# Best Songs That Reference "Rock And Roll" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2013, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419 "2013-10-05T04:21:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/41 "2013-10-05T22:40:42Z")
Drive-By Truckers -“Let There Be Rock” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LptOc6OKoWs/hqdefault.jpg "Drive by Truckers - Let There Be Rock") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LptOc6OKoWs) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/42 "2013-10-05T23:05:06Z")
_“Rock 'n Ro-o-oll, Rock 'n Roll Rock 'n Ro-o-oll, Rock 'n Roll Rock 'n Ro-o-oll, Rock 'n Roll Rock 'n Roll Rock, Rock 'n Roll Rock 'n Roll Rock, Rock 'n Roll Rock 'n Roll Rock, Rock 'n Roll Rock 'n Roll Rock, Rock 'n Roll Rock 'n Roll Rock, Rock 'n Roll Rock 'n Roll Rock, Rock 'n Roll Rock 'n Roll Rock, Rock 'n Roll Rock 'n Roll Rock, Rock 'n Roll Rock 'n Roll Rock, Rock 'n Roll”_ - Gary Glitter Oh, you want BEST? _“You better open up honey it’s your lover boy me that’s a knockin’ You better listen to me sugar all the cats are at the high school rockin’ Honey get your boppin’ shoes before the jukebox blows a fuse Well everbody’s hoppin’ everybody’s boppin’, boppin’ at the high school hop Well boppin’ at the high school hop, shakin’ at the high school hop Movin’ at the high school hop, rollin’ at the high school hop Well everybody’s hoppin’ everybody’s boppin’, boppin’ at the high school hop”_ - High School Confidential (Jerry Lee Lewis) ---
**Author:** ![da\_pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@da\_pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/da_pope)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/43 "2013-10-06T01:02:35Z")
It’s a Long way to the Top (If You want to Rock and Roll) [http://youtu.be/zFDhxJJMEIY](http://youtu.be/zFDhxJJMEIY) ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/44 "2013-10-06T01:36:22Z")
I realize that AC/DC has already been mentioned but … “For Those About To Rock” … _Damn_, that’s some anthemic shit … [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fKhTk0IynHM/hqdefault.jpg "ACDC- For Those About To Rock (with lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKhTk0IynHM) ---
**Author:** ![zoog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7ea924/32.png) [@zoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoog)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/45 "2013-10-06T02:10:30Z")
Ray Wylie Hubbard - [Wanna Rock & Roll](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjfusLS-jws) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/46 "2013-10-06T04:05:52Z")
Do you believe in rock n roll Can music save your mortal soul And can you teach me how to dance real slow. American Pie ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/47 "2013-10-06T04:22:52Z")
Spinal Tap: [Heavy Duty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9i9o5qoO4s) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/48 "2013-10-06T06:39:27Z")
[Baby That is Rock and Roll - The Coasters](http://youtu.be/5YLI_DpXuyc) [It Will Stand - The Showmen](http://youtu.be/aa17h1n5kCw) [If there Wasn’t Any Rock - The Monotones](http://youtu.be/mA7k_iAnP8o) [Rock and Roll Age - The Four J’s](http://youtu.be/z8NIzY6gIyw) [R.O.C.K. - Bill Haley and the Comets](http://youtu.be/ssQndYysTH0) [Hang up my Rock & Roll Shoes - Chuck Willis](http://youtu.be/pu3CtBRDgT8) [Poor Rock and Roll - Nicky and the Nobels](http://youtu.be/jpEVHrsZG8M) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/49 "2013-10-06T07:59:43Z")
Airbourne - [Stand Up For Rock ‘N’ Roll](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_tMjx4fz-Q) Airbourne - [Ready To Rock](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOgc68ThxkU) Blotto - [Metalhead](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyJSetm6U0k) Clutch - [Rock And Roll Outlaw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXx6yUe6kDE) Combine’s album _-presents- The History of American Rock and Roll_ Death - [Rock-N-Roll Victim](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sFMDL22bxc) Eddy Grant - Funky Rock ‘N’ Roll (sorry, I couldn’t find a vid for this one… sucks because it’s a great tune) Hot Chocolate - [Funky Rock ‘N’ Roll](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72NWUkwmGTU) (different song than Eddy Grant’s song) Green Jello (Green Jelly) - [Rock-N-Roll Pumpkin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txnetM4Nvc8) Premonition 13 - [Deranged Rock N’ Roller](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8IT2AkuZk8) (shitty live video but it was all I could find) Run-D.M.C. - [Soul To Rock And Roll](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeKXLU0q-iE) Supersuckers - [The Evil Powers Of Rock ‘n’ Roll](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmNr07hXtQI) I’m tired; it’s been a long day. Those are all the obvious ones that specifically reference “rock and roll”. I excluded songs that just mention “rock”. I’ll try and make a video for the Eddy Grant song tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/50 "2013-10-06T14:27:23Z")
The Upper Crust-“Let Them Eat Rock” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/20t4gBf_1d4/hqdefault.jpg "The Upper Crust "Let Them Eat Rock" (good audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20t4gBf_1d4) ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/51 "2013-10-06T14:35:57Z")
[Memphis, Egypt](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCQ6DLwV9CI) by The Mekons off their album entitled Rock N Roll. A brilliant song off a brilliant album raging against the watered-down commoditization of what was once dangerous music. ---
**Author:** ![stolatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@stolatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolatt)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/52 "2013-10-06T15:45:54Z")
Wanna be a rock and roll star - Eddie Money ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/53 "2013-10-07T03:29:22Z")
The Replacements-“Rock ‘n’ Roll Ghost” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oMuZkygKQrw/maxresdefault.jpg "The Replacements - Rock 'N' Roll Ghost") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMuZkygKQrw) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/54 "2013-10-07T03:39:25Z")
_And the seven trumpets blowing sweet **rock and roll** Gonna blow right down inside your soul_ —Genesis, “Supper’s Ready” (Apocalypse in 9/8) ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/55 "2013-10-07T14:16:33Z")
Top 3 most rocking songs with “rock and roll” in the lyrics 1. Joan Jett “I Love Rock and Roll” 2. Led Zeppelin “Rock and Roll” 3. ACDC “It’s a Long Way to the Top” ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/56 "2013-10-07T14:30:56Z")
Wilco has a great song called “[The Late Greats](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w24AFOLph64)” which is basically about the amazing rock bands that never get signed because they’re not marketable enough, or just never get discovered for whatever reason. Partial lyrics: \*The best band will never get signed The Kay-Settes starring Butchers Blind So good you won’t ever know They never even played a show Can’t hear them on the radio The greatest singer in rock ‘n’ roll Would have to be Romeo His vocal cords are made of gold He just looks a little too old\* ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/57 "2013-10-07T14:36:14Z")
Rock 'N Roll Station" – \*Nurse With Wound \* ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/58 "2013-10-07T19:32:26Z")
No love for Dobie Gray and [_Drift Away_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIuyDWzctgY)? “Give me the beat boys and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away” ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/59 "2013-10-07T22:18:47Z")
[Move It](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyHXaVWRKvQ) by Cliff Richard and the Drifters (who became The Shadows). Well let me tell you baby it’s called rock 'n roll They say it’s gonna die but honey please lets face it Well we just don’t know what’s a going to replace it From 1958, back when Cliff was actually good, and cutting edge (and doing his best Elvis impression - and people were already worrying about Rock and Roll dying). ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419/60 "2013-10-07T23:39:07Z")
These are the alpha and omega of rock and roll songs - all your other suggestions fall somewhere between. AC/DC - Long way to the top - [the clip with them on the back of a float driving around Melbourne](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYBwa-Rzrgc) Starship - We built this city - [unwatchable drek](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1b8AhIsSYQ) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-that-reference-rock-and-roll/670419.md?page=4)