The Rock
Etta James Lyrics


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I want you to rock me, baby

Rock me, baby, rock me all night long
I want you to rock me, baby, rock me all night long
I want you to rock me, baby, like my back ain't got no bone

Roll me, baby, roll me till you make me feel
I said roll me, baby, roll me till you make me feel
I said roll me, baby now, roll me till you make me feel
And I want you to do this for me, baby

I said roll me, baby now, roll me like you roll a, a big old wheel
I said roll, roll me, baby now, roll me like you roll a big old wheel
'Cause I know that you know, baby, you know how to make me feel

Roll me slow, roll me all night long
I said roll me, roll me slow, baby, roll me all night long
I said I know that you know that
I know that you know how to make me feel

I said rock me, baby, now rock me all night long
Say, baby you rock me, baby, rock me all night long
I said rock me, baby, like
Like my back ain't, my back ain't got no bone

Roll me, baby now, roll me like you roll a big old wheel




Roll me, baby now, roll me, roll me like you roll a big old wheel
I said I know that you know, you know how to make me feel

Overall Meaning

In the song “The Rock” by Etta James, the singer is expressing her desire for her lover to rock and roll with her all night long. She pleads to be rocked and rolled until she feels as though her back has no bone. This is a metaphor for the physical release and pleasure that sex can bring. The way she requests to be rocked and rolled with increasing urgency in the refrain, accompanied by the repetition of the phrase “all night long,” evokes a sense of sensual longing and urgency.


The verses go back and forth between the request to be rocked and rolled and the request to be rolled like a big old wheel. The comparison to a wheel is another metaphor for the power of her lover to control her and move her in ways that bring her pleasure. Etta James sings the phrase “I know that you know” several times throughout the song, emphasizing that her lover understands how to make her feel good. This creates a sense of intimacy between two people who are comfortable with each other and know each other’s bodies well.


Overall, “The Rock” is a sultry and sexy song that emphasizes the importance of physical connection in a romantic relationship. Etta James’ powerful voice and confident delivery suggest that she knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to ask for it.


Line by Line Meaning

I want you to rock me, baby
I desire for you to undulate and sway me, my darling


Rock me, baby, rock me all night long
Undulate and sway me all through the darkness, my beloved


I want you to rock me, baby, rock me all night long
I long for you to undulate and sway me throughout the entirety of the night, my love


I want you to rock me, baby, like my back ain't got no bone
I yearn for you to sway me until my back has no structure, my darling


Roll me, baby, roll me till you make me feel
Move me, my love, until I sense the passionate intensity within me


I said roll me, baby, roll me till you make me feel
I repeat, move me until I feel the fiery fervor, my beloved


I said roll me, baby now, roll me till you make me feel
I reiterate, move me until I feel the passionate energy, my dearest


And I want you to do this for me, baby
I desire for you to fulfill this yearning for me, my darling


I said roll me, baby now, roll me like you roll a, a big old wheel
Move me like a massive wheel being rotated, my love


I said roll, roll me, baby now, roll me like you roll a big old wheel
I repeat, rotate me like a colossal wheel, my beloved


'Cause I know that you know, baby, you know how to make me feel
I understand that you possess the knowledge, my love, of how to bring out emotions within me


Roll me slow, roll me all night long
Rotate me leisurely, move me throughout the night, my darling


I said roll me, roll me slow, baby, roll me all night long
I repeat, move me leisurely all through the night, my beloved


I said I know that you know that I know that you know how to make me feel
I understand that you know how to bring out emotions within me


I said rock me, baby, now rock me all night long
I repeat, undulate and sway me throughout the entirety of the night, my dearest


Say, baby you rock me, baby, rock me all night long
Declare to me, my love, that you will undulate and sway me all through the night


I said rock me, baby, like Like my back ain't, my back ain't got no bone
I desire for you to undulate and sway me until my back is free of any structure, my darling


Roll me, baby now, roll me like you roll a big old wheel
Move me like a colossal wheel being rotated, my love


Roll me, baby now, roll me, roll me like you roll a big old wheel
Move me, my love, like a massive wheel being rotated


I said I know that you know, you know how to make me feel
I understand that you possess the knowledge, my dearest, of how to bring out emotions within me




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MELVIN JACKSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Gruvchild

Sing it Etta like no one else can! I love all the life lessons expressed in your music. You can sing them because you experienced them and can vocalize them like NO ONE ELSE!!!!! Check out: Don't Touch Me; Love's Been Rough On Me; If I Can't Have You etc. etc.etc. I will always love and be grateful for your beautiful music!

Janice Rigsbee

This song no matter who sings it has a very haunting Millatti I love it.

Chantay Link

Love love love it. Rest in peace Momma Etta. You taught us well

missclimpson

This is a great album.

Paula Morin

I love this song and Etta was incredible!

catherine ortiz

i love her sound , so rich , nobody ,i said nobody can compare that deep deep voice , contralto , i love it can't think of enough words to express how good she sounded , any way thank you MISS ETTA , for doing what came so natural for you and made it possilbe for so many to hear you do what you loved to do , once again THANK YOU

arxsyn

she sounds great on this record. Mature, deep, stern and oh-so-strong! Contralto version of Ella Fitzgerald

Phoenix Star

I'VE JUST STARTED LISTENING TO ETTA JAMES AND I JUST LOVE HER. I AM NOW HER NUMBER 1 FAN! :)) I JUST LOVE HER VOICE AND YES SHE BREAKS MY HEART EVERYTIME BUT THAT'S HOW SONGS WERE WRITTEN IN THE 1940’s 50’s 60’s 70’s 80’s 90’s. I AGREE WITH EVERYONE WHO FEELS THAT ARTISTS FROM THIS ERA/TIME WERE DEFINITELY IN A CLASS OF THEIR OWN - UNIQUE AND SO SPECIAL IN EVERY WAY. "DON'T YOU JUST MISS THEM" I BELIEVE THAT - “HOW OUR WORLD EVOLVES FROM DECADE TO DECADE DETERMINES THE FATE OF HOW SONGS ARE WRITTEN TODAY" SO PEOPLE “WHERE IS THE LOVE” THANK YOU ETTA FOR REMINDING US THAT IT’S OK TO WRITE SONGS ABOUT “FALLEN IN LOVE” “BROKENHEARTS” “LOST LOVES” AND “TRUE LOVE”. PEOPLE LET'S WRITE SONGS ABOUT "FALLEN IN LOVE" "PEACE NOT WAR" "LOVE NOT HATE" YOU NEVER KNOW THE RIPPLE EFFECT COULD BE ENOUGH TO ENTHUSE A POSITIVE CHAIN REACTION AROUND THE WORLD - OUR HOME:))

Laura Hedges

I saw her at BBKings about 15 yrs ago w my sister...Etta was wheeled onstage in a wheelchair it was a fabulous show and we dressed up for her I wore black leather skirt and top w/ fuschia sandals and bag...and pearls.... she warranted that...Classic lady!!..#Neverforget & TY!!

sandy connie

Just one of the amazing songs written by Russell Smith (amazing rhythm aces)..love ya Russell & Happy Birthday!!!

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