R.O.C.K. IN THE U.S.A. John Cougar Mellencamp (#2,1986) THEY COME FROM THE CITIES AND THEY COME FROM THE SMALLER TOWNS IN BEAT-UP CARS, GUITARS AND DRUMMERS GOIN' CRACK BOOM BAM CHORUS: R-0-C-K IN THE U.S.A. R-0-C-K IN THE U.S.A. R-0-C-K IN THE U.S.A. . . . YEAH--ROCKIN' IN THE U.S.A. THEY SAID GOODBYE TO THEIR FAMILIES SAID GOODBYE TO THEIR FRIENDS WITH THE PIPE DREAMS IN THEIR HEADS AND VERY LITTLE MONEY IN THEIR HANDS SOME ARE BLACK AND SOME ARE WHITE AIN'T TOO PROUD TO SLEEP ON THE FLOOR TONIGHT WITH BLIND FAITH IN JESUS YOU KNOW THEY JUST MIGHT... ROCK IT IN THE THE U.S.A. (chorus) VOICES FROM NOWHERE AND VOICES FROM THE LARGER TOWN THEY FILLED OUR HEADS FULL OF DREAMS AND TURNED OUR WORLD UPSIDE-DOWN THERE WAS FRANKIE LYMAN, BOBBY FULLER, MITCH RYDER (THEY WERE ROCKIN') JACKIE WILSON, SHANGRI-LAS, YOUNG RASCALS (THEY WERE ROCKIN') SPOTLIGHT ON MARTHA REEVES--DON'T FORGET JAMES BROWN ROCKIN' IN THE U.S.A. ... HEY INTRO E... E-A D-A (x4) VERSE E-A D-A (x4) (add to V3 & V5) B B CHORUS E-A D-A (x3) B B E E E E END E - A D - A ... R-O-C-K in the U.S.A. ... RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD B. J. Thomas, 1970 (#1) music by Burt Bacharach, Lyrics by Hal David RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD AND JUST LIKE THE GUY WHOSE FEET ARE TOO BIG FOR HIS BED--NOTHIN' SEEMS TO FIT RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD, THEY KEEP FALLIN' . . . SO I JUST DID ME SOME TALKIN' TO THE SUN AND I SAID I DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY HE GOT THINGS DONE--SLEEPIN' ON THE JOB, THOSE RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD, THEY KEEP FALLIN' BRIDGE: . . . BUT THERE'S ONE THING I KNOW--THE BLUES THEY SEND TO MEET ME WON'T DEFEAT ME--IT WON'T BE LONG TILL HAPPINESS STEPS UP TO GREET ME RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN MY EYES WILL SOON BE TURNIN' RED--CRYIN'S NOT FOR ME 'CAUSE I'M NEVER GONNA STOP THE RAIN BY COMPLAININ' BECAUSE I'M (end) FREE NOTHIN'S WORRYIN' ME VERSE 1 1+7 17 4 3m-67 3m-67 2m 2m 57 (end) 1 2m-57 1 BRIDGE 1 1+7 4 5 3m 3m 67 2m (2m-57 2m-57 ) RAMBLIN' MAN Allman Brothers (#2,1973) CHORUS (after each verse): LORD I WAS BORN A RAMBLIN' MAN TRYIN' TO EARN A LIVIN' JUST DOIN' THE BEST I CAN AND WHEN IT'S TIME TO LEAVE I HOPE YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THAT I WAS BORN A RAMBLIN' MAN MY FATHER WAS A GAMBLER DOWN IN GEORGIA HE WOUND UP ON THE WRONG END OF A GUN AND I WAS BORN IN THE BACK SEAT OF A GREYHOUND BUS ROLLIN' DOWN HIGHWAY FORTY-ONE I'M ON MY WAY TO NEW ORLEANS THIS MORNIN' COMIN' OUT OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE ALWAYS HAVIN' A GOOD TIME DOWN ON THE BAYOU, LORD THEM DELTA WOMEN THINK THE WORLD OF ME (use b7 for chorus) 1 4 (b7) 1 1 1 4 5 5 4 1 6m 4 1 5 1 1 END 1 b7 1 1 ... LORD, I WAS BORN A RAMBLIN' MAN ... REELIN' IN THE YEARS Steely Dan (#11,1973) YOU'RE EVERLASTING SUMMER AND YOU CAN SEE IT FADING FAST SO YOU GRAB A PIECE OF SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK IS GONNA LAST WELL, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW A DIAMOND IF YOU HELD IT IN YOUR HAND THE THINGS YOU THINK ARE PRECIOUS I CAN'T UNDERSTAND CHORUS (after each verse): ARE YOU REELIN' IN THE YEARS--STOWING AWAY THE TIME ARE YOU GATHERING UP THE TEARS HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH OF MINE (repeat) YOU'VE BEEN TELLING ME YOU'RE A GENIUS SINCE YOU WERE SEVENTEEN IN ALL THE TIME I'VE KNOWN YOU I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN THE WEEKEND AT THE COLLEGE DIDN'T TURN OUT LIKE YOU PLANNED THE THINGS THAT PASS FOR KNOWLEDGE I CAN'T UNDERSTAND I'VE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AND I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME THE TRIP WE MADE TO HOLLYWOOD IS ETCHED UPON MY MIND AFTER ALL THE THINGS WE'VE DONE AND SEEN YOU FIND ANOTHER MAN THE THINGS YOU THINK ARE USELESS I CAN'T UNDERSTAND SOLO/CHORUS b7 b7 1 1 b7 b7 1 1 b7 b7 1 1 b7 b7 6m 6m VERSE 4-1 2m-1 4-1 2m-1 17-1o 4m-1 4-1 2m-1 RETURN TO SENDER ELVIS (#2,1962) writte by Otis Blackwell & Winfield Scott I GAVE A LETTER TO THE POSTMAN--HE PUT IN HIS SACK BRIGHT AND EARLY NEXT MORNING HE BROUGHT MY LETTER BACK SHE WROTE UPON IT... CHORUS 1: RETURN TO SENDER--ADDRESS UNKNOWN NO SUCH NUMBER--NO SUCH ZONE WE HAD A QUARREL--A LOVER'S SPAT I WRITE I'M SORRY, BUT MY LETTER KEEPS COMIN' BACK SO THEN I DROPPED IT IN THE MAILBOX AND SENT IT SPECIAL D BRIGHT AND EARLY NEXT MORNING IT CAME RIGHT BACK TO ME SHE WROTE UPON IT... CHORUS 2: RETURN TO SENDER--ADDRESS UNKNOWN NO SUCH NUMBER--NO SUCH ZONE THIS TIME I'M GONNA TAKE IT MYSELF AND PUT IT RIGHT IN HER HAND AND IF IT COMES BACK THE VERY NEXT DAY THEN I'LL UNDERSTAND THE WRITING ON IT RETURN TO SENDER--ADDRESS UNKNOWN NO SUCH NUMBER--NO SUCH ZONE RETURN TO SENDER--ADDRESS UNKNOWN NO SUCH NUMBER--NO SUCH ZONE VERSE 1 6m 2m 5 1 6m 2m-5 1 CHORUS 1 4 5 4 5 4 5 1 1 4 5 4 5 2 2 2 5 CHORUS 2 4 4 4 1 2 2 5 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 1 1 4 5 4 5 4 5 1 1 RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE Blues Image, 1970 (#4) SEVENTY-THREE MEN SAILED UP FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY ROLLED OFF OF THEIR SHIP AND HERE'S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY "WE'RE CALLIN' EVERYONE TO RIDE ALONG TO ANOTHER SHORE WE CAN LAUGH OUR LIVES AWAY AND BE FREE ONCE MORE" BUT NO ONE HEARD THEM CALLIN' NO ONE CAME AT ALL 'CAUSE THEY WERE TOO BUSY WATCHIN' THOSE OLD RAINDROPS FALL AS A STORM WAS BLOWIN' OUT ON THE PEACEFUL SEA SEVENTY-THREE MEN SAILED OFF TO HISTORY CHORUS: RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE UPON YOUR MYSTERY SHIP BE AMAZED AT THE FRIENDS YOU HAVE HERE ON YOUR TRIP RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE UPON YOUR MYSTERY SHIP ON YOUR WAY TO A WORLD THAT OTHERS MIGHT HAVE MISSED VERSE 1 1 2 2 4 4 1 1 1 1 2 2 4 4 1 1 CHORUS 1 1 5 5 b7 b7 1 1 1 1 5 5 b7 b7 1 5 ROCK AND ROLL Led Zeppelin (1969) IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THAT ROCK AND ROLL IT'S BEEN LONG TIME SINCE I DID THE STROLL OOO...LET ME GET IT BACK, LET ME GET IT BACK, LET ME GET IT BACK BABY, WHERE I COME FROM IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, BEEN A LONG TIME BEEN A LONG LONELY LONELY LONELY LONELY LONELY TIME IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THAT LOOK OF LOVE I CAN'T GATHER TEARS OF A LIFE WITH NO LOVE CARRY ME BABE, CARRY ME BABE, CARRY ME BABE BABY, WHERE I COME FROM IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, BEEN A LONG TIME, BEEN A LONG LONELY LONELY LONELY LONELY LONELY TIME IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE WE WALKED IN THE MOONLIGHT HANGIN' OUT JUST DON'T WORK RIGHT OPEN YOUR ARMS, OPEN YOUR ARMS, OPEN YOUR ARMS BABY I'LL COME RUNNIN' IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, BEEN A LONG TIME, BEEN A LONG LONELY LONELY LONELY LONELY LONELY TIME INTRO 1 1 1 1 4 4 1 1 5 5 1 1 VERSE 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 1 1 1 1 5 5 4 4 1 1 1 1 INTRO/VERSE 1/VERSE 2/SOLO (INTRO)/SOLO (VERSE)/VERSE 3/FADE ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC Chuck Berry, 1957 (8) CHORUS (after each verse): JUST LET ME HEAR SOME OF THAT . . . ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC ANY OLD WAY YOU CHOOSE IT IT'S GOT A BACK BEAT YOU CAN'T LOSE IT ANY OLD WAY YOU USE IT IT'S GOTTA BE ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC IF YOU WANNA DANCE WITH ME IF YOU WANNA DANCE WITH ME I'VE GOT NO KICK AGAINST MODERN JAZZ UNLESS THEY TRY TO PLAY IT TOO DARN FAST AND CHANGE THE BEAUTY OF THE MELODY UNTIL THEY SOUND JUST LIKE A SYMPHONY THAT'S WHY I GO FOR THAT . . . I TOOK MY LOVED ONE OVER 'CROSS THE TRACKS SO SHE CAN HEAR MY MAN A-WAIL A SAX I MUST ADMIT THEY HAVE A ROCKIN' BAND MAN, THEY WERE GOIN' LIKE A HURRICANE THAT'S WHY I GO FOR THAT . . . WAY DOWN SOUTH THEY GAVE A JUBILEE THE JOKEY FOLKS THEY HAD A JAMBOREE THEY'RE DRINKIN' HOME BREW FROM A WATER CUP THE FOLKS DANCIN' GOT ALL SHOOK UP AND STARTED PLAYIN' THAT . . . DON'T CARE TO HEAR 'EM PLAY A TANGO I'M IN THE MOOD TO HEAR A MAMBO IT'S WAY TOO EARLY FOR A CONGO TO KEEP A-ROCKIN' THAT PIANO SO I CAN HEAR SOME OF THAT . . . CHORUS 1 1 1 1 4 4 1 1 5 5 5 1 5 1 VERSE 5 5 1 1 4 4 5 5 ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK Bill Haley & The Comets (#1,1955) INTRO: WELL, IT'S ONE-TWO-THREE O'CLOCK, FOUR O'CLOCK ROCK FIVE-SIX-SEVEN O'CLOCK, EIGHT O'CLOCK ROCK NINE-TEN-ELEVEN O'CLOCK, TWELVE O'CLOCK ROCK WE'RE GONNA ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK TONIGHT GET YOUR GLAD-RAGS ON, JOIN THE FUN GONNA HAVE SOME FUN 'TIL THE CLOCK STRIKES ONE CHORUS (after each verse): GONNA ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK TONIGHT GONNA ROCK, ROCK, ROCK 'TIL BROAD DAYLIGHT GONNA ROCK, GONNA ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK TONIGHT WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES TWO, THREE, AND FOUR WHEN THE BAND SLOWS DOWN WE'LL YELL FOR MORE WHEN THE CLOCK RINGS FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN WE'LL BE RIGHT IN SEVENTH HEAVEN WHEN IT'S EIGHT, NINE, TEN, ELEVEN TOO I'LL BE GOIN' STRONG AND SO WILL YOU WHEN IT'S TWELVE O'CLOCK WE'LL START TO DANCE GONNA ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK AGAIN INTRO 1(hit) (1) 1(hit) (1) 1(hit) (1) 5(2 hits) 5 VERSE 1 1 1 1 CHORUS 4 4 1 1 5 4 1 1 ROCK THIS TOWN Stray Cats, 1982 (#9) WELL MY BABY AND ME WENT OUT LATE SATURDAY NIGHT I HAD MY HAIR PILED HIGH AND MY BABY JUST LOOKED SO RIGHT WELL, PICK YOU UP AT TEN, GOTTA HAVE YOU HOME AT TWO MAMA DON'T KNOW WHAT I CATCHED OFF OF YOU BUT THAT'S ALL RIGHT 'CAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AS COOL AS CAN BE CHORUS (after each verse): WE'RE GONNA ROCK THIS TOWN, ROCK IT INSIDE OUT WE'RE GONNA ROCK THIS TOWN, MAKE 'EM SCREAM AND SHOUT LET'S ROCK, ROCK, ROCK MAN ROCK WE'RE GONNA ROCK TILL YOU POP, WE'RE GONNA ROCK TILL YOU DROP WE'RE GONNA ROCK THIS TOWN, ROCK IT INSIDE OUT (2.) ROCK THIS PLACE APART WELL WE FOUND A LITTLE PLACE THAT REALLY DIDN'T LOOK HALF BAD I HAD A WHISKEY ON THE ROCKS AND CHANGE OF A DOLLAR FOR THE JUKEBOX WELL, I PUT THE COLD ROCK INTO THAT CAN BUT ALL THEY PLAYED WAS DISCO, MAN COME ON BABY, BABY LET'S GET OUT OF HERE RIGHT AWAY WELL WE'RE HAVIN' A BALL JUST 'A-BOPPIN' ON THE BIG DANCE FLOOR WELL THERE'S A REAL SQUARE CAT, HE LOOKS A 1974 WELL HE LOOKED AT ME ONCE, HE LOOKED AT ME TWICE LOOK AT ME AGAIN AND THERE'S GONNA BE A FIGHT WE'RE GONNA ROCK THIS TOWN, WE'RE GONNA RIP THIS PLACE APART 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 5 1 1 4 4 (#4dim) 1 5 1 1 ROCKY MOUNTAIN WAY Joe Walsh, 1973 (#23) SPENT THE LAST YEAR ROCKY MOUNTAIN WAY, COULDN'T GET MUCH HIGHER OUT TO PASTURE, THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY TIME TO OPEN FIRE CHORUS (after each verse): AND WE DON'T NEED THE LADIES CRYIN' 'CUZ THE STORY'S SAD 'CUZ THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN WAY IS BETTER THAN THE WAY WE HAD WELL HE'S TELLIN' US THIS AND HE'S TELLIN' US THAT, CHANGES IT EVERY DAY SAYS IT DOESN'T MATTER BASES ARE LOADED AND CASEY'S AT BAT PLAYIN' IT PLAY BY PLAY TIME TO CHANGE THE BATTER INTRO b7 1 b7 1 VERSE 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 CHORUS 4 4 1 1 4 4 5 5 ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN Chuck Berry (1956) WELL, I'M A-WRITE A LITTLE LETTER, GONNA MAIL IT TO MY LOCAL D.J. YES, IT'S A JUMPIN' LITTLE RECORD I WANT MY JOCKEY TO PLAY ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN, I GOTTA' HEAR IT AGAIN TODAY YOU KNOW MY TEMPERATURE'S RISIN' AND THE JUKE BOX IS BLOWIN' A FUSE MY HEART'S BEATIN' RHYTHM AND MY SOUL KEEPS A-SINGIN' THE BLUES ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN AND TELL TCHAIKOVSKY THE NEWS I GOT THE ROCKIN' PNEUMONIA, I NEED A SHOT OF RHYTHM AND BLUES I CAUGHT THE ROLLIN' ARTHRITIS SITTIN' DOWN AT A RHYTHM REVIEW ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN, THEY'RE ROCKIN IN TWO BY TWO CHORUS 1: WELL, IF YOU FEEL YOU LIKE IT GO GET YOUR LOVER, THEN REEL AND ROCK IT, ROLL IT OVER THEN MOVE ON UP JUST A TRIFLE FURTHER THEN REEL AND ROCK WITH ONE ANOTHER ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN, DIG THESE RHYTHM AND BLUES WELL, EARLY IN THE MORNIN' I'M GIVIN' YOU MY WARNIN' DON'T YOU STEP ON MY BLUE SUEDE SHOES HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE I'M A-PLAYIN MY FIDDLE I AIN'T GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN, AND TELL TCHAIKOVSKY THE NEWS YOU KNOW SHE WIGGLES LIKE A GLOW WORM, DANCES LIKE A SPINNIN' TOP SHE GOT A CRAZY PARTNER, YOU OUGHTA' SEE 'EM REEL AND ROCK LONG AS SHE'S GOT A DIME THE MUSIC WON'T EVER STOP CHORUS 2: ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN, ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN, ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN, AND DIG THESE RHYTHM AND BLUES VERSE 1 4 1 1 4 4 1 1 5 4 1 5 CHORUS 1 1 1 1 4 4 1 1 5 4 1 5 RUNAROUND SUE Dion (#1,1961) INTRO: HERE'S MY STORY--IT'S SAD BUT TRUE IT'S ABOUT A GIRL THAT I ONCE KNEW SHE TOOK MY LOVE THEN RAN AROUND WITH EVERY SINGLE GUY IN TOWN CHORUS: WO...WO WO WO WO WO WO... (x3) (HEY HEY, BUMDA-HEYDAY HEYDAY...) (x4) HEY I SHOULDA' KNOWN IT FROM THE VERY START THIS GIRL'D LEAVE ME WITH A BROKEN HEART A' LISTEN PEOPLE WHAT I'M TELLIN' YOU A' KEEP AWAY FROM A' RUNAROUND SUE OH I MISS HER LIPS AND THE SMILE ON HER FACE THE TOUCH OF HER HAND AND THIS GIRL'S WARM EMBRACE SO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO CRY LIKE I DO A' KEEP AWAY FROM A' RUNAROUND SUE (chorus) BRIDGE: SHE LIKES TO TRAVEL AROUND SHE'LL LOVE YOU AND SHE'LL PUT YOU DOWN NOW PEOPLE LET ME PUT YOU WISE SHE GOES OUT WITH OTHER GUYS HERE'S THE MORAL IN THE STORY FROM THE GUY WHO KNOWS I FELL IN LOVE AND MY LOVE STILL GROWS ASK ANY FOOL THAT SHE EVER KNEW A' KEEP AWAY FROM A' RUNAROUND SUE... ENDING: I SAID I KNOW...KEEP AWAY FROM THIS GIRL... I KNOW WHAT SHE'LL DO...KEEP AWAY FROM SUE...blah blah blah INTRO 1 (hold) ... 6m (hold) ... 4 (hold) ... 5 (hold) ... CHORUS/VERSE 1 1 6m 6m 4 4 5 5 BRIDGE 4 4 1 1 4 4 5 5 RUNAWAY Del Shannon (#1,1961) AS I WALK ALONG I WONDER WHAT WENT WRONG WITH OUR LOVE--A LOVE THAT WAS SO STRONG AND AS I STILL WALK ON I THINK OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE TOGETHER--WHILE OUR HEARTS WERE YOUNG CHORUS: I'M A-WALKIN' IN THE RAIN TEARS ARE FALLIN' AND I FEEL THE PAIN WISHIN' YOU WERE HERE BY ME TO END THIS MISERY AND I WONDER--WAH WAH WAH WAH WONDER WHY--WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY SHE WENT AWAY AND I WONDER WHERE SHE WILL STAY MY LITTLE RUNAWAY--MY RUN-RUN-RUN-RUN-RUNAWAY VERSE 1m 1m 7 7 6 6 5 5 CHORUS 1 1 6m 6m 1 1 6m 6m 1 1 6m 6m 1 1 6m 6m 4 4 5 5 1 4m 1 5