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.
Rock'N'Roll Duty
Kim Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes i get it right sometimes i'm wrong
And my love of Rock N Roll makes me a one-night-stand
Sometimes i'm enriched sometimes i'm tanned
I'm just doing my Rock N Roll duty
I'm just doing my...
I'm just doing my Rock N Roll duty
Creating a buzz buzz buzz
Man i'm in it for love love love
The love of Rock N Roll is never right or wrong
That's why you can identify as the day is long
So this is for us
The hard-driving beauty
We can dance in our minds
We can do the tutti-frutti
I'm just doing my Rock N Roll duty
I'm just doing my...
I'm just doing my Rock N Roll duty
Creating a buzz buzz buzz
Some say i'm in it for the money
Man i'm in it for love love love
I'm just doing my Rock N Roll duty
Creating a buzz buzz buzz
The lyrics to Kim Mitchell's "Rock & Roll Duty" are about the connection between the musician and their audience through their shared love of rock and roll. The singer describes how his heartaches and experiences end up in his music, sometimes he gets it right and sometimes he doesn't. He acknowledges that his love of rock and roll sometimes makes him a one-night stand type figure, but that he's just doing his rock and roll duty.
The song also speaks to the criticism that some may have towards an artist in this industry, suggesting that some say he's in it just for the money, but he stresses that he's in it for the love of rock and roll. The love of rock and roll, he says, is never right or wrong, and this is why it's so easy to identify with. The song ends with him speaking directly to his audience, telling them that this song is for them, for the "hard-driving beauty" that they create through their shared love of rock and roll.
In essence, "Rock & Roll Duty" is a tribute to rock and roll and the community that it creates. It speaks to the passion and love that both the artist and the listener have for the music, and asserts the importance of this community, even in the face of criticism from others.
Line by Line Meaning
my Rock N Roll heartaches end up in song
I write music about my personal struggles with love and life.
sometimes i get it right sometimes i'm wrong
I have successes and failures in music, like everyone else.
and my love of Rock N Roll makes me a one-night-stand
My passion for music often results in short-term relationships.
sometimes i'm enriched sometimes i'm tanned
Sometimes I have personal growth from my experiences, other times I just get a good tan on tour.
i'm just doing my Rock N Roll duty
I feel like it's my responsibility to make good music and entertain fans.
creating a buzz buzz buzz
I want to generate excitement and hype around my music.
some say i'm in it for the money
People speculate that I'm only in music for financial gain.
man i'm in it for love love love
But in reality, I'm passionate about music and it's what I love to do.
the love of Rock N Roll is never right or wrong
Music is subjective and there's no right or wrong way to love it.
that's why you can identify as the day is long
Everyone can relate to music in their own way and for their own reasons.
so this is for us
This song is for all the fans that love and appreciate Rock N Roll.
the hard-driving beauty
Rock N Roll is a powerful and beautiful genre of music.
we can dance in our minds
Music can transport us and make us feel alive, even if we're just listening alone.
we can do the tutti-frutti
We can let loose and have fun with music, just like dancing to the tutti-frutti.
i'm just doing my Rock N Roll duty
Once again, I feel like it's my obligation to create good music and entertain fans.
creating a buzz buzz buzz
I want to keep generating excitement and hype around my music.
Writer(s): Kim Mitchell, Paul Phillip Woods Pka Dubois, Pye
Contributed by Michael L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kevin Catalano
Always put on a great show. Seeing Battle Scar performed live, with 3 drum kits playing in TIGHT unison, holy hell!
Doing Canada proud. 🇨🇦
Kiril Kirov
What a riot this track is!!!
Kimbo must be one of the most underrated guitarists ever. The guy is a genius!
Pete Roberts
0:37 to 0:44 Those bass guitar harmony root notes are just so fucking musically sensational.
playinguitarful
totally agree
Alan Macdonald
Dropped "D". Fun song to play on bass.
Corea Kixx
WOW!!! What a song. Thanks. Saw Max Webster in the 70s and 80s, and Kim and his solo bands in the 80s. Never anything less than a PARTY!!! Canadian style!!!!!!
Ryan Mac
Max Webster was excellent! Kim shreds so I’ve never known why it seemed like Canada kept him a secret.
SNMIKE1
That hook draws you in and keep you there and delivers all the way through.... genius.
Mark Cassel
I wish they'd have played him in the U.S. Such a great musician
crepesoftime
"Go For a Soda" is likely the only one you might hear on US radio.