Good Rockin' Tonight
Roy Brown (Also feat. Professor Longhair & Dave Bartholomew) Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight
Well, I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight
I'm gonna hold my baby as tight as I can
Well, tonight she'll know I'm a mighty, mighty man
I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight

I said, meet me an' a-hurry, behind the barn
Don'tcha be afraid cause I'll do you no harm

I want you to bring along your rockin' shoes
'Cause tonight we're gonna rock away all our blues
I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight

Well, we're gonna rock
We're gonna rock
Let's rock
c'mon and rock
We're gonna rock all our blues away

Have you heard the news, everybody's rockin' tonight
Have you heard the news, everybody's rockin' tonight
I'm gonna hold my baby as tight as I can
Well, tonight she'll know I'm a mighty, mighty man
I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight

Well, we're gonna rock, rock, rock, rock
c'mon and rock, rock, rock, rock
Let's rock, rock, rock, rock

Well let's rock, rock, rock, rock
We're gonna rock all our blues away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Good Rockin' Tonight" by Roy Brown (Also feat. Professor Longhair & Dave Bartholomew) is about a man who is excited about the news of a good rockin' music that is going to happen that night. He plans to hold his baby tight and make her know that he is a mighty man. He calls on his lover to meet him behind the barn with her rockin' shoes so they can dance and rock away their blues. The chorus of the song keeps repeating the news that there's good rockin' tonight and the man intends to make the most of it as he urges everyone to come out and rock.

The song is characterized by a fast-paced, upbeat rhythm that complements its lyrics. It reflects the excitement and energy of the era, capturing the spirit of the youth culture that was emerging at the time. The words are simple and straightforward but packed with emotion, capturing the joy and release that rock and roll could provide. The song became hugely popular and helped to establish the rock and roll genre, inspiring countless other musicians and bands.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight
I have just heard that there will be a great time for us to rock out tonight

Well, I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight
I just heard again that tonight will be an amazing night of rock and fun

I'm gonna hold my baby as tight as I can
I am going to hold my sweetheart as close as possible

Well, tonight she'll know I'm a mighty, mighty man
My girlfriend will be impressed by my strength and virility tonight

I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight
It has come to my attention that tonight is going to be an excellent night for dancing and partying

I said, meet me an' a-hurry, behind the barn
Come and meet me quickly behind the barn

Don'tcha be afraid cause I'll do you no harm
Don't worry about anything, I'm not going to hurt you

I want you to bring along your rockin' shoes
Please wear shoes that allow you to dance and move to the beat

'Cause tonight we're gonna rock away all our blues
Tonight we will dance and party in order to forget our problems

Well, we're gonna rock
We will most certainly dance and have a good time

We're gonna rock
We are definitely going to dance and party

Let's rock
Come on, let's dance!

c'mon and rock
Please come and dance with me

We're gonna rock all our blues away
We will dance and party until we no longer feel sad or troubled

Have you heard the news, everybody's rockin' tonight
Do you know that tonight will be an amazing night for dancing and having a good time?

Have you heard the news, everybody's rockin' tonight
I am asking again, have you heard that tonight will be a fantastic night of rock and roll?

I'm gonna hold my baby as tight as I can
Once again, I will hold my beloved sweetheart as closely as I can

Well, tonight she'll know I'm a mighty, mighty man
Tonight my girlfriend will be impressed by my strength and masculinity

I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight
One more time, I was informed that there would be a great opportunity to dance and have fun

Well, we're gonna rock, rock, rock, rock
We will definitely dance and have a good time, multiple times over

c'mon and rock, rock, rock, rock
Please come and dance with me, many times over

Let's rock, rock, rock, rock
We should dance and have a great time, many times over

Well let's rock, rock, rock, rock
Come on, let's dance and party multiple times over

We're gonna rock all our blues away
We will dance and party to get rid of all of our worries and problems

Contributed by Dylan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Comments from YouTube:

The Franchise

1y↑9

This original version is awesome, swings like crazy, has great sophisticated big band style horns, and killer stride piano. Definitely one of the classic jump blues songs. He even name checks other classic jump blues songs in the song, like Louis Jordan's "Caledonia." These songs were among the foundation for the rock and roll craze of the 1950s, along with greats from Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
When Elvis covered this song, it became guitar focused, a hybrid of the jump blues versions and what the labels called "hillbilly music" at the time. They called the hybrid "rockabilly."

Patrick Wall

11y↑25

Great song. Later made famous by Wynonie Harris, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley proving this song is a blues/R&B/rock 'n' roll history all by itself. Roy also wrote "Grandpa stole my baby", which Moon Mullican did as well. King Records produced excellent music and sowed the seeds for the Sun records.

Roger Phone

and later made famous again by a hit video game series

Victor Vernon

2y↑1

James Schaidt

And pretty much every bar band out there has covered it. I've covered it countless times in cover bands, always in a Van Halen style and it never failed to get a crowd jumpin'. 🎸🤘

Jordan Adams

46w

@James Schaidt I'd like to hear that

Barbeque Bob Maglinte

14y↑71

Roy Brown is absolutely essential listening when it comes to Jump blues.

Beth Butler

10y↑30

Born in 1925, Roy Brown brought out "Good Rockin Tonight" in 1947, hit the charts in June 1948, covered also by Wynonie Harris and made into a classic by Elvis on his second record at Sun. According to "Rhythm and Blues in New Orleans", this record first turned the national spotlight on to New Orleans

Donald Morrow

7y↑7

Roy Brown is one of the most important and underrated forefathers of both R&B and Rock and Roll. This record was pivotal in the transition from Jump Blues to Rhythm and Blues. It is so potent that it virtually began two huge careers: Wynonie Harris (who transformed from a Jazz-based Blues shouter to one of the first R&B superstars) and Elvis Presley (who released this song as one of his first records). Oh, and if you listen hard, you will hear a bit of what Jackie Wilson would sound like less than a decade later. And this guy was just getting started.

ExStock

2y↑37

This song is a great example of why parents were so freaked out when their kids started listening to "Rock & Roll" music--both "rocking" and "rocking and rolling" used to be slang for sex. So, their kids were telling them, "I love sex music!"

Jack Farnum

45w↑2

It’s funny, because most music regarding of when it was made is sex music. The tunes and beats change, but the lyrics are always about love and/or sex 😂

ExStock

45w↑1

@Jack Farnum Agreed! I once made a mental list of the songs I like that were completely unrelated to sex. It was very short.
Although several of them were from the 40s and 50s, which is always fun. Mmmm, love me some Coasters!

1 More Replies...

Doom_X_Angel

4y↑430

Fallout has really opened me up older genres, I'm so grateful it did

Cataclysmic Proportions

3y↑16

They have blessed us since 1997! I remember feeling so proud to have managed to download The Ink Spots' 'Maybe' on Napster in '99.

Lancepatrol_05

3y↑3

Same

Retro

3y↑3

Same.

Poopyhead98

3y↑6

They’ll all be there, shouting like mad, hoy sister, hoy sister ain’t you glad

Toy_Bonnie

3y↑3

Same

16 More Replies...

David Walsh

5y↑9

Roy Brown and others paved the way for what was to follow in the fabulous fifties.......great respect to them all.

Ezra Zavala

5y↑138

I love when this song comes up on the diamond city radio

Wade Walker

3y↑2

Also Cadillac Jack's Radio Shack (a mod)

Evan Montague

3y↑4

I know it’s very catchy

x XXFallenAngelsXX x

3y↑3

Yeah :)

CoasterEnthusiast08

2y↑1

I also love pistol packin mama too

DizzyOliver

@Wade WalkerI love that mod

Barry Schlesinger

7y↑53

Man! 1947 So far ahead of his time....Mr.Roy Brown . This is the roots of Rock, Blues and Rhythm ...

Sir Jänskä

5y↑7

Blues dates back to late 1800's though

mrstanbmw

4y↑1

Yes

1 More Replies...

Fabio Calderon

10y↑4

espectacular sinfonia de instrumentos dulcemente conservados en los anaqueles del tiempo genial

llibnorhcop

11y↑10

Some consider this the first Rock and Roll tune ever recorded ! some claim Rocket 88. I vote for Roy!

54markl

13y↑1

It says 1946. This has to be the first rock 'n roll record ever, the very beginning. If this is the beginning, rock'n roll is now more than fifty years old! He's not doing too bad for an old guy. It's still going strong, no end in sight. Thanks, Roy Brown, for starting one of the biggest things in the world. It really will stand!

Raymond Denman

12y↑14

This version ROCKS!!! It's a shame I never got to hear this growing up. It is way cool. I do a cover of it. If you would like to hear it look under Ray Denman on youtube if you like rockabilly. It's mot the best...but it's mine!!!! Thanks!! Ray

1986 Kevrolet

2y↑3

Wow, a 90`s metal band brought me here! Thanks Roy Brown, what a rock and roll pioneer you were!

john haas

6y↑2

Not debating who was first or who was best but this is part of the foundation of rock and roll ! Theres a hundred 'first' rock n' roll records and each one is significant in its own right up to and including Elvis (like him or not).

Flannel Daniel

8y↑5

I loved when The Doors did this song. Thanks to Roy for making that possible

Thomas Hall

5y↑2

A great recording made even greater by the greatest.

Starship Trooper

36w

The first R n' R record? You could argue all night long and just have to start all over the next night. I love this performance. Seem's to me, a lot of different artists (30s n 40s) just did their thing and it all melded together. Maybe Muddy Waters summed it up best. "The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll." Thx Muddy...

Aname Goeshere

8y↑67

ROY BROWN IS A FUCKING MIGHTY MAN FOR SURE.

Mike Martin

7y↑79

I wish I could've seen him perform!

Nick Grace

3y↑5

when you say perform what do you mean? o.o

CarniiLiar

2y↑1

@Nick Grace on Stage bud. Singing. : )

Signal Ahead

12y↑3

One of the best. Really diggin this! If you like it, you will love all the original and oddball covers over at rockabillygone, all one word. Stop by and spin afew of that cat's tunes.

Red

6y↑1

Thank you Roy Brown for make such good music

COSTAFINKEL

7y↑5

Always knew this as a Montrose song, wow! The Montrose edition is just the best classic rock (gone modern) thing I have ever heard.

The chungo

7y↑4

Who else sings along to the songs when they come on the radio?

The chungo

This is the best song in fallout!

Nelson Michel

5y↑6

los primeros gritos del rock and roll señores!!!!

Sinjin Baker

5y↑5

Man! I plan on playing this at my middle school talent show, I will play piano along with it!

DrummerJacob

Howd it go?

Sinjin Baker

5y↑1

Thanks for asking. They changed the date to later this month. At least I have more time to practice.

Sinjin Baker

4y↑3

__ it went well. Didn’t end up playing this Song though.

Markie

5y↑3

this and Elvis Presley’s version are amazing.

Craig McCauley

6y↑1

Love it!

Elisabeth Axelsson

1y↑1

This is so good i love it

Computerpooter

11y↑2

I love this so much!

TeleNikon

4y↑1

One of the most important recordings EVER!

Nelson Michel

5y↑11

el rock and rol en pañales!!!

Bashitizing Smashmaster

Something a lot of people don't know; Wynonie Harris (who also has a track on diamond city radio) does a cover of good rockin' tonight and it's fucking GOOD

Irati Alétheia

12y↑2

Aquí nace el rock....

Luis Alberto Mezarina

Never heard of him 'till today, Good vives, rock it Away!

Signal Ahead

12y

Flat out great stuff!

Andrey Dedovchenko

13y↑2

Classic Rock-n-roll!!!

Ricardo Marcelino de Arruda Marcelino

4y↑1

isso que e musica very good

azdoowop

Don't even know what to say. 1947, how could this be? If ever a song was a decade before its time & a precursor of what incredible music that was to come this has to be it.

jazzmicke

13y↑1

Roy Brown wrote and recorded the song in late 1947. It was first offered to Wynonie Harris who'd turned it down. But when he realised Roy had some sucess on the local R&B-charts, Wynonie recorded and released his version, which did much better than Roy's original. Roy Brown also did a more electric rocking version in the mid/late 1950's.

Leos

7y↑5

I would like to thank Bethesda's Fallout series for introducing me to the magic of the music in the 1940's. Thanks to a game I am now hooked on the oldies!

dohsuka

I'm so proud to have played Fallout/Heart this nice music and that it was part of my childhood😎

duke

Whoopty do

mrstanbmw

4y↑1

Roy songs have been covered by all the giants from Bobby blue Bland BB King Elvis and so many others this guy was a Giant

Scouser on the Wirral

Swing, Jump Bluesman Roy Brown (1925-1981) Wrote and recorded “Good Rockin’ Tonight” in November 1947 it reached #13 on Billboard’s R&B Chart. The 2nd Cover was By Swing Jump Bluesman Wynonie Harris who recorded his version on 28 December 1947 it reached #1 on Billboard’s R&B Chart, these songs highly influenced a young 12-13 year old Elvis Presley who 6 years later recorded a Rockabilly cover on 10 September 1954 at Sun Studios, in Memphis and released as the B-Side on 25 September 1954. Elvis’s single didn’t chart Nationally.
Pat Boone recorded his usual pop flavoured watered down version of Good Rockin’ Tonight in 1959 (Decca 15888) and reached #49 on the Hot 100 chart.

Peter Cahoon

7y↑1

We need IRL radio stations like this.

cleric9118

42w

89.1 KCEA

kerry moriarty

11y↑2

This is great. Is it rock n' roll, r n' b, jazz/swing or what? Hell.. I don't know. They're all labels. All these styles have a habit of 'bleeding' into each other. At least to these ears they do. I dig this.

Robert Nieten

5y↑22

I didn't realize that rock and roll went that far back!

SpaceOps

It emerged way back in the early 20th century.

SHYBA

3y↑1

I don't know if I call this r&r.
I.m.o. r&b, blues, jazz even.

SHYBA

3y↑1

@SpaceOps who was singing r&r in the early 20th century?
R&R didn't start till the 50's. Who sung the 1st r&r is
debatable.

ATL Clutch

3y↑9

Gotta learn the Blues first before you can play rock n’ roll ;)

Idcimsothrowed

@SHYBA I’d say butcher Pete is rock and roll

3 More Replies...

Roland Deschain

6y↑1

This is my JAM!

Scott Burton

Elvis Presley famously covered this classic a few years later-In 1985,The Honeydrippers recorded their own version which was called "Rockin At Midnight".

PJ Riverdale

7y↑1

Possibly the most egregious omission by the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is that of Roy Brown who remains along with Cosimo Matassa, owner of the legendary J&M Studio UNINDUCTED INTO THE RNRHOF.

IOOI SONGS

10y↑2

Now THAT‘s what I call jump blues! 968 to go :)

AH HA

2y↑2

PERFECT

delwatts

12y

Its really difficult to pin down just where Rn'R was first played you can tie down recording dates but it would have been around long before that for example Art Crudup recorded All Right Mama in 1946 which predates it by five years - still both holding up well

Snead Hearn

8y↑3

The originator of Rock 'n' Roll !

Danger Zone

+Snead Hearn Sister Rosetta Tharpe is the founder of Rock

Matthew Villani

13y

This song I consider the first rock and roll song ever made.

nubiansista4life

12y

Then I listened to Ike Turner's "Rocket 88" from 1951 and I know that's the original Rock and Roll sound right there.

Sharp Tooth

11y↑1

Mighty good voice

ΓΙΑ ΚΑΠΟΙΟ ΛΟΓΟ../ ΓΙΩΡΓΟΣ ΠΟΛΥΖΟΣ

6y↑2

The first rock'n' roll song in music history!

Mike C

6y↑1

Not even close lol

SHYBA

3y↑1

Most people say that's " rocket 88" . just saying...

Gwendo Metz

Que c'est bon....le commencement d'une nouvelle ère. ..et aussi grâce à Johnny Otis 😻💖

Roger Alsop

5y↑1

Wonderful!

S Y

8y↑1

Awesome! Thanks for posting!

Pierre M

6y↑1

Amazing music and singer. Check out Colin James' music with his little big band. He's the best Canadian blues guitarist. He plays some of Roy Brown's music.

the4thhedghog undertale voices and more!

8y↑1

love this

Moontwister

12y↑8

To me, this sounds like classic New Orleans music. Like walking down the street on Mardi Gras, it sounds like this (and that).

Vonwitzy

11y↑1

Still the Great One

Albert Ahlf

3y↑6

Elvis is totally influenced by this. Roy sounds just like him but even better!

Lucinda Goodwin

I remember reading somewhere that a young Elvis would see him in concert. I'm sure he was not only influenced by Roy Brown but a fan as well because he sang a cover of this song

duke

3y↑3

@Lucinda Goodwin he was also influenced by Little Richard

Lucinda Goodwin

@duke And Jackie Wilson

Michael Kucinski

Decades ago, I heard Robert Plant sing a version of this song on the radio.

Exide 2008-2013

13y

when you listen to modern metal bands and at concerts everyone goes round shouting rock n roll i bet most of them have never heard this

BrianRocks

Rock and roll evolved into soul and funk

María del Carmen

Fantastic!

Shredded Overdrive

3y↑42

The good thing about Bethesda was that they greatly incorporate good songs from the 40s and some 50s in it for some gamers to enjoy and get away from such garbage songs nowadays.

James Schaidt

Damn that's jumpin' ! 🔥🔥🔥

Robert Nieten

Thats what i missed in the sixties- those horns!

Maco Medina

1000 y un canciones que hay que escuchar antes de morir

electrohippy68

13y

excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rockinron40

12y

Wynonie Harris recorded a more rock'n'roll sounding version of this song a year earlier in 1946 and it's here on youtube too,check it out!

Jeremy Salazar

6y↑1

Thanks to a video game i had the fortune to discover these old golden jamz

jonathan bowens

5y↑1

Classic

G charles

USA é abençoada pelos deuses da música

Paul Caporino

11y↑1

That's one place that rock & roll came from.

RoundenBrown

8y↑1

Good song!

Roy Brown

Fond memories of writing this song

Clemens von Steinwolke

Great !!!

Giovanni Derteano

11y↑2

This is considered the first Rock n Roll song isn´t it??

ornella mbula

13y

i thought he says daddy's gonna rock it tonight, but any ways, great song and version xx

Madponiez

10y

Ce jump blues de l'infini ^^

Gil Faver

Terrific.

barry Delisle

6y↑3

Best version of this song

standingbeark

11y↑1

sadly , roy brown isn't in the rock 'n roll hall of fame. although bill haley, of "bill haley and the comets" got the credit, it's often argued that roy brown was the the person that coined the phrase "rock'n roll" in a song recorded in the late 40's .

edwing campos

11y

2013 and i love this musicc ohh yeah rock and roll! :)

Lyrical Myrical

3y↑2

The journey from sanctuary hills to the diamond city? Jam to this.

Richard Brighton

the daddy of Rock and Roll...

Bones Malone

1y↑2

there is indeed good rockin tonight

DouglasUrantia

12y

.....love it...Good "rockin" tonight....lol.

Dizzy Dude

11y

Both songs (the same song, really) were written by Roy Brown. He wrote GRT first. Brown wrote a third version called "Good Mambo Tonight."

konkeru

5y↑1

Pinches rolas chingonas ALV

Era Morgan

1y↑1

Devil in a Blue Dress brought me here. Good music, good movie.

Adrian WT

2y↑2

What Elvis did to this song was magic. Some might call it "stollen" but I think it was really magic.

lauristonplaceeh3

Blissful.

Raymond Denman

12y

Fkn bad ass!!!!PERIOD!!!!

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