If you close your eyes and try to summon the voice of The King, you probably don’t hear a specific song first. You hear that low, mumbling, polite-as-pie southern drawl. You hear the phrase Elvis Presley thank you thank you very much ringing out over the screams of a thousand fans in a dimly lit Las Vegas showroom. It’s the ultimate auditory hallmark.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a weird thing to become a legend for. It’s just manners, right? But for Elvis, those six words were more than just a polite exit. They were a shield, a brand, and a very real window into a guy who never quite felt like he deserved the crown everyone forced onto his head.
The Mystery of the Mumble
You’ve seen the impersonators. They lean into the microphone, curl the lip, and huff it out: “Thankyuh... thankyuhverymush.” It’s become a caricature. But if you actually go back and watch the 1970 documentary Elvis: That’s the Way It Is, you’ll notice something. He doesn’t always say it the way the guys in the cheap jumpsuits do.
Sometimes it’s fast. Almost like he’s trying to get it out of the way before the next drum fill hits. Other times, especially during his 1969 comeback at the International Hotel, there’s a genuine breathlessness to it.
Did He Actually Say It Every Time?
Not exactly. In the early Sun Records days of 1954 and 1955, Elvis was more likely to say "Thank you, folks" or just "Thank you kindly." The specific rhythmic double-tap—thank you, thank you very much—really solidified during his massive residency years in Vegas.
By 1972, it was a reflex. It was part of the "Elvis" architecture. He’d finish a high-energy version of "Polk Salad Annie," dripping in sweat, and before he’d even wiped his face with a silk scarf, those words were out.
It was a survival tactic. When you have ten thousand people screaming for a piece of your soul, having a scripted, polite way to acknowledge them without having to actually speak to them is a lifesaver. It’s basically the 1970s version of a "like" button.
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The Humility Behind the Jumpsuit
There is this massive disconnect between the Elvis of 1974—the guy in the "American Eagle" suit with the heavy capes—and the "Thank You Very Much" persona.
Elvis was raised in a very strict, very poor, "Yes, ma'am/No, sir" environment in Tupelo and Memphis. That southern politeness was baked into his DNA. Even when he was the most famous man on the planet, he’d call reporters "Sir" and "Ma’am."
- He once told a reporter in the 50s: "I ain't no saint, but I've tried never to do anything that would hurt my family or offend God."
- He constantly worried about being a "good boy" for his mother, Gladys.
- The phrase was a way to stay grounded. It was a reminder to himself that he was still that polite kid from East Tupelo.
People often think the phrase was a joke or a bit of swagger. It wasn't. For Elvis, it was a way to maintain control of the room. If he was talking, he was in charge. If he was thanking them, they were his guests.
Why the Mandela Effect Messes With Us
Here is where it gets kinda trippy. A lot of people remember Elvis saying "Thank you, thank you very much" in a very specific, almost robotic cadence. But if you listen to his live albums, like As Recorded at Madison Square Garden, he’s often moving so fast he barely finishes the words.
The "Thank you very much" we all know is actually a collective memory created by Andy Kaufman.
Kaufman, the legendary eccentric comedian, did an Elvis impression that was so good it famously made Elvis himself laugh. Kaufman would stand on stage, act like a nervous, bumbling failure for ten minutes, and then suddenly transform into the King. He’d do the lip, the hair, and a very exaggerated, slow "Thank you... thank you very much."
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Because Kaufman’s parody was so iconic, it replaced the real Elvis in our collective pop-culture brain. We started remembering the parody more than the person.
The Vegas Pressure Cooker
By the mid-70s, the Elvis Presley thank you thank you very much line started to sound a bit more tired.
In Vegas, he was doing two shows a night. Every night. For weeks. He was exhausted. He was bored. He was playing to audiences who were more interested in their steak dinners than the music.
You can hear the difference in the recordings. In 1969, it sounds like a guy who is happy to be back. In 1976, it sounds like a guy who is just trying to get to the end of the set so he can go back to his hotel room and watch TV.
Yet, he never stopped saying it. It was his signature. It was the "Taking Care of Business" (TCB) mantra in action. You show up, you do the work, you thank the people, and you leave the building.
What We Get Wrong About the Catchphrase
Most people think it’s just a sign-off. But if you look at the setlists from the 1970s, he’d use it between almost every song. It was a reset button.
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Imagine the "electricity" (a word Elvis loved to use) of a live show. The band is loud—the Joe Guercio Orchestra was a wall of sound. The TCB band was tight. The Sweet Inspirations were wailing. Amidst all that chaos, Elvis would bring it down to a whisper with those few words. It was his way of saying, "I see you, I hear you, but we're moving on."
The Actionable Takeaway for the Rest of Us
What can we actually learn from a guy who spent his life under a spotlight so hot it literally melted his stage makeup?
Basically, manners matter. Even when you’re "The King," being grateful is the only thing that keeps the audience on your side.
If you want to channel a bit of that Elvis energy in your own life—without the four-pound belt buckles—try these specific steps:
- Be Sincere, Not Scripted: People knew when Elvis was "on" and when he was just going through the motions. Use gratitude when you actually feel it, not just as a filler.
- The "Two-Beat" Rule: Elvis didn't just say thank you. He said it twice. It sounds small, but repeating a gesture of appreciation makes it feel 100% more intentional.
- Know Your Exit: Part of the power of the phrase was that it usually preceded him turning his back to the audience to start the next song. It was a transition. Use your words to signal when one task is done and the next is starting.
At the end of the day, Elvis was a man of contradictions. He was a rebel who loved the police. He was a rock star who sang gospel. And he was a global icon who never stopped saying "thank you" like a kid at a Sunday dinner.
That’s why we’re still talking about him in 2026. The music is great, sure. But the man—and the way he treated his fans—is what actually stuck.
Next time you finish a big presentation or a tough job, try it. Don't just walk away. Give them a "thank you very much." Just maybe leave the cape at home.
Source Reference Notes:
- Elvis: That’s the Way It Is (1970) – Direct evidence of live banter and performance style.
- Elvis in Vegas by Richard Zoglin – Detail on the residency structure and pay scale ($100k/week).
- The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll – Context on his cultural impact and genre-blending.
- Last Train to Memphis by Peter Guralnick – Insights into his early life and polite upbringing.