Rock 'N' roll is king
Elo Lyrics


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Well, listen, everybody, let me tell you 'bout the rock 'n' roll
Oh, feel that rhythm and it's really gonna thrill your soul
Mmm, come along with me to a land of make believe
She said, "Whamalamabamalama rock 'n' roll is king."

She loves that rock 'n' roll, and she plays it all night long
Oh, that's all she ever tells me when I call her on the telephone
She says, "Feel that jumpin' beat, and a-get up on your feet."
She says, "Whamalamabamalama rock 'n' roll is king."

Oh, let those guitars play,
Play for me, play for me
Oh, let that song ring out
That's how it's meant to be.

Well, it rolls like a train that's a-comin' on down the track
She rolled over Beethoven and she gave Tchaikovsky back
Oh, she loves that drivin' beat, she goes dancin' on down the street
She said, "Whamalamabamalama rock 'n' roll is king."

Oh, rock on!

Oh, let those guitars play,
Play for me, play for me
Oh, let that song ring out
That's how it's meant to be.

Well, when she comes around and I'm listenin' to the radio
She says, "You can't do that, 'cause all I wanna do is rock 'n' roll."
Now here I'm gonna stay where that music starts to play
She says, "Whamalamabamalama rock 'n' roll is king
Oh, yeah, whamalamabamalama rock 'n' roll is king
Oh, oh, whamalamabamalama rock 'n' roll is king




Ooh, yeah, whamalamabamalama rock 'n' roll is king."
She said, "Whamalamabamalama rock 'n' roll is king."

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Electric Light Orchestra's "Rock 'N' Roll Is King" immediately introduce listeners to the essence of the song - the infectious rhythm that's sure to thrill your soul. The singer invites us to join him in a land of make-believe, where his love for rock 'n' roll reigns supreme. He narrates how he calls his girlfriend, only to hear her talk about rock 'n' roll all night long. She's a rock and roll fanatic who insists that the driving beat is all she needs to get up on her feet and dance. She rolls over Beethoven and returns Tchaikovsky's classical music with the kind of rock 'n' roll that drives her wild.


The chorus then repeats the emphasis on the guitars, as if to say that rock 'n' roll is not rock 'n' roll without the iconic sound of the electric guitar. The music is meant to be played, and it's meant to be loud so that everyone can hear it. The singer concludes by declaring that all he wants to do is rock 'n' roll, and he'll stay where the music starts to play. In essence, "Rock 'N' Roll Is King" celebrates the irresistible power of rock 'n' roll and the countless ways it has captured the hearts of music lovers everywhere.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, listen, everybody, let me tell you 'bout the rock 'n' roll
Attention, everyone! Listen to me talk about rock and roll.


Oh, feel that rhythm and it's really gonna thrill your soul
The beat of the music will excite you deeply.


Mmm, come along with me to a land of make believe
Let's escape reality and imagine a different world together.


She said, "Whamalamabamalama rock 'n' roll is king."
She proclaims that rock and roll is the greatest music of all time.


She loves that rock 'n' roll, and she plays it all night long
She adores rock and roll and listens to it continuously.


Oh, that's all she ever tells me when I call her on the telephone
When I call her, she only talks about rock and roll.


She says, "Feel that jumpin' beat, and a-get up on your feet."
She advises me to dance to the lively rhythm of rock and roll.


Oh, let those guitars play,
Encourage the musicians to continue playing their guitars.


Play for me, play for me
Entice me with your music and let me revel in it.


Oh, let that song ring out
Allow the melody to soar through the air and fill our surroundings.


That's how it's meant to be.
This is how rock and roll is supposed to sound and feel.


Well, it rolls like a train that's a-comin' on down the track
Rock and roll has a powerful, unstoppable energy like a speeding train.


She rolled over Beethoven and she gave Tchaikovsky back
She rejects classical music and embraces the thrill of rock and roll.


Oh, she loves that drivin' beat, she goes dancin' on down the street
She adores the pulsing rhythm of rock and roll and dances to it with abandon.


She said, "Whamalamabamalama rock 'n' roll is king."
She says it again, declaring rock and roll as the dominant genre.


Oh, rock on!
Continue the musical performance with enthusiasm and energy.


Well, when she comes around and I'm listenin' to the radio
When she's near me and I'm listening to the radio.


She says, "You can't do that, 'cause all I wanna do is rock 'n' roll."
She criticizes my taste in music and insists on rock and roll.


Now here I'm gonna stay where that music starts to play
I will stay where the rock and roll music can be heard.


She says, "Whamalamabamalama rock 'n' roll is king
She repeats her belief of rock and roll's superiority.


Oh, yeah, whamalamabamalama rock 'n' roll is king
She confirms that rock and roll is indeed the greatest music.


Oh, oh, whamalamabamalama rock 'n' roll is king
She reemphasizes her love for the genre with more exclamation.


Ooh, yeah, whamalamabamalama rock 'n' roll is king."
Again, she asserts that nothing is better than rock and roll.


She said, "Whamalamabamalama rock 'n' roll is king."
And one more time, she declares that rock and roll is the greatest.




Contributed by Muhammad H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@livefreeordiehardkor

I was born on 1-15-1984 and here I am on 1-15-2024 listening to this amazing song!

@kristinadraguniene808

I was born on 1951 and I'm listening too...

@mireyagonzalez5483

Yo nací en 1967 y acá estoy, maravillosa música.

@terryallen5328

40 years old and still as good now as it was then. Rock on guys.

@xanthippe9757

We`ll do it!🙃

@hhill4413

Love it, still rocking to it at 86, rocked to it today ,afore I helped with housework and did garden. This music is best medicine I can get

@pierre-jeandacquin8761

Oui, c'est toujours aussi bon !!

@danwedderburn5550

Jeff Lynne is simply a genius & a Legend. Thank you Jeff for all the fantastic music you have brought this world. I take my hat off to you.

@mattschneider6773

If The Beatles stayed together into the 80s, they'd make songs like this.

@hmackie6823

@@mattschneider6773 they wish,Jeff was ahead of the BEATLES at this point and not lookin' back

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