During the 70s, while still in his teens, Mitchell began playing with local bands in the city of Sarnia. After evolving through a few name changes with essentially the same band, Mitchell and a group titled "Zooom" headed off for Toronto, Ontario. The band eventually dissolved, with Mitchell travelling over to the Greek islands.
Upon his return to Canada, he formed the band Max Webster, which managed to finally break through commercially. Besides playing the group, Mitchell and wrote most of the band's songs with fellow Sarnia native and lyricist, Pye Dubois (Paul Woods). Max Webster toured extensively and built a string of hits. Mitchell's solo career began after his departure from Max Webster, with session work and a succession of solo albums.
In early 1985, the song "Go For Soda" from the Akimbo Alogo album became an international hit and perhaps remains his best known song outside of his native Canada.
In 2004, Mitchell entered the radio broadcasting industry, becoming afternoon drive time host on Toronto classic rock radio station Q107.
As of 2005, Mitchell, still does the afternoon drive time on Q107, and is working on a new double CD set for a Spring 2006 release.
In December of 2005, Mitchell had proposed to the Q107 listeners that they write a Christmas song together. The resulting song is entitled "A Christmas Smile". At the end of the song, Mitchell advises his fans not to drink and drive, but to "go for a soda" instead.
Diary For Rock'N'Roll Men
Kim Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You catch'em as they free their minds
From one crowded street to another
From one hog town to the next
They'll tell you why the world stands on end
Why music is the luck of friends
From any state to any province
There's a diary for rock 'n' roll men
Sometimes we got smokin' guns, rock 'n' roll whips
Sometimes we got lemon twist lips
Sometimes we like circles and dots
Sometimes we like love we like open hearts
Sometimes we get electric shocks
We get our words mixed up
We get stomach knots
Sometimes we write the diary for rock 'n' roll men
Sometimes we are.....
There's a diary for rock 'n' roll men
They get anxious and lose their minds
They dream about setting those misty cities on fire again
They'll tell you why the world stands on end
Why music is the luck of friends
From any state to any province
There's a diary for rock 'n' roll men
They're gonna tell ya
Sometimes we got smokin' guns, rock 'n' roll whips
Sometimes we got lemon twist lips
Sometimes we like circles and dots
Sometimes we like love we like open hearts
Sometimes we get electric shocks
We get our words mixed up
We get stomach knots
Sometimes we write the diary for rock 'n' roll men
Sometimes we are.....
We're going to tell you
Sometimes we got smokin' guns, rock 'n' roll whips
Firecracker eyes and lemon twist lips
The lyrics of Kim Mitchell's song, Diary For Rock n Roll Men, capture the essence of the world of rock music. The song depicts the life of rock musicians, who travel from one place to another, dreaming about burning the cities down with their music. The lyrics speak of a hidden "diary" that these musicians maintain, where they record their thoughts and experiences about their musical journey. The diary is a symbol of the emotional and intellectual journey that these artists go through, as they travel across the world, performing for their fans.
The song talks about the ups and downs experienced by rock musicians in their journey. "Sometimes we like circles and dots, sometimes we like love we like open hearts", the lyrics suggest that the musicians often struggle with a creative block in their journey. They try different things, experiment, and come up with new ideas. They get inspired by their surroundings and their experiences, and their music evolves accordingly. The lines "sometimes we get electric shocks, we get our words mixed up, we get stomach knots" depict the emotional turmoil that these artists go through in their journey.
Diary For Rock n Roll Men is a tribute to the world of rock music, and the people who make it happen. The lyrics capture the essence of the life of a rock musician, the highs and the lows, the struggles, and the rewards. The song celebrates the passion and the commitment of these artists, who live for their music.
Line by Line Meaning
there's a diary for rock 'n' roll men
A journal exists for rock musicians in which they express themselves.
you catch'em as they free their minds
Musicians express themselves openly and candidly in the diary.
from one crowded street to another
Musicians travel from one locale to the next to perform their music.
from one hog town to the next
Musicians travel from one small town to another to play their music.
they'll tell you why the world stands on end
Musicians have a unique perspective on the world and can explain why things happen.
why music is the luck of friends
A successful career in music requires a partnership with supportive friends.
from any state to any province
Musicians can be found in every region of North America.
there's gonna tell ya
Musicians are eager to share their experiences with anyone who wants to listen.
sometimes we got smokin' guns, rock 'n' roll whips
Musicians sometimes have an aggressive, explosive energy that fuels their performances.
sometimes we got lemon twist lips
Musicians sometimes have a charming, light-hearted demeanor that complements their music.
sometimes we like circles and dots
Musicians have diverse tastes and are capable of finding inspiration in unexpected places.
sometimes we like love we like open hearts
Musicians are often driven by a desire to connect with their audience and share their emotions.
sometimes we get electric shocks
Musicians are occasionally electrified by their performances, both literally and figuratively.
we get our words mixed up
Musicians may struggle to articulate their thoughts and feelings effectively.
we get stomach knots
Musicians experience nervousness and anxiety before performances.
they get anxious and lose their minds
Musicians may become overwhelmed by the pressure of their profession.
they dream about setting those misty cities on fire again
Musicians recall with fondness the excitement of past performances in certain cities.
we're going to tell you
Musicians will share their experiences freely and honestly.
firecracker eyes and lemon twist lips
Musicians have unique and dynamic personalities that compliment their music.
Contributed by Caden O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.