Kid Rock released several studio albums from 1988 that mostly went unnoticed before his 1998 record 'Devil Without a Cause', released with Atlantic Records, sold 11 million albums behind the hits, "Bawitdaba","Cowboy," and "Only God Knows Why". In 2000, he released The History of Rock which was a compilation of remixed and remastered versions of songs from his previous albums as well as the hit single, "American Bad Ass". In 2001, he released the follow up, Cocky. After a slow start, his country-flavored hit "Picture" with Sheryl Crow resurrected the album and it went gold as a single and pushed the album's sales to more than 5 million. It was followed by 2003's self-titled release, which failed to chart a major hit. In 2006 he released Live Trucker , a live album. In 2007 Kid Rock released Rock N Roll Jesus, which produced a hit in "All Summer Long." It was his first worldwide smash hit, charting #1 in eight countries across Europe and Australia. Rock N Roll Jesus would go on to sell 5 million albums worldwide including being certified triple platinum in the US.
He has sold 22 million albums to date in the United States, which currently ranks him as the 99th best selling music artist of all time in the U.S.
Mr. Rock
Kid Rock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He far and wide but still hard to find
He go wop bop a loo bop a wop bam boom
He sang Long Tall Sally and Sweet Sixteen
Good Golly Miss Molly and Maybellene
He sent the whole world Walking to New Orleans
Cuz these hip hop pop punk rock kids got no soul
Either way weβre proud to welcome back the star of the show
So put your hands together for Mr. Rock n Roll
He sang Jailhouse Rock and Peggy Sue
Rock Around the Clock and Blue Suede Shoes
And still there ainβt no cure for the Summertime Blues
He took the Mississippi Queen to Katmandu
A Stairway to Heaven and yelled Hey Jude
So tell me Proud Mary now Who Do You Love?
Mr. Hiatus wonβt ya save us from your radio
'Cause these hip hop pop punk rock kids got no soul
Either way weβre proud to welcome back the star of the show
So put your hands together for Mr. Rock n Roll
Save me
Love me till the day I die take me to the mountain high
Baby
Guide me through the great divide and lay me by the ocean side
So put your hands together for Mr. Rock n Roll
He said Hey Good Lookinβ, Whatβs Going On
A whole lotta shakinβ and a simple song
And still there Ainβt No Mountain High Enough
He said Walk This Way Up Around the Bend
'Cause up there we Wonβt Get Fooled Again
And yes, he gets high with a little help from his friends
Mr. Hiatus wonβt ya save us from your radio
Because these hip hop pop punk rock kids got no soul
Either way weβre proud to welcome back the star of the show
So put your hands together for Mr. Rock n Roll
The lyrics to Kid Rock's "Mr. Rock" pay tribute to the history of rock and roll while also taking aim at the current state of popular music. The opening lines, "He got a song to sing he got an axe to grind / He far and wide but still hard to find / He go wop bop a loo bop a wop bam boom," suggest that the titular character is a hard-working, passionate rock musician who is dedicated to his craft.
The lyrics then list a series of classic rock and roll songs, including "Long Tall Sally," "Jailhouse Rock," and "Rock Around the Clock," as well as more contemporary hits like "Stairway to Heaven" and "Hey Jude." Through these references, the song celebrates the timeless appeal of rock and roll music and the enduring legacy of the genre's pioneers.
The chorus, "Mr. Hiatus wonβt ya save us from your radio / 'Cause these hip hop pop punk rock kids got no soul / Either way weβre proud to welcome back the star of the show / So put your hands together for Mr. Rock n Roll," criticizes the current state of popular music and yearns for the return of the rock and roll star. The song suggests that contemporary pop, hip-hop, and punk lack the authenticity and soul of classic rock and roll, and that only a true rock and roll star can save us from the current musical malaise.
Overall, Kid Rock's "Mr. Rock" is a homage to the history of rock and roll and a call for its revival in modern music.
Line by Line Meaning
He got a song to sing he got an axe to grind
He has a message to convey through his music and he's determined to make it heard
He far and wide but still hard to find
Although he is known all across the world, he is still elusive and difficult to pin down
He go wop bop a loo bop a wop bam boom
He knows how to get the crowd going with his lively music and infectious energy
He sang Long Tall Sally and Sweet Sixteen
He sang classic rock and roll hits like Long Tall Sally and Sweet Sixteen with great passion and finesse
Good Golly Miss Molly and Maybellene
He also sang other iconic hits like Good Golly Miss Molly and Maybellene that everybody loved
He sent the whole world Walking to New Orleans
His music was so good that people from all over the world would come to see him perform in New Orleans
Mr. Hiatus wonβt ya save us from your radio
He is requesting that the radio station stop playing music that has no soul or substance
Cuz these hip hop pop punk rock kids got no soul
He believes that many contemporary music artists lack the heart, soul, and passion that he puts into his own work
Either way weβre proud to welcome back the star of the show
Regardless of the current music scene, people are excited to see him perform and willing to give him a warm welcome
So put your hands together for Mr. Rock n Roll
He is asking the audience to clap in support of him and his music
He sang Jailhouse Rock and Peggy Sue
He also sang other popular rock and roll hits like Jailhouse Rock and Peggy Sue with impeccable style and energy
Rock Around the Clock and Blue Suede Shoes
He performed other beloved tunes like Rock Around the Clock and Blue Suede Shoes to exuberant applause
And still there ainβt no cure for the Summertime Blues
Despite his musical talent, he knows that some things in life just canβt be remedied or resolved
He took the Mississippi Queen to Katmandu
He sang about traveling the world and experiencing exotic places, like when he took the Mississippi Queen to Katmandu
A Stairway to Heaven and yelled Hey Jude
He also performed popular songs like Stairway to Heaven and Hey Jude with passion and ease
So tell me Proud Mary now Who Do You Love?
He is asking Proud Mary, a symbolic figure, who she loves and what she stands for
Save me Love me till the day I die take me to the mountain high Baby Guide me through the great divide and lay me by the ocean side
He is expressing his profound desire to be loved, guided, and cared for passionately until the end of his days, and to be surrounded by the beauty of nature
He said Hey Good Lookinβ, Whatβs Going On
He encountered many people in his travels, like Hey Good Lookin', and was always curious about their experiences and perspectives
A whole lotta shakinβ and a simple song
He believes that even a simple song can shake things up and have a profound impact on people's lives
And still there Ainβt No Mountain High Enough
He knows that no matter how difficult the road ahead, he has the ability to overcome any obstacle and reach great heights with his talents
He said Walk This Way Up Around the Bend
He encourages others to follow him on his journey, forging their own path as they take on challenges along the way
'Cause up there we Wonβt Get Fooled Again
He is confident that at the top there is no need to be deceived, for the truth will be clear and plain to see
And yes, he gets high with a little help from his friends
He admits that sometimes he needs to rely on the support of his friends and colleagues to reach his full potential and find happiness in life
Lyrics Β© Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARLON YOUNG, ROBERT J RITCHIE, MATTHEW SHAFER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kim Farthing
He does it again!!! Pouring his heart and soul into this Beautiful song!!! There is nothing that this man can't do. Kid Rock, you're Awesome β€οΈβ€οΈβ€οΈ
Cynthia Brooklyn
This man is amazing. Kid Rock is pure rock, country, hip hop, blues, jazz is there anything he can't do???? Answer NO!!!!
Simon Smith
Can't get enough of his music, it's all I listen to
TRAVIS SIEMER
Kid. You, your music, me and my life? 30 Fucking Years!!! You are a defining line between here and there. βGod donβt want meβ¦Devil donβt know where Iβm atβ. Love yah!
Kristine Elizabeth Bate
The beat, the lyrics. The whole song is a masterpiece!! Kid Rock is Mr RocknRoll πππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππ
Kristine Elizabeth Bate
Having my own KidRock concert tonight!! All my favorites β‘οΈπ«β‘οΈπ«β‘οΈπ«β‘οΈπ«β‘οΈπ«β‘οΈπ«β‘οΈβ₯οΈβ₯οΈβ₯οΈβ₯οΈβ₯οΈβ₯οΈβ₯οΈβ₯οΈβ₯οΈβ₯οΈβ₯οΈβ₯οΈ
Dalton Riley
Kristine Schuchardt you and me both
Ginny Vapes
Thereβs so many different flavors to this. Love it!! I always say I want to be propped up near the ocean with sunshine. Kid is full of sunshine. Love him
M. Madelene
AND WHISKEY... MUSTN'T FORGET THE WHISKEYπ€£π€£π€£
Theo Gaarder
Well it's time for the music from the 50's to get recognized again and I'm 14 and I know every single song on this list I enjoy the past a lot more than the present day music but just to test my memory on the musical masterpieces of history I need to remember their creators