It's a Long Way to the Top

AC/DC

About It's a Long Way to the Top

"It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It is the first track of the group's second album T. N. T., released only in Australia on 8 December 1975, and was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott. The song combines bagpipes with hard rock instrumentation; in the middle section of the song there is a call and response between the bagpipes and guitar. The original recording is in B-flat major, but it was played live in A major. A slightly shortened version of the song is also the first track on the internationally released High Voltage (May 1976). This version appears only on the vinyl release and the 2003 CD reissue. The full version of the song is also on the Volts CD of the Bonfire box set, released in 1997. This was a signature song for Bon Scott. Brian Johnson, who replaced Scott as AC/DC's lead vocalist after Scott's death in 1980 until his departure in 2016, did not perform it, out of respect for his predecessor. In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" was ranked number 5. 


Year:
2002
4:26
1,155 

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Ridin' down the highway
Goin' to a show
Stop in all the by-ways
Playin' rock 'n' roll
Gettin' robbed
Gettin' stoned
Gettin' beat up
Broken boned
Gettin' had
Gettin' took
I tell you folks
It's harder than it looks
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
If you think it's easy doin' one night stands
Try playin' in a rock roll band
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
Hotel
Motel
Make you wanna cry
Lady do the hard sell
Know the reason why
Gettin' old
Gettin' grey
Gettin' ripped off
Under-paid
Gettin' sold
Second hand
That's how it goes
Playin' in a band
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
If you wanna be a star of stage and screen
Look out it's rough and mean
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll

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AC/DC

AC/DC are an Australian hard rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who have remained constant members. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal and are sometimes classified as such, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll". To date they are one of the highest-grossing bands of all time. more »

12 fans

Written by: Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Ronald Scott

Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Creation
"It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" was a track from AC/DC's second album, "T.N.T.," which was released in 1975. It was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and the band’s lead vocalist, Bon Scott.
Unique Instrumentation
The song is famous for its incorporation of bagpipes, played by Bon Scott, and is one of the few rock and roll songs to do so.
Inspiration
The track was inspired by the band's own experience of the hardships they faced in their early career. Its lyrics depict the struggles and challenges of being in a rock band.
Popular Rendition
"It's a Long Way to the Top" has been covered by numerous artists including Jack Black for the "School of Rock" movie in 2003. The song was performed by the movie's band led by Jack Black.
In the Charts
Even though the song didn’t initially make a big impact in the charts during its release, it's now regarded as one of the greatest hard rock songs by various publications.
Bon Scott's Legacy
It was one of the last songs Bon Scott performed live before his death in 1980. The song is often hailed as his signature song with AC/DC.
Music Video
The music video of the song was filmed on Melbourne's Swanston Street. It featured the band members on a flatbed truck, surrounded by members of the Rats of Tobruk Pipe band.
Live Performances
Although the song is popular amongst fans, AC/DC rarely performed it live after Bon Scott's death because of the difficulty of incorporating bagpipes.
Recognitions
The song is ranked at #123 on VH1's list of 'The 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs'.
Cultural Influence
The song title "It's a Long Way to the Top" has been used in various contexts. For instance, it was used as the title of the final episode of a season of the HBO series "Entourage."

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