AC/DC underwent several line-up changes before releasing their first album, 1975's High Voltage. Membership subsequently stabilised around the Young brothers, singer Bon Scott, drummer Phil Rudd, and bassist Mark Evans. Evans was fired from the band in 1977 and replaced by Cliff Williams, who has appeared on every AC/DC album since 1978's Powerage. In February 1980, about seven months after the release of their breakthrough album Highway to Hell, Scott died of acute alcohol poisoning after a night of heavy drinking. AC/DC considered disbanding, but at Scott's family's request, the remaining members opted to continue the band, bringing in longtime Geordie vocalist Brian Johnson as Scott's replacement. Later that year, the band released their first album with Johnson, Back in Black, which was dedicated to Scott's memory. The album launched AC/DC to new heights of success and became one of the best selling albums of all time.
The band's eighth studio album, For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (1981), was their first album to reach number one in the United States. Prior to the release of their next album, Flick of the Switch (1983), Rudd left the band and was replaced by Simon Wright, being in turn replaced by Chris Slade in 1989. The band experienced a commercial resurgence in the early nineties with the release of their twelfth studio album The Razors Edge (1990); it was their only album to feature Slade, who was replaced by the returning Rudd in 1994. Rudd has since recorded five more albums with the band, starting with, and including, Ballbreaker (1995). Their fifteenth studio album Black Ice was the second-highest-selling album of 2008, and their biggest chart hit since For Those About to Rock, eventually reaching No.1 worldwide.
The band's line-up remained the same for twenty years, until 2014 with Malcolm Young's retirement due to early-onset dementia (he died in 2017) and Rudd's legal troubles. Malcolm was replaced by his nephew Stevie Young, who debuted on AC/DC's 2014 album Rock or Bust, and on its accompanying tour, previous drummer Chris Slade filled in for Rudd. In 2016, Johnson was advised to stop touring due to worsening hearing loss. Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose stepped in as the band's vocalist for the remainder of that year's dates. Long-term bass player and background vocalist Cliff Williams retired from AC/DC at the end of the Rock or Bust tour in 2016 and the group entered a four-year hiatus. A reunion of the Rock or Bust line-up was announced in September 2020 and the band's seventeenth studio album Power Up was released two months later.
AC/DC have sold more than 200 million records worldwide, including 75 million albums in the United States, making them the ninth-highest-selling artist in the United States and the 16th-best-selling artist worldwide. Back in Black has sold an estimated 50 million units worldwide, making it the second-highest-selling album by any artist, and the highest-selling album by any band. The album has sold 25 million units in the US, where it is the fourth highest-selling album of all time. AC/DC were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 10 March 2003. AC/DC ranked fourth on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" and were named the seventh "Greatest Heavy Metal Band of All Time" by MTV. In 2004, AC/DC ranked No. 72 on the Rolling Stone list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Producer Rick Rubin, who wrote an essay on the band for the Rolling Stone list, referred to AC/DC as "the greatest rock and roll band of all time". In 2010, VH1 ranked AC/DC number 23 in its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC/DC
Discography
High Voltage (1975) (Australia only)
T.N.T. (1975) (Australia only)
High Voltage (1976) (international version)
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
Let There Be Rock (1977)
Powerage (1978)
Highway to Hell (1979)
Back in Black (1980)
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (1981)
Flick of the Switch (1983)
Fly on the Wall (1985)
Blow Up Your Video (1988)
The Razors Edge (1990)
Ballbreaker (1995)
Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
Black Ice (2008)
Rock or Bust (2014)
Power Up (2020)
Hell or High Water
AC/DC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
D'you hear what I say? Get out the way
Everybody, you don't have to choose
You don't have to prove
It's only rock 'n' roll
Mama done told me
Superstition, black cat in the cradle
Dancing on the table
Don't you sing on me
Mama done told me
Daddy done scold me
Told me, shown me
You know that he showed me
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell or high water
Blood money, lying through your back teeth
Fighting on the main street
Breathe your last breath on me
Mama done told me
"Poor boy, get home"
Hot living, trigger-happy feeling
Touch him up and tease him
You know it's so bad
Mama done told me
Papa done scold me
Told me, shown me
Rock 'n' rolled me
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell
Hell, Hell, Hell
Give it Hell
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell or high water
Na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell or high water
Come Hell or high water
I tell ya come Hell
Come Hell
Come Hell
Come on Hell, yeah
The lyrics to AC/DC's "Hell or High Water" are quite straightforward and revolve around someone who's determined to rock and roll no matter what. The first verse sets the scene, as the singer declares that you don't need to choose or prove rock and roll, as it's a force of nature that can't be denied. This sentiment is reinforced in the second verse when the singer recalls being scolded by their parents for developing a fascination with superstition, black cats, and dancing on tables, but they were still shown the power of rock and roll, and are now fully committed to it.
The chorus repeats the phrase, "Come hell or high water," which means that no matter what obstacles, trials, or tribulations come their way, they are fully committed to rock and roll. The rest of the lyrics in the song continue to describe the various ways that this commitment manifests, such as fighting on the main street or turning happy feelings into hot loving.
Overall, "Hell or High Water" is a song that celebrates the enduring power of rock and roll and the unshakeable commitment of its fans.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody
The song is not just for a specific group of people but applicable to everyone
You don't have to choose it
You don't have to make any decision about the music, just enjoy it
You don't have to prove it
Don't show off your musical knowledge or act like it means more than it does
It's only rock 'n' roll
The song is about rock and roll music, which is meant to be enjoyable and not taken too seriously
Mama done told me
The singer is reflecting on the advice that their mom gave them in the past
Papa done scold me
The singer is reflecting on the scolding they received from their dad in the past
Superstition
The song mentions the belief in superstitions, which suggests people follow certain rituals to prevent bad luck or bring good fortune
Black cat in a cradle
A reference to the superstition that black cats crossing your path bring bad luck
Dancin' on the table
A possible instance where the singer, influenced by the superstition, is trying to break the bad luck by dancing on the table
Don't you snake on me
A warning to someone who is trying to deceive or cheat the singer
Told me, showed me
The parents gave the singer advice on how to navigate through life by telling and showing them things
You know what he showed me
The singer thinks the parent taught them an important lesson that resonates still
Come hell or high water (4x)
The singer is prepared to face any challenge or difficulty
Hot money
The song shifts to addressing money-related issues/fraud
Lyin' through your back teeth
Money is being gained through dishonest means
Fightin' on the main street
A chaotic and potentially dangerous atmosphere, possibly referring to large cities where people fight over money, power, or status
Breathe your last breath on me
A threat or warning to someone who dares to cross the singer by suggesting that the singer could be the one responsible for their death
Poor boy get home
Another reference to fighting over money and the lyric indicates that they shouldn’t put themselves in harmful situations for quick cash
Hot lovin'
The song shifts to discussing love
Turn your happy feeling
The singer suggested that someone else's happy state could influence their emotions
Touchin' and a teasin'
There’s flirting and general physical contact
You know it so bad
The singer is aware just how badly they want to be with the person they have referenced in the previous lines of the song
Told me, showed me
The singer is reflecting on the advice received from their parents again, this time on relationships and love
Rock 'n' rolled me
The singer was guided by rock and roll and the emotions it can evoke in their experiences with relationships and love.
Come hell or high water (4x)
This line appears again to emphasize that the singer is willing to suffer any scenario and consequence to do what they feel is right
Come hell, hell hell hell hell
Using the word 'hell' repeatedly communicates that the singer is passionate about their feelings and actions and will not be swayed by anyone or anything.
Na na na na na na
This vocalization is to bring in a unique rhythm to the song
Come hell or high water (7x)
To serve as a conclusion for the song, reinforcing the idea that the singer is ready to face anything that comes his way.
I tell ya come hell, come hell, come hell
The strong repetition emphasis on a final line expressing the same notion of the song; the singer is willing to face any challenge.
Come on hell yeah
An exclamation, almost like an encouragement to face any difficulty, if it arises.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Malcolm Mitchell Young, Brian Johnson, Angus Mckinnon Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind