It.s A Long Way To The Top
THE MANY FACES OF AC/DC Lyrics


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Ridin' down the highway
Goin' to a show
Stop in all the byways
Playin' rock 'n' roll
Gettin' robbed
Gettin' stoned
Gettin' beat up
Broken boned
Gettin' had
Gettin' took
I tell you folks
It's harder than it looks

It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
If you think it's easy doin' one-night stands
Try playin' in a rock roll band
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll

Hotel, motel
Make you wanna cry
Ladies do the hard sell
Know the reason why
Gettin' old
Gettin' gray
Gettin' ripped off
Underpaid
Gettin' sold
Second-hand
That's how it goes
Playin' in a band

It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
If you wanna be a star of stage and screen
Look out it's rough and mean
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll
It's a long way to the top
If you wanna rock 'n' roll

It's a long way
It's a long way




It's a long way
Such a long way

Overall Meaning

These lyrics tell a story of the hardships and struggles of being in a rock and roll band on the road. The first stanza describes the various difficulties of being a touring musician, including getting robbed, stoned, beaten up, and broken boned. The second stanza focuses on the financial struggles, with references to being underpaid and ripped off, and the pressures of trying to make it big in the industry. The repeated phrase “it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock n’ roll” emphasizes the challenges of this lifestyle.


The song also highlights the often-overlooked aspects of being a rock star, such as the constant traveling, staying in mediocre accommodations, and dealing with aggressive promoters and adoring fans. The lyrics paint a picture of the reality of life on the road, contrasting with the glamorized image of rock and roll in popular culture.


Overall, “It’s A Long Way To The Top” is an ode to the perseverance and determination it takes to make it in the music industry, and a tribute to the hard-working musicians who sacrifice their personal lives for the sake of music.


Line by Line Meaning

Ridin' down the highway
We're on our way, driving along the open road


Goin' to a show
We're headed to a venue to perform


Stop in all the byways
We'll play anywhere and everywhere


Playin' rock 'n' roll
Performing our style of music


Gettin' robbed
Being stolen from by greedy people


Gettin' stoned
Using drugs to cope with the stress of the industry


Gettin' beat up
Being physically assaulted by others


Broken boned
Suffering injuries severe in nature such as broken bones


Gettin' had
Being cheated or screwed over by others


Gettin' took
Being taken advantage of by others


I tell you folks
Listen up, I'm trying to give you some advice


It's harder than it looks
Being in a rock band is much more difficult than it seems


It's a long way to the top
Achieving success in the music industry is a challenging journey


If you wanna rock 'n' roll
If you're serious about pursuing this style of music


If you think it's easy doin' one-night stands
If you believe performing a single show is effortless


Try playin' in a rock roll band
Give being in a rock band a try and see for yourself


Hotel, motel
Staying in a variety of accommodations while touring


Make you wanna cry
Causes sadness or distress


Ladies do the hard sell
Women pursue band members aggressively


Know the reason why
They are aware that musicians are vulnerable to such advances


Gettin' old
Aging and becoming less of a marketable commodity in the industry


Gettin' gray
Growing gray hair, a sign of aging


Gettin' ripped off
Others taking advantage of and stealing from us


Underpaid
Not being compensated fairly for our hard work


Gettin' sold
Being sold to a record label or another entity


Second-hand
Being seen and marketed as old news


That's how it goes
This is the way the industry works, whether we like it or not


If you wanna be a star of stage and screen
If you aspire to the upper echelons of fame


Look out it's rough and mean
The path there is treacherous and unforgiving


It's a long way
The journey is lengthy and challenging


Such a long way
An especially arduous and formidable journey




Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Ronald Scott

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@lucip4011

If you like to gamble
I tell you, I'm your man
You win some, lose some
It's all the same to me
The pleasure is to play
Makes no difference what you say
I don't share your greed
The only card I need
Is the Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades
Playing for the high one
Dancing with the devil
Going with the flow
It's all a game to me
Seven or eleven
Snake eyes watching you
Double up or quit
Double stake or split
The Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades
You know I'm born to lose
And gambling's for fools
But that's the way I like it, baby
I don't want to live forever
And don't forget the joker
Pushing up the ante
I know you got to see me
Read 'em and weep
The dead man's hand again
I see it in your eyes
Take one look and die
The only thing you see
You know it's gonna be
The Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades, uh



@organickevinlondon

it's in my "top 3 Rock songs of all time"
along with Deep Purple, Smoke on the Water,
and the Cult, She Sells Sanctuary,
ALL 3 of them, have instantly recognisable, unique, guitar intros.

(I originate from Staffordshire, the home of Motorhead
and when I created, the MOST ECO FRIENDLY, HARDCORE, EARTHY,
organic produce, home delivery company in London, back in 2003,
my company's carefully thought out logo was "the Ace of Spades",
my "company??" consisted of just 2 people,
me, someone that had risked their life TWICE to successfully save 2 peoples lives,
and suffers from DOUBLE P.T.S.D, because of THAT
and spent time in prison as an innocent person,
and my best mate Robin a fully qualified Aerobatics pilot,
who spent many years wrongfully banged up in Mental Hospitals,
when I showed Robin, the "Ace of Spades" company logo,
he just said to me "THAT is FUCKING AWESOME"
fully understanding the link between organic farmers,
the phrase "Ace of Spades", Motorhead's EARTHYNESS,
my companies no nonsense Eco friendliness and my Staffordshire heritage,
I'm sure that Lemmy, Fast Eddie and Filthy Animal Taylor,
would have approved of THAT logo too).



@0527jose

Lyrics:
If you like to gamble
I tell you, I'm your man
You win some, lose some
It's all the same to me
The pleasure is to play
Makes no difference what you say
I don't share your greed
The only card I need
Is the Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades
Playing for the high one
Dancing with the devil
Going with the flow
It's all a game to me
Seven or eleven
Snake eyes watching you
Double up or quit
Double stake or split
The Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades
You know I'm born to lose
And gambling's for fools
But that's the way I like it, baby
I don't want to live forever
And don't forget the joker
Pushing up the ante
I know you got to see me
Read 'em and weep
The dead man's hand again
I see it in your eyes
Take one look and die
The only thing you see
You know it's gonna be
The Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades, uh



@HertzVillegasC

If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your man
You win some, lose some, all the same to me

The pleasure is to play, makes no difference what you say
I don't share your greed, the only card I need is the Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades

Playing for the high one, dancing with the Devil
Going with the flow, it's all a game to me

7 or 11, snake eyes watching you
Double up or quit, double stake or split, the Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades

You know I'm born to lose, and gambling's for fools
But that's the way I like it baby
I don't wanna live for ever
And don't forget the Joker!

Pushing up the ante, I know you got to see me
Read 'em and weep, the dead man's hand again
I see it in your eyes, take one look and die
The only thing you see, you know it's gonna be

The Ace of Spades!
The Ace of Spades!
Ha!
*********
THNX FN' MOTÖRHEAD!!! \m/



All comments from YouTube:

@mayrebap

Lemmys' voice sounds like a pack of cigarettes & a bottle of Jack Daniels suddenly started talking

@davidhardin6649

😂😂

@amirfaisal3329

What about heroine?

@sarahwagneryost

Amir faisal that too

@jeim5480

A pack Marlboro reds actually

@joyjr91_

@@amirfaisal3329 Nah man Lemmy wasn’t into downers, he preferred the adrenaline kinds such as speed/meth. You can literally make it out by listening to the kind of music they made.

543 More Replies...

@rabmcnair4488

This song is the speed at which Lemmy lived his life, full throttle and no stopping.

@anotherbigfootwithinternet2147

One of the best ways to live life.

@BayernMunchenFan11

@@anotherbigfootwithinternet2147 and lived to 70 too boot. literally lived hard and toured until he died. mad respect.

@mufalonami2282

FUCK YESSS!!!!!

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