The song was written by George Jackson and Thomas E. Jones III. Seger says that he rewrote the verses but never took any writing credit.
The song featured in the 1983 film Risky Business, starring Tom Cruise.
There are some who mistakenly think it is a Chuck Berry song as they are thinking of Berry's 1957 hit single "Rock and Roll Music".
Old Time Rock & Roll
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll sit and listen to 'em by myself
Today's music ain't got the same soul
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
Don't try to take me to a disco
You'll never even get me out on the floor
In ten minutes I'll be late for the door
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll (oh)
Won't go to hear 'em play a tango
I'd rather hear some blues or funky old soul
There's only one sure way to get me to go
Start playing old time rock 'n' roll
Call me a relic, call me what you will
Say I'm old-fashioned, say I'm over the hill
Today's music ain't got the same soul
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll (oh)
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll (hey)
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
In this song, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band reminisce about the days of old where music was played on vinyl records, and the only way to listen to music was by playing it on a record player. The lyrics describe the singer's preference for old-fashioned rock and roll over modern music like disco or tango. The singer loves the soulful sound of old rock and roll, and he doesn't want to be taken to a disco because he'd rather stay at home and listen to his old records.
The song talks about the power of music to soothe the soul, which is why the singer still likes old time rock and roll. He's not ashamed to be called a relic or old-fashioned for liking music that's no longer in fashion. Overall, the lyrics are a testament to the timeless nature of music and how it can bring comfort and nostalgia to people's lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Just take those old records off the shelf
I want to hear the old rock n roll classics
I'll sit and listen to 'em by myself
I prefer to listen alone and really savor the music
Today's music ain't got the same soul
Modern music doesn't have the same passion and emotion
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
I have a strong affinity for the classic rock sound
Don't try to take me to a disco
I don't want to go to a modern dance club
You'll never even get me out on the floor
I'm not interested in dancing to modern music
In ten minutes I'll be late for the door
I want to leave soon if the music doesn't change
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
I still have a strong appreciation for classic rock
That kind of music just soothes the soul
The old rock sound is comforting and therapeutic
I reminisce about the days of old
I look back fondly at the era when classic rock ruled
Won't go to hear 'em play a tango
I don't want to listen to any music that isn't classic rock
I'd rather hear some blues or funky old soul
I would prefer to hear genres that influenced classic rock
There's only one sure way to get me to go
The only way to get me interested is to play classic rock music
Call me a relic, call me what you will
People can call me outdated, but I have my own tastes
Say I'm old-fashioned, say I'm over the hill
People can call me old-fashioned or out of touch, but I disagree
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
Despite what others may say, I still love classic rock
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: George Henry Jackson, Thomas Earl Jones III
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind