As Jones explained to Billboard in 2006: "I was desperate. When you're hungry, a poor man with a house full of kids, you're gonna do some things you ordinarily wouldn't do. I said, 'Well, hell, I'll try anything once.' I tried 'Dadgum It How Come It' and 'Rock It', a bunch of shit. I didn't want my name on the rock and roll thing, so I told them to put Thumper Jones on it and if it did something, good, if it didn't, hell, I didn't want to be shamed with it."
Rock It
George "Thumper" Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why no one's beside you where I usually lay
And you think you hear the sound of distant thunder
Well, that's just your old rock (just your old rock) a-rolling away.
I was a rock standing strong for you
For there was nothing that I wouldn't do
No matter the cost I was ready to pay
Like some old rock you've been draggin' around
Yes, I'm your old rock (just your old rock) but now I'm rolling away.
I'm rolling away on a downhill grade
But I'm gonna come to rest at a mountain of love someday
'Cause I finally understand if you're resting on shifting sand
Well, even a rock (even a rock) will go a-rolling away.
I was a rock standing strong for you
No, there was nothing that I wouldn't do
No matter the cost I was ready to pay
Now you say I'm only holding you down
Like some old rock you've been draggin' around
Yes, I was your old rock (just your old rock) but I'm a-rolling away.
Honey, I was your rock (just your old rock) now I'm rolling away.
In the lyrics to George "Thumper" Jones's song Rock It, the singer addresses the aftermath of a failed relationship. The song starts with the description of a morning after where the singer's partner finds themselves alone in bed and hears distant thunder, which is just the old rock, meaning the singer, rolling away. In the second stanza, the singer describes themselves as a rock that stood strong for their partner, ready to do anything for them at any cost. However, their partner has now started to see them as a hindrance, dragging them down like an old rock. Consequently, the singer is now ready to roll away from the relationship.
As the song progresses, the singer describes themselves as rolling away on a downhill grade, but they have hope that they will come to a resting place at a mountain of love someday. The singer has finally realized that even a rock will go a-rolling away if it's resting on shifting sand, meaning that love cannot be based on an unstable foundation. The song ends with a repetition of the first verse but with a slight change: the singer reiterates that they were once their partner's rock but now they are rolling away.
Overall, the song Rock It speaks about the consequences of a failed relationship and the need to move on from it. The lyrics convey the message that a relationship should be based on a solid foundation, or even the strongest will crumble.
Line by Line Meaning
When you wake up in the mornin' and you wonder
As you begin your day, you are confused
Why no one's beside you where I usually lay
You notice my absence from our bed
And you think you hear the sound of distant thunder
You perceive ominous noises in the distance
Well, that's just your old rock (just your old rock) a-rolling away.
It's just me, your reliable partner for so long, leaving your life
I was a rock standing strong for you
I was unwavering in my commitment to you
For there was nothing that I wouldn't do
I was willing to do anything for you
No matter the cost I was ready to pay
I was willing to make any necessary sacrifices
Now you say I'm only holding you down
You claim that I am hindering your progress
Like some old rock you've been draggin' around
You view me as a burden
Yes, I'm your old rock (just your old rock) but now I'm rolling away.
I am indeed the reliable partner you used to lean on, but now I'm leaving
I'm rolling away on a downhill grade
I'm leaving you and my departure is not going to be easy
But I'm gonna come to rest at a mountain of love someday
Eventually I will find someone else who appreciates me for who I am
'Cause I finally understand if you're resting on shifting sand
I now realize that our relationship was not built on a solid foundation
Well, even a rock (even a rock) will go a-rolling away.
Even someone as steadfast as myself can eventually be moved
Honey, I was your rock (just your old rock) now I'm rolling away.
Despite my previous loyalty to you, I am leaving your side now
Lyrics © GLAD MUSIC CO.
Written by: GEORGE JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ZacharyRedFulton
One of the greatest unintentional Southern rock songs of all-time!!!
@Boppinbonny
One of the rawest out there! Love it
@uhohwhoops
George Jones is my grandfather. Love that theres some thumper jones floatin around.
@majikassassinz8993
George is my husband Vince Jones's great great uncle. Are you one of Bryan, Jeff or Susan's kids?
@edibub7623
What a great rock and roll singer!!! Those insanly wild screams are legendary!i know he was very, very critical about this period but common!
@txbigfoot0963
My good friend tried to get George to autograph his copy of this 45 and George refused. He didn't want to have any connection to this record. Too bad, he didn't realize what a great recording it was, and still is!
@eternallife9786
It's because they tried to force him into rockabilly music early on in his career plus add the amount of drugs and alcohol that man consumed
@karleypresley_xoxo5566
We need more music like this today in 2014.
@darkotomicic5867
In 2022 also
@eternallife9786
Also 2023