Rock & Roll

Lou Reed

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:
1974
10:08
423 

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Jenny said, when she was just five years old
There was nothin' happening at all
Every time she puts on the radio
There was 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 imputations
You know, you could just go out
And dance to a rock'n'roll station
And it was all right, hey baby,
You know, it was all right

Jenny said, when she was just about five years old
`You know, my parents are gonna be the death of us all
Two TV sets and two Cadillac cars
Well, you know, ain't gonna help me at all`

Then, one fine morning, 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 was 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 all right, yeah
Hey, it was all right
Hey, here she comes now

Jenny said, when she was just about five years old
'Hey, you know, there's nothin' 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
But, one fine morning, she hears a New York station
She couldn't believe what she heard at all, hey, not at all
She started dancing to that fine, fine music
You know, her life was saved by rock'n'roll
Yes, rock'n'roll

Despite all the computations
You know, you could just dance to the rock'n'roll station

All right
All right, all right, and it was all right
Oh, listen to me now, it was all right
Come on now, believe me, it was all right
it was all right
hey, it's all right now

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Lou Reed

Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed (born March 2, 1942) is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his solo career, which has spanned several decades. Though the Velvet Underground were a commercial failure in the late 1960s, the group has gained a considerable cult following in the years since its demise and has gone on to become one of the most widely cited and influential bands of the era. As the Velvet Underground's principal songwriter, Reed wrote about subjects of personal experience that rarely had been examined so openly in rock and roll, including sexuality and drug culture. more »

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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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