Elizabeth Cook (born July 18, 1972 in Wildwood, Florida) is an American cou… Read Full Bio ↴Elizabeth Cook (born July 18, 1972 in Wildwood, Florida) is an American country music singer and radio host. She has made over 400 appearances on the Grand Ole Opry since her debut on March 17, 2000, despite not being a member. Her albums include The Blue Album (2000), Hey, Y'all (2002), This Side of the Moon (2005), Balls (2007), Welder (2010), and Gospel Plow (2012).

Cook's West Virginia-born mother played guitar and mandolin and sang on local radio shows. Her father, a Georgia native, also performed country music and served jail time for running moonshine. Upon his release, he and Elizabeth's mother played in local bands together, eventually marrying. Elizabeth, born in 1972, moved to Nashville in her twenties and quickly got a publishing deal. Demos recorded between 1997 and 2000 comprised her independently released debut album, "The Blue Album", which showcased her formidable songwriting ability and featured such well-known Music City musicians as Tim Carroll, Kenny Vaughan, and Rick Schell.

She made her major label debut in 2002 with "Hey Y'All". But following a corporate re-structuring that left the album virtually abandoned and stagnant on sales, Elizabeth fought back with her 2005 independent release "This Side Of The Moon", which received positive reviews.

Her album "Balls" was released May 2007. It was been her most successful album to date, thanks to glowing press reviews and significant video play for the song "Sometimes It Takes Balls To Be A Woman."

Her 2010 album Welder features appearances by an all-star roster of guests including Dwight Yoakam, Crowell and Buddy Miller, and continued her increasing popularity becoming her highest charting album in the U.S.

Her album "Gospel Plow" was released June 2012.

Cook hosts the morning radio show "Elizabeth Cook's Apron Strings" on the Sirius XM radio station Outlaw Country on Channel 60. The show airs weekdays from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM (Eastern Time). The show format is a mix of Americana, Outlaw, and Alt Country.

In 2016, Cook released her sixth studio album Exodus of Venus.

Official Site

Times Are Tough In Rock N' Roll
Elizabeth Cook Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Times are tough in rock n roll
Beer can't be bought
Wine can't be sold
Thousand lies are getting' told
Times are tough in rock n roll

I keep on walkin' my country mile
I got my head up all the while

Some would like to cramp my style
I keep on walking my country mile

Reason is to feel this way
Rollin' Stone has seen its day
All my feelings, all my fears
Were confirmed with Britney Spears

Me and the boys are in the band
We're out seein' this great land
We're not in the hit parade
Ain't nobody gettin' paid

Times are tough in rock n roll
Times are tough in rock n roll
I keep on walkin' my country mile
I got my head up all the while

Some would like to cramp my style
I keep on walkin' my country mile

Times are tough in rock n roll
Beer can't be bought,
Wine can't be sold

Thousand lies are getting told
Times are tough in rock n roll

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Elizabeth Cook's song "Times Are Tough in Rock N' Roll" reflect the struggles of being a musician in today's world. The opening lines, "Beer can't be bought, wine can't be sold," are symbolic of the financial difficulties that many musicians face. It's not just about the lack of alcohol sales, but the fact that gigs are drying up, royalties are shrinking, and the industry is changing.

The next line, "Thousand lies are getting' told," speaks to the deceptive nature of the industry. Musicians are promised the world, but often get taken advantage of by record labels, managers, and others who prey on their dreams.

The chorus, "Times are tough in rock n roll," is a call to action for fellow musicians, to acknowledge the difficulties they face and push through the tough times. The singer in the song refuses to let anyone "cramp [their] style" and keeps "walking [their] country mile," a metaphor for continuing to pursue their passion despite the challenges.

The next verse touches on the decline of the music industry, with the line "Rollin' Stone has seen its day." The singer's fears and feelings are also confirmed by the rise of pop culture icons like Britney Spears, indicating a shift away from authentic music to commercialized, manufactured pop.

The final verse reminds us of the camaraderie among musicians, with the line "Me and the boys are in the band, we're out seein' this great land." However, the sad truth is that "Ain't nobody gettin' paid," indicating that even touring is not a viable source of income for many musicians.

Overall, the lyrics to "Times Are Tough in Rock N' Roll" paint a picture of the struggles faced by musicians in an industry that is increasingly commercialized and oversaturated, but also speaks to the resilient spirit needed to keep pursuing a passion despite the challenges.

Line by Line Meaning

Times are tough in rock n roll
The music industry is struggling financially and the challenges are difficult to overcome.

Beer can't be bought
The financial difficulties are so significant that musicians cannot afford to buy beer.

Wine can't be sold
Despite the wine being available, nobody can afford to buy it.

Thousand lies are getting' told
People are spreading countless untruths about musicians or the music industry.

I keep on walkin' my country mile
Despite the struggles, the musician continues to push forward and endure the hardships.

I got my head up all the while
The musician remains positive, despite the difficult situation.

Some would like to cramp my style
There are people who want to see the musician fail and will do what they can to discourage them.

Reason is to feel this way
It is understandable to feel downhearted given the current state of the industry.

Rollin' Stone has seen its day
The iconic music magazine is no longer relevant or influential.

All my feelings, all my fears
The musician's emotions are invested in their music career and the health of the industry.

Were confirmed with Britney Spears
Seeing even the most successful and popular musician (Britney Spears) struggle is only further evidence of how difficult the industry has become.

Me and the boys are in the band
The musician is part of a band.

We're out seein' this great land
Despite the challenges, the band is touring across the country.

We're not in the hit parade
The band is not among the most successful and popular musicians.

Ain't nobody gettin' paid
Despite being on tour, the band is not making any significant money from their music.

Contributed by Mackenzie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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