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