It's A Long Way To The Top
AC/DC (Australien) Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goin' to a show
Stop in all the byways
Playin' rock 'n' roll
Gettin' robbed
Gettin' stoned
Gettin' beat up
Broken boned
Gettin' took
I tell you folks
It's harder than it looks
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
If you think it's easy doin' one-night stands
Try playin' in a rock roll band
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
Hotel, motel
Make you wanna cry
Ladies do the hard sell
Know the reason why
Gettin' old
Gettin' gray
Gettin' ripped off
Underpaid
Gettin' sold
Second-hand
That's how it goes
Playin' in a band
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
If you wanna be a star of stage and screen
Look out it's rough and mean
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way
It's a long way
It's a long way
Such a long way
AC/DCās hit song āItās A Long Way To The Topā is an ode to the ups and downs of being a rock 'n' roll musician. The songās opening verse describes the experience of traveling from show to show on the highway and stopping in byways to play rock music. The band members sing about getting robbed, stoned, and beat up, which could be representative of the harsh realities of life on the road.
The chorus drives home the message of the song with the repetition of āItās a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n' rollā. The band emphasizes that itās not easy to make it in the music industry and that even one-night stands can be incredibly tough. The second verse further highlights the challenges of being a musician, from dealing with difficult hotel or motel situations to getting old, gray, underpaid or ripped off.
Overall, the song is a tribute to perseverance and the rewards that come from sticking with oneās passion in the face of adversity. It serves as a reminder to aspiring musicians that the path to success can be filled with obstacles, and only those truly committed and dedicated to their craft will make it to the top.
Line by Line Meaning
Ridin' down the highway
Travelling to the next gig
Goin' to a show
Performing at a concert
Stop in all the byways
Taking breaks in small towns
Playin' rock 'n' roll
Performing a genre of music
Gettin' robbed
Being stolen from
Gettin' stoned
Using drugs
Gettin' beat up
Being physically attacked
Broken boned
Suffering injuries
Gettin' had
Being tricked or deceived
Gettin' took
Being cheated or robbed
I tell you folks
The truth of the matter is
It's harder than it looks
The job is more difficult than it appears
It's a long way to the top
Achieving success takes great effort
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
To be successful in this field
If you think it's easy doin' one-night stands
If you believe performing at one-night events is simple
Try playin' in a rock roll band
Experience being part of a rock band
Hotel, motel
Places to stay
Make you wanna cry
Can evoke feelings of sadness or frustration
Ladies do the hard sell
Women aggressively try to sell or promote something
Know the reason why
Understand the motivation behind it
Gettin' old
Aging and losing vitality
Gettin' gray
Hair color gradually turning gray with age
Gettin' ripped off
Getting cheated or deceived
Underpaid
Not being compensated fairly
Gettin' sold
Being taken advantage of or exploited
Second-hand
Referring to items that are not new
That's how it goes
That is the reality of the situation
If you wanna be a star of stage and screen
If you want to achieve great levels of fame
Look out it's rough and mean
Be aware that it is difficult and unpleasant
It's a long way
The journey is arduous
Such a long way
The distance is great and challenging
Lyrics Ā© DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Ronald Scott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@flyorflying1087
Ridin' down the highway
Goin' to a show
Stop in all the byways
Playin' rock 'n' roll
Gettin' robbed
Gettin' stoned
Gettin' beat up
Broken-boned
Gettin' had
Gettin' took
I tell you, folks
It's harder than it looks
ā¦ It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n' roll
ā¦ If you think it's easy doin' one night stands
Try playin' in a rock roll band
It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n' roll
ā¦ Hotel, motel
Make you wanna cry
Ladies do the hard sell
Know the reason why
Gettin' old
Gettin' grey
Gettin' ripped off
Underpaid
Gettin' sold
Second hand
That's how it goes
Playin' in a band
ā¦ It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n' roll
ā¦ If you wanna be a star of stage and screen
Look out, it's rough and mean
ā¦ It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n' roll
ā¦ It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n' roll
ā¦ Well it's a long way
Well it's a long way, you should've told me
It's a long way
Such a long way
@stephentate6974
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, I almost agree. and w/o a doubt they are in the top 5 on about anybody list.
And the genre is "AC/DC" nobody can compete.
The same can be said for Led Zeppelin
And this will draw some criticism I'm sure but Floyd and The Eagles are rightfully at the top of theirs.
None of these can be successfully duplicated or matched, it's just the way it is
Oops my apologies Mr Gibbins. Last but not least
ZZ Top
"Let's drive that old Chrysler to Mexico"
I got to see them all in concert...except our subject matter AC/DC š¢
@joannemaskall937
I'm now 50 years old.
Had the pleasure of being brought up in a house that had a Technics HI-FI system with that glass door and magnet/clicky door press opening on the Left hand sideš
It was surrounded by "Lp's on shelves and the shag pile carpet.
Can feel and smell it now and it's bloody beautiful š
HI-FI system belonged to my Step Dad who I lost 6 months ago and this song was his last post/ message to me.
I either cry or smile when I listen to it, it's still 50/50.
Right now it's cry because my youngest son is learning it on guitar xx
@channel_959
Who's still here in 2024 šøš¤
@markodimitrijevic-ir6ge
Oh yesš
@francescoberti7440
Absolutely
@user-fc3ky7sm4m
Definitely me!!
@LynnSillman-sk2kg
Hey. AC DC. Rocks
@LynnSillman-sk2kg
Yeah. Don't. Forget. Cali. Are. Great. Weed. Here. Lol
@montec636
AC/DC should have their own radio station in every city
@user-bw4oj5ng8k
Fucking ooooh
@matman321
Oooouuu yeš
@robson3078
If anyone is reading this, I would like to greet this person and thank ACā”DC for being with us all the time. šøš„ AC/DC FOREVER!