Their collaboration with legendary songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller gave them a unique sound that was very humorous most of the time. Their first huge hit came with "Young Blood" and "Searchin'." They also had success with hits such as "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," and "Little Egypt."
Gardner was still touring with The Coasters as late as 2005, although he is the only surviving original member. Gardner is now semi-retired and has handed the reins over to his son Carl Jr.
In 1987, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, thus becoming the first group to be inducted (the other inductees at the time were solo acts). In 2000, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame. In 2004, "Young Blood" was #414 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs Of All Time. "Young Blood" and "Yakety Yak" were part of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. The band's song "Down In Mexico" appears on the new film, Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof.
That Is Rock & Roll
The Coasters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then somebody invented the wheel
And things just began to roll!
Did you ever hear a tenor sax
Swingin' like a rusty axe?
Honkin' like a frog
Down in a hollow log?
Did you ever hear a guitar twang
Jingy, jingy, jingy, jang?
Ever hear those strings
Doin' crazy things?
Baby, that is rock and roll
That ain't no freight train that you hear
Rollin' down the railroad tracks
That's a country boy piano man
Playin' in-between the cracks
You say that music's for the birds
You can't understand the words?
Well, honey, if you did
You'd really blow your lid
'Cause, baby, that is rock and roll
That ain't no freight train that you hear
Rollin' down the railroad tracks
That's a country-boy piano man
Playin' in between the cracks
You say that music's for the birds
And you can't understand the words?
Well, honey, if you did
You'd really blow your lid
'Cause, baby, that is rock and roll (in the mornin')
Baby, that is rock and roll (in the evenin')
Baby, that is rock and roll
The opening lines of “That Is Rock & Roll” by The Coasters describe the evolution of human technology from basic rocks to more complex inventions such as the wheel. The lyrics establish that the song is going to be about the evolution of rock and roll. The song then goes on to describe specific sounds and styles that are associated with the genre.
The first verse mentions the tenor saxophone, which is a common instrument in rock and roll music. The lyrics use imagery to describe the sound of the saxophone as “swingin' like a rusty axe” and “honkin' like a frog / Down in a hollow log”. These descriptions are meant to convey the raw, primal energy of rock and roll. The second verse mentions the guitar, another instrument commonly associated with the genre, and describes the sound of the strings as “Doin' crazy things”. The chorus emphasizes that this is rock and roll and that it can’t be mistaken for anything else.
The song also addresses people who may not appreciate rock and roll music or find it difficult to understand. The lyrics suggest that if they did understand it, they would “blow [their] lid” because of the genre’s energy and intensity. Overall, “That Is Rock & Roll” celebrates the unique sound and spirit of rock and roll music.
Line by Line Meaning
In the beginning, there weren't nothin' but rocks
At first, the world was just a barren and rocky place
Then somebody invented the wheel
But then humans came along and invented the wheel
And things just began to roll!
And suddenly, everything started moving and changing rapidly
Did you ever hear a tenor sax
Have you ever listened to a tenor saxophone being played?
Swingin' like a rusty axe?
It can sound like a rusty axe being swung around
Honkin' like a frog
Or maybe it sounds more like a frog making noise
Down in a hollow log?
Like it's hiding away in a hollow log
Baby, that is rock and roll
But that's just how rock and roll music sounds
Did you ever hear a guitar twang
Have you also listened to a guitar being played?
Jingy, jingy, jingy, jang?
It can make a twangy, jangly sound
Ever hear those strings
Or have you heard the strings vibrating
Doin' crazy things?
And making all sorts of unique and wild sounds?
That ain't no freight train that you hear
When you hear loud music, it's not actually a train coming
Rollin' down the railroad tracks
But it's just a musician playing a piano like they're driving a train
That's a country boy piano man
The musician might be a country boy who loves to play the piano
Playin' in-between the cracks
And they're playing unique and experimental music that doesn't fit traditional genres
You say that music's for the birds
You might not think highly of this type of music
You can't understand the words?
Or maybe you can't even make out the lyrics
Well, honey, if you did
But if you could understand and appreciate it
You'd really blow your lid
You might be blown away and amazed by this type of music
'Cause, baby, that is rock and roll
Because that's exactly what rock and roll music is
Baby, that is rock and roll (in the mornin')
Whether you hear it in the morning or not
Baby, that is rock and roll (in the evenin')
Whether you hear it in the evening or not
Baby, that is rock and roll
This type of music is always going to be rock and roll
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERRY LEIBER, MIKE STOLLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hiro_chan.d_b.
オールディーズ大好き❤
カッコイイ❣️
@marylloyd2342
Love, love, love the Coasters. That sax!
@user-up4cj3ez4n
名曲です☺
@hidingunderyourskin
Man, I gotta find this one's 45 in the wild. Have it on some cassette I bought at a thrifter with a bunch of other Coasters classics and fell in love. Though, this one sounds different.
@brianrocks2087
Long live Rock and Roll
@barrygioportmorien1
I love this coasters song...
@liviapetre5515
Wow, such a wonderful rock and roll!!
@cityzen2717
Leiber-Stoller + the Coasters= a match made in R n' Roll HEAVEN.
@sickkat5910
Banjo in a rock and roll tune... gotta be the Coasters!!!
@MrTubbyd
This is the flip side of Along Came Jones. I loved this song though and traded a popular 45 for it to a friend back in 59. Not many people remember this song nowadays. i still use it (sing snatches to myself) I think it's a classic.