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rock and roll


composers
Lou Reed


publisher
© Oakfield Avenue Music Ltd.


background
Rock And Roll was the joyous discovery of radio and rock-and-roll, told by the five year old Ginny, whose life it obviously saved. It was also obviously a key moment in Lou Reed's life and he immortalised it in this semi-autobiographical song.

Plucked from the last proper Velvet Underground LP Loaded, Rock And Roll was a perfect new second verse for the new upbeat version of Room which had gained a new propulsion, colour and rousing energy over the stop-start hesitant nature of the original studio version.

Amazingly Reed's memories of sunlight pouring out of radio and Jim's edgy lyrics gelled, and the new version of Room was utterly uplifting and powerful. Alas, it only lasted for the tour of 1982, but it survives on several great bootlegs.




lyrics
Ginny said when she was five years old,
You know there's nothing going down at all.
She turned on that radio,
And there was nothing happenin' at all.
She turned on that LA station,
Couldn't believe what she heard at all.
She started dancing to that fine, fine music,
Her life was saved by rock and roll.

Despite all the complications,
You could just dance to that rock and roll station,
And it was alright.
It was alright,
It was alright,
It was alright, you betcha.

Ginny said when she was five years old,
You know our parents will be the death of us all.
Two TV sets and two cadillac cars,
Well they don't mean nothin' at all.
She turned on that LA station,
Couldn't believe what she heard at all.
She started dancing to that fine fine music,
Her life was saved by rock and roll.

Despite all the complications,
You could just dance to that rock and roll station,
And it was alright.
It was alright,
It was alright,
It was alright, you betcha.




live history
Sons And Fascination Tour: 1982
Lostboy! AKA Electroset Radio Tour: 2010
Lostboy! AKA Electroset Tour: 2010