The song is about an obese Tasmanian woman, Rosie, with whom the singer (Bon Scott) had a one-night stand at the Freeway Gardens Motel in North Melbourne. In addition to pointing out the woman's size, the singer finds her to be one of the most talented lovers he's ever experienced.
The song's first verse reveals Rosie's substantial physical measurements (42"-39"-56"), and that she weighs nineteen stone (266 pounds/approximately 120 kilograms). On the Live from the Atlantic Studios disc, however, Scott describes the titular woman as "... a Tasmanian devil ... weighs 305 pounds (138kg)...," a measurement that differs from the "19 stone" lyric (305 lb being 21 st 11 lb).
In 1998, speaking to Vox magazine, Angus Young remembered: "We'd been in Tasmania and after the show [Bon Scott] said he was going to check out a few clubs. He said he'd got about 100 yards down the street when he heard this yell: 'Hey! Bon!' He looked around and saw this leg and thought: 'Oh well!' From what he said, there was this Rosie woman and a friend of hers. They were plying him with drinks and Rosie said to him: 'This month I've slept with 28 famous people,' and Bon went: 'Oh yeah?!' Anyway, in the morning he said he woke up pinned against the wall, he said he opened one eye and saw her lean over to her friend and whisper: '29!' There's very few people who'll go out and write a song about a big fat lady, but Bon said it was worthy."
Whole Lotta Rosie
AC/DC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About woman I know
When it comes to lovin'
She steals the show
She ain't exactly pretty
Ain't exactly small
Fourt'two thirt'ninefiftysix
You could say she's got it all
Never had a woman
Never had a woman like you
Doin' all the things
Doin' all the things you do
Ain't no fairy story
Ain't no skin and bones
But you give it all you got
Weighin' in at nineteen stone
You're a whole lotta woman
A whole lotta woman
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta Rosie
And you're a whole lotta woman
Honey you can do it
Do it to me all night long
Only one who turn me
Only one who turn me on
All through the night time
Right around the clock
To my surprise
Rosie never stops
She was a whole lotta woman
Whole lotta woman
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta Rosie
A whole lotta woman
Whole lotta woman
Whole lotta woman
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta woman-man-man yeah
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta woman
Whole lotta woman
The lyrics to AC/DC's song "Whole Lotta Rosie" tell the story of a woman, Rosie, who is not conventionally attractive but is an incredible lover. The singer describes Rosie as weighing in at nineteen stone, which is approximately 266 pounds, and having all the right curves in all the right places. The lyrics celebrate Rosie's confidence and her ability to give her all in the bedroom.
The song is an anthem to embrace and celebrate women of all shapes and sizes, particularly those who are not considered conventionally attractive. It challenges societal norms and beauty standards and acknowledges that there is beauty in all forms. The singer never had a woman like Rosie before and acknowledges her as the only one who turns him on. It is a powerful message of self-love and acceptance, encouraging people to love and appreciate themselves for who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
Wanna tell you story
I have a story to tell you
About woman I know
It's about a woman I know
When it comes to lovin'
When it comes to love-making
She steals the show
She's the best at it
She ain't exactly pretty
She's not conventionally attractive
Ain't exactly small
She's not small in size
Fourt'two thirt'ninefiftysix
Reference to her measurements
You could say she's got it all
She has all the physical attributes a man could want
Never had a woman
I've never had a woman
Never had a woman like you
I've never had a woman like you before
Doin' all the things
Doing all the things a lover should do
Doin' all the things you do
Doing all the things specifically unique to you
Ain't no fairy story
This is not some made-up tale
Ain't no skin and bones
She's not skinny, she has meat on her bones
But you give it all you got
You put all your effort into it
Weighin' in at nineteen stone
She weighs a lot
You're a whole lotta woman
You're a lot of woman
Honey you can do it
You can perform for me
Do it to me all night long
Perform all night long
Only one who turn me
You're the only one who excites me
Only one who turn me on
You're the only one who sexually arouses me
All through the night time
All through the night
Right around the clock
24/7
To my surprise
I'm surprised
Rosie never stops
You never stop
She was a whole lotta woman
You were a lot of woman
Whole lotta woman
A lot of woman
Whole lotta Rosie
You're a lot of woman named Rosie
Whole lotta woman-man-man yeah
A lot of woman that excites me
Whole lotta woman
A lot of woman
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Angus Young, Malcom Young, Ronald Belford Scott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yuu5779
lyrics//
Wanna tell you story
About woman I know
When it comes to lovin'
She steals the show
She ain't exactly pretty
Ain't exactly small
Fourt'two thirt'ninefiftysix
You could say she's got it all
Never had a woman
Never had a woman like you
Doin' all the things
Doin' all the things you do
Ain't no fairy story
Ain't no skin and bones
But you give it all you got
Weighin' in at nineteen stone
You're a whole lotta woman
A whole lotta woman
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta Rosie
And you're a whole lotta woman
Honey you can do it
Do it to me all night long
Only one who turn me
Only one who turn me on
All through the night time
Right around the clock
To my surprise
Rosie never stops
She was a whole lotta woman
Whole lotta woman
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta Rosie
A whole lotta woman
Whole lotta woman
Whole lotta woman
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta woman-man-man yeah
Whole lotta Rosie
Whole lotta woman
Whole lotta woman
@stevenbrewer6698
This whole album is a masterpiece, one of the baddest albums of all time.
@MichaelLynch1
2nd to None 👍, It's Ferocious and Brutal 🎸🎸💯🔥😈
@edcollins9377
I only wished they had let Mutt Lange redo it. With those songs, Bon's voice, & Mutts production, it would have sold twice as many as Back In Black!
@marios8120
Yes. And there, there is hidden jewell ac dc song - overdose. Most underrrated aong of ac dc, pure beauty.
@Jamesscearce
There is no better rock song performed live than "Whole Lotta Rosie" by ACDC, they kill every time, it's a pure uncut banger. I mean it feels like Chuck Berry and Little Richard turned up to 11... it's perfect.
@mikeconsiglio819
So does let there be rock.
@stanleybroniszewsky8538
And Chuck Berry with Little Richard, looking down hearing Malcolm and Angus playing this for the first time, completely dropped their jaws in amazement.
@user-jd1eb1lp3z
Love the shirts play all the time
@RamManNo1
Good point! It certainly has that 50s vibe going on. Lyrics and song structure wise.
@MetallicuddZ
Probably my Favorite AC/DC Track. It Never gets old🤘🏾