Rebel
Lee Rocker Lyrics


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Johnny's got a car, he likes to drive it fast
People stop and stair when he goes flyin' past
Got a leather jacket and his hair combed back
Got himself a Chevy that he painted primer black

Yeah, he's a rebel, rebel

Johnny's got a girl, she wears a pretty dress
Looks like Bettie Page, baby, more or less
They go out driving on a California night
Sometimes Johnny wants to rumble and fight

'Cause he's a rebel, rebel, a rebel, rebel

Sometimes he's got to go out
Sometimes he's got to fight
Sometimes he's got to go out
On a California night

He's a rebel, rebel, rebel, rebel

Pabst blue ribbon and a cigarette
Remember the days that will never forget
Got it tattooed into his skin
Born to loose and long live the king
He's a rebel, rebel, rebel, rebel

Sometimes he wants to rumble
Sometimes he wants to fight
Sometimes he's got to go out
On a California night

'Cause he's a rebel, rebel, a rebel, rebel

Johnny's got a wife and kids, he's liven down the street
He's got himself a place where the rebels go and meet
Talk about the days when they were still in school
Knockin' back the beers and shootin' pool

He's a rebel, rebel, rebel, rebel

Sometimes he wants to rumble
Sometimes he wants to fight
Sometimes he's got to go out
On a California night

He's a rebel, rebel, rebel
Rebel, rebel, rebel, rebel




Rebel, rebel, rebel, rebel
Rebel, rebel, rebel

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lee Rocker's song "Rebel" paint a picture of Johnny, a rebellious young man who likes to drive fast, fight and drink beer. He has a Chevy painted prime black with a leather jacket and a well-combed hair at the back. People cannot help but stare when he goes flying past. He's got a girl who resembles the iconic pin-up girl Bettie Page. Sometimes, Johnny gets into fights and has to go out on a California night. The song showcases Johnny's rebellious attitude towards society's norms and his pursuit of the individuality and excitement that comes with being a rebel.


The chorus repeats that Johnny is a rebel, and despite having grown up and started a family, he still frequents a spot where other rebels gather, and they reminisce about their school days over a beer while shooting pool. The song speaks about youthful rebellion, with lyrics like "Born to lose and long live the king," which suggest a lack of care for the consequences of their actions. The song captures Johnny's ongoing rebelliousness, despite growing up, settling down with a family, and living stable.


Overall, the song is a celebration of youth, excitement, and the pursuit of individuality. Johnny's passion for living life on his terms is something that many young people can relate to, regardless of their social status.


Line by Line Meaning

Johnny's got a car, he likes to drive it fast
Johnny has a car and enjoys driving it at high speeds.


People stop and stare when he goes flyin' past
Johnny's car drives so fast that people around him stop and watch in awe.


Got a leather jacket and his hair combed back
Johnny wears a leather jacket and combs his hair back in a certain style.


Got himself a Chevy that he painted primer black
Johnny owns a Chevy vehicle and painted it a specific shade of black.


Yeah, he's a rebel, rebel
Johnny's free-spirited lifestyle makes him a rebel.


Johnny's got a girl, she wears a pretty dress
Johnny has a significant other who likes to dress nicely.


Looks like Bettie Page, baby, more or less
Johnny's girlfriend has a similar appearance to Bettie Page.


They go out driving on a California night
Johnny and his girlfriend spend some time driving in California at night.


Sometimes Johnny wants to rumble and fight
Johnny's rebellious side sometimes leads him to engage in physical altercations.


'Cause he's a rebel, rebel, a rebel, rebel
Johnny's behavior and lifestyle make him a true rebel.


Sometimes he's got to go out
Occasionally, Johnny needs to leave the house for personal reasons.


Sometimes he's got to fight
From time to time, Johnny must engage in physical fights with others.


Pabst Blue Ribbon and a cigarette
Johnny likes to drink Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and smoke cigarettes.


Remember the days that will never forget
Johnny cherishes and remembers some of his most memorable days.


Got it tattooed into his skin
Johnny had something significant tattooed on his skin as a permanent memory of something in his life.


Born to lose and long live the king
Johnny lives his life in the belief that he is destined to fail, but he still sees himself as a king figure.


He's a rebel, rebel, rebel, rebel
Johnny's rebellious behavior makes him a true rebel four times over.


Johnny's got a wife and kids, he's livin' down the street
Johnny is married with children and currently lives nearby.


He's got himself a place where the rebels go and meet
Johnny's rebel lifestyle has allowed him to own a place where people with similar attitudes can gather and socialize.


Talk about the days when they were still in school
Johnny and his friends discuss some of their shared high school memories.


Knockin' back the beers and shootin' pool
During their conversations, Johnny and his friends drink beer and play pool.


Rebel, rebel, rebel, rebel
Johnny's rebellious spirit makes him a true rebel four times over.




Contributed by Micah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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