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