Roger, along with the other Byrds members, was honored with an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
Rock And Roll Time
Roger McGuinn Lyrics
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A threat to the future that was planned yesterday
I fought for my freedom some call it a crime
Convicted of running on rock and roll time
Rock and roll time please take me away
To the whiskey and wine of some better day
If sometimes it seems I'm falling behind
Remember I'm running on rock and roll time
I'm judged in your airports each time that I fly
I've been thrown in your jailhouse but I'm getting by
And I'm hoping that heaven is happy and high
And everybody's running on rock and roll time
Rock and roll time please take me away
To the whiskey and wine of some better day
If sometimes it seems I'm falling behind
Remember I'm running on rock and roll time
In Roger McGuinn's song "Rock and Roll Time," the lyrics paint the picture of a musician who is fighting against societal norms and expectations in order to live his life as he sees fit. The first stanza questions whether the singer is perceived as a "loser" or a "threat to the future" because he is not following the pre-planned path that has been laid out for him. The singer is then able to identify that he has been "convicted of running on rock and roll time" which could be interpreted as him being punished for not following the same linear path that society expects him to follow.
The chorus seems to be a plea or a prayer by the singer for a respite from this societal pressure. He asks for "rock and roll time" to "take him away" to a place where he can have "whiskey and wine of some better day." The imagery here suggests that he is looking for a place where he can relax and let his creative juices flow; he wants to escape the judgment that society imposes on him. The second stanza describes how the singer has faced discrimination and adversity in his life because of his choices, but he is still "getting by" and hoping that "heaven is happy and high" for those who are also "running on rock and roll time."
Overall, the lyrics of the song seem to be a critique of society's expectations of conformity and a call for the singer and others to continue to live on their own terms, even if it means going against the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you think I'm a loser do I stand in your way
Are you belittling me and impeding my progress?
A threat to the future that was planned yesterday
Am I a potential danger to predetermined plans?
I fought for my freedom some call it a crime
I struggled to be liberated, but some may perceive it as unlawful.
Convicted of running on rock and roll time
I've been accused of adhering to a bohemian lifestyle that goes against the norm.
Rock and roll time please take me away
I yearn for the carefree life of musical expression.
To the whiskey and wine of some better day
To a time and place where pleasure and relaxation await.
If sometimes it seems I'm falling behind
In case I appear to be losing traction or struggling to keep up.
Remember I'm running on rock and roll time
Bear in mind that my life is dictated by the rhythm and lifestyle of rock music.
I'm judged in your airports each time that I fly
I'm subject to scrutiny and suspicion when I travel by plane.
I've been thrown in your jailhouse but I'm getting by
I've been incarcerated, but I'm finding ways to cope and overcome the experience.
And I'm hoping that heaven is happy and high
I pray that the angels and souls up above are ecstatic and euphoric.
And everybody's running on rock and roll time
I envision a world where everyone lives life according to the lively and joyful pace of rock and roll.
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