The lyric from “Hound Dog” finishes with “time.” The phrase is repeated in the chorus as the singer criticizes the person being addressed for constant complaining.
“ Hound Dog” was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and first recorded by Big Mama Thornton in 1952. Elvis Presley’s 1956 recording became the most famous version, turning the song into a landmark of early rock and roll. Presley performed it on television in a highly energetic style that helped make the song a cultural event.
The original recording was a rhythm-and-blues performance, while Presley’s version used a faster, more aggressive rock-and-roll approach. Although the lyric uses the image of a hound dog, the song is not primarily about an actual pet; the phrase is an insult directed at an unreliable or boastful person.
Listeners sometimes substitute “night” because “crying all night” is a familiar phrase. The canonical lyric uses “time.” Presley’s recording reached number one on the Billboard pop chart and remained there for eleven weeks.