Rock Around the Clock
Harold Singer Lyrics
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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.
Put your glad rags on and join me hon',
We'll have some fun when the clock strikes one.
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight,
We're gonna rock, rock, rock, 'till broad daylight,
We're gonna rock, we're gonna rock around the clock tonight.
When the clock strikes two, three and four,
If the band slows down we'll yell for more.
When the chimes
ring five, six, and seven,
We'll be right in seventh heaven.
When it's eight, nine, ten, eleven too,
I'll be going strong and so will you.
When the clock strikes twelve we'll cool off then,
Start rockin' 'round the clock again.
The lyrics of "Rock Around the Clock" are an anthem to youth and rebellion against the rigid societal constraints of the time. The song's opening lines are a countdown signaling the start of a non-stop, all-night party: "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."
The lyrics then invite listeners to join in on the fun, encouraging them to put on their "glad rags" and dance until the sun comes up. The song's chorus, repeated throughout the song, unabashedly celebrates the thrill of dancing, and captures the youthful energy of the time: "We're gonna rock, rock, rock, 'till broad daylight, We're gonna rock, we're gonna rock around the clock tonight." The lyrics also capture the idea of the event as a communal gathering, where everyone is united in their shared joy of music and dancing.
Overall, "Rock Around the Clock" is an iconic song that epitomizes the rock 'n' roll sound and spirit of the 1950s. The lyrics capture a moment in history when youth culture was being born and the sound of music was changing forever.
Line by Line Meaning
One, Two, Three O'clock, Four O'clock rock,
Let's start rocking from 1 o'clock till 4 o'clock in the morning.
Five, Six, Seven O'clock, Eight O'clock rock.
We'll keep on rocking from 5 to 8 in the morning.
Nine, Ten, Eleven O'clock, Twelve O'clock rock,
Rocking through the hours of 9, 10, 11 and 12 o'clock in the night.
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight.
Tonight is the night for us to rock and have fun.
Put your glad rags on and join me hon',
Get dressed in your best clothes and come join me.
We'll have some fun when the clock strikes one.
We'll start having fun when the clock strikes one in the morning.
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight,
Tonight is the night we're going to rock and roll.
We're gonna rock, rock, rock, 'till broad daylight,
We'll keep rocking till the sun comes up.
We're gonna rock, we're gonna rock around the clock tonight.
The night is young, and we're going to keep on rocking.
When the clock strikes two, three and four,
We'll continue to party and rock when the clock strikes 2, 3 and 4 in the morning.
If the band slows down we'll yell for more.
If the band takes a break, we'll want them to keep playing and rocking.
When the chimes ring five, six, and seven,
Our spirits will remain high when the clock strikes 5, 6, and 7 in the morning.
We'll be right in seventh heaven.
We'll be in a state of blissful happiness and enjoyment.
When it's eight, nine, ten, eleven too,
We'll keep on going strong through the hours of 8, 9, 10 and 11 o'clock.
I'll be going strong and so will you.
We will both have the energy to keep on rocking throughout the night.
When the clock strikes twelve we'll cool off then,
When it's midnight, we'll slow down and take a break.
Start rockin' 'round the clock again.
But soon enough, we'll start rocking again around the clock!
Writer(s): Jimmy de Knight, Max Freedman
Contributed by Taylor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.