Rock & Roll

The Velvet Underground

About Rock & Roll

"Rock & Roll" (sometimes spelled Rock 'n' Roll) is a song by the Velvet Underground, originally appearing on their 1970 album Loaded. The song was written by the Velvets' then-leader Lou Reed, who continued to incorporate the song into his own live performances years later as a solo artist. The song recounts the advent of rock & roll, telling the story of a girl named Jenny whose "life was saved by rock and roll.” In the liner notes to the Velvet Underground's box set Peel Slowly and See, Lou Reed wrote, "'Rock and Roll' is about me. If I hadn't heard rock and roll on the radio, I would have had no idea there was life on this planet. Which would have been devastating - to think that everything, everywhere was like it was where I come from. That would have been profoundly discouraging. Movies didn't do it for me. TV didn't do it for me. It was the radio that did it." The song also appears on the albums 1969: The Velvet Underground Live; Live MCMXCIII; Loaded: Fully Loaded Edition; American Poet; Another View; Rock 'n' Roll Animal; Live in Italy; Rock and Roll: an Introduction to The Velvet Underground.; Rock and Roll Diary: 1967–1980. 


Year:
1970
68 
#1

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Jenny said when she was just five years old
There was nothing happening at all
Every time she puts on a radio
There was a nothin' goin' down at all, not at all
Then one fine mornin' she puts on a New York station
You know, she couldn't believe what she heard at all
She started shakin' to that fine fine music
You know her life was saved by rock 'n' roll

Despite all the amputations
You know you could just go out
And dance to a rock 'n' roll station

It was alright (it was alright)
Hey baby, you know it was alright (it was alright)

Jenny said
When she was just about five years old
You know why parents gonna be the death of us all
Two TV sets and two Cadillac cars
Well you know, it ain't gonna help me at all, not just a tiny bit
Then one fine mornin' she turns on a New York station
She doesn't believe what she hears at all
Ooh, she started dancin' to that fine fine music
You know her life is saved by rock 'n' roll, yeah rock 'n' roll 

Despite all the computations
You could just dance
To that rock 'n' roll station

And baby it was alright (it was alright)
Hey it was alright (it was alright)
Hey here she comes now!
Jump! jump!

Jenny said when she was just about five years old
Hey, you know, there was nothing happening at all, not at all
Every time I put on the radio
You know there's nothin' goin' down at all, not at all
Then one fine mornin' she hears a New York station
She just didn't believe what she heard at all, hey, not at all
She started dancin' to that fine fine music
You know her life was saved by rock 'n' roll, yes rock 'n' roll

Despite all the computation
You know you could just dance
To a rock 'n' roll station

All right
All right
And it was alright
Well, listen to me now
And it was alright
Come on, man, listen 
It was alright
It was alright
And it was alright
Alright!
It's alright
Alright!
Yeah, it's alright now
Alright!
Yeah, it's alright now
Alright!
It is all alright
Alright!
Yeah, alright now
Alright!
And it's alright right now
Alright!
And it's alright now
Alright!
Oh baby
Alright!
Oh baby
Alright!
Oh baby
Alright!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Alright!
Now it's alright now
Alright!
Ooh, it's alright now
Alright!
Oh, alright
Alright!
Alright now
Alright!

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The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited by many critics as one of the most important and influential groups of the 1960s. An often-repeated statement, made by Brian Eno in a 1982 interview, is that while the first Velvet Underground album may have sold only 30,000 copies in its early years, "everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band." more »

5 fans

Written by: Lou Reed

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Band Formation
"Rock & Roll" is a song by "The Velvet Underground", a band formed in 1964 by songwriter Lou Reed and Welsh multi-instrumentalist John Cale.
Track Details
The song first appeared on their fourth studio album, Loaded, which was released in November 1970.
Song Duration
The duration of the song is 4 minutes and 43 seconds on the studio version, while live versions can extend up to 15 minutes.
Song Genesis
Lou Reed, the primary song-writer for the band, wrote the initial demo of "Rock & Roll" in 1965, even before the formation of "The Velvet Underground".
Lyrics Inspiration
The lyrics of the "Rock & Roll" tell the story of a young girl, Jenny, whose life is saved by the music of rock and roll. Reed purportedly based the song on his own experiences with music.
Live Performances
The song became one of Lou Reed’s staples in his post-Velvet Underground solo career and it was played live more than 100 times by Reed and the Underground.
Song Style
‘Rock & Roll’ is a great example of proto-punk, a musical genre that presages the raw simplicity of punk rock.
Tribute Covers
The song has been covered by various artists, including Jane's Addiction, Phish, and The Runaways; showcasing its influence on musicians across genres.
Recognition
The song 'Rock & Roll' is often cited among the greatest rock songs of all time. It was ranked number 455 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
Commercial Success
The song was not a commercial success at its release. However, it has achieved iconic status over the years and the album 'Loaded' was eventually certified gold in 2015.
Composition
Reed’s guitar work in "Rock & Roll" has been praised for its raw energy and simplicity, which is a hallmark of his style.
Song Mixing
In the mono mix of the song, heard on the original album, the drums are much more prominent while the stereo mix, included on various compilities, highlights the song’s guitar riffs.
Cinematic Exposure
The song "Rock & Roll" has been used in several films and commercials, including the 1995 film "Cop Land".

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