
And you gon’ laugh with all your Gs
Countin’ them sheep, sheep, sheep, sheep
Talkin’ ’bout Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z, R-I-P

[Chorus: Doja Cat, Shonka Dukureh]

You ain’t nothin’ but a
Dog, player, ah, get it
Fraud, player, ah, get it
I understand, I understand
You ain’t the man, you ain’t a man
(You ain’t nothin’ but a)
Hound dog, hound dog, hound dog
(You ain’t nothin’ but a)
Dog, player, ah, get it
Fraud, player, ah, get it
I understand, I understand
You ain’t the man, you ain’t a man
(You ain’t nothin’ but a)
Hound dog, hound dog, hound dog

[Outro: Shonka Dukureh]

you ain’t nothin’ but a
Yeah, ah, get it
Yeah, ah, get it
Yeah, yeah, ah, get it
Yeah, ah, get it
Yeah, yeah, ah, get it
Yeah, you ain’t nothin’ but a

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Amala Zandile Dlamini / David Sprecher / Jerry Leiber / Mike Stoller / Roget Lutfi Chahayed

Vegas lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Listeners of Hip-Hop music, might also appreciate the song The Next Episode by Dr. Dre.

This article was first published Feb 2, 2023 and last updated July 8, 2023.