He's A Rebel
The Crystals Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

See the way he walks down the street
Watch the way he shuffles his feet
My, he holds his head up high
When he goes walking by, he's my guy

When he holds my hand, I'm so proud
'Cause he's not just one of the crowd
My baby's always the one to try the things they've never done


Just because of that, they say

He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good
He's a rebel 'cause he never ever does what he should
Just because he doesn't do what everybody else does
That's no reason why I can't give him all my love

He's always good to me, always treats me tenderly
'Cause he's not a rebel, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, no, no, no, to me

If they don't like him that way
They won't like me after today
I'll be standing right by his side when they say

He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good
He's a rebel 'cause he never ever does what he should
Just because he doesn't do what everybody else does
That's no reason why we can't share a love

He's always good to me, good to him, I try to be
'Cause he's not a rebel, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, no, no, no, to me

He's not a rebel, no, no, no (no, no, no)
He's not a rebel, no, no, no (no, no, no)
He's not a rebel, no, no, no (no, no, no)
He's not a rebel, no, no, no (no, no, no)

He's not a rebel, no, no, no

He's not a rebel, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, no, no, no

Overall Meaning

The Crystals' "He's a Rebel" is a song about a rebel, but not in the traditional sense of the word. The lyrics describe a man who does not conform to society's expectations and chooses to go against the norm. The singer is proud of her partner's individuality and the fact that he is always willing to try new things, even if it means being labeled a rebel. The society, on the other hand, sees him as a troublemaker who will never amount to anything.


The song's chorus suggests that his behavior is unwelcome and that he will never be accepted by society. However, the singer disagrees and refuses to give up her relationship with him. She sees beyond his rebellious spirit and recognizes the positive qualities that make him unique. In her eyes, he may be a rebel, but he is also caring, romantic, and treats her with tenderness.


The song's message is about acceptance, the need to embrace individuality rather than conform, and not judging people based on societal norms. It's a reminder to look beyond what society deems acceptable and embrace the unique qualities that make people who they are.


Line by Line Meaning

See the way he walks down the street
Observing how he strides down the street


Watch the way he shuffles his feet
Paying close attention to how he moves his feet


My, he holds his head up high
He carries himself with confidence and pride


When he goes walking by, he's my guy
When he passes by, he's the guy I'm with


When he holds my hand, I'm so proud
I feel honored when he holds my hand


'Cause he's not just one of the crowd
Because he stands out from the rest


My baby's always the one to try the things they've never done
My sweetheart is always willing to try new things


Just because of that, they say
For that reason, people label him


He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good
He's considered a troublemaker and will never turn out right in their eyes


He's a rebel 'cause he never ever does what he should
He doesn't conform to their expectations and norms


Just because he doesn't do what everybody else does
Simply because he chooses his own path


That's no reason why I can't give him all my love
But that doesn't stop me from loving him deeply


He's always good to me, always treats me tenderly
He is always caring and gentle with me


'Cause he's not a rebel, no, no, no
Because I know who he really is


If they don't like him that way
If they can't accept him for who he is


They won't like me after today
They won't like me once they see my loyalty and devotion to him


I'll be standing right by his side when they say
I'll stick by him when they criticize him


That's no reason why we can't share a love
That doesn't mean we can't have love together


Good to him, I try to be
I strive to be as kind to him as he is to me


He's not a rebel, no, no, no
He's not who they say he is




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gene Pitney

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

Adrian

"He's A Rebel"

See the way he walks down the street
Watch the way he shuffles his feet
My, he holds his head up high
When he goes walking by
He's my guy

When he holds my hand, I'm so proud
'Cause he's not just one of the crowd
My baby's always the one
To try the things they've never done
And just because of that, they say

He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good
He's a rebel 'cause he never ever does what he should
But just because he doesn't do
What everybody else does
That's no reason why I can't give him all my love

He's always good to me
Always treats me tenderly
'Cause he's not a rebel, oh no no no
He's not a rebel, oh no no no, to me

If they don't like him that way
They won't like me after today
And I'll be standing right by his side
When they say

He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good
He's a rebel 'cause he never ever does what he should
But just because he doesn't do
What everybody else does
That's no reason why we can't share a love

He's always good to me
Good to him, I try to be
'Cause he's not a rebel, oh no no no
He's not a rebel, oh no no no, to me
Oh! (He's not a rebel, oh no no no

He's not a rebel, oh no no no
He's not a rebel, oh no no no
No no no



John LaStrada

@Thomas Pappalardo - I agree to a point Thomas -- it was a bit over the top but not bombastic.

If you ever heard the songs before Phil Spector added the strings & chorale the songs were pretty commercially empty. Never would've made the Top 25. They needed to be produced.

What Spector had that McCartney didn't have at that time was an ear for selling the product.

After all, the LP did sell, was well-received, and those songs were hits & are endearing to the audience. If no one made a big stink about it (as McCartney was known to do) no one would've known a thing.


I think Paul's issue was he didn't do it. They knew what they were getting when they hired Phil Spector. He embellished everything.

I think "The Long & Winding Road," is a beautiful song as is.

Lately, McCartney has been doing a lot of bashing on video & what he's doing is tarnishing the memories of many Beatle fans. There's a lot of information about their recording, the songs themselves, that is better left in their studio. Especially since Lennon can't defend himself.

"This is rubbish, this is stupid, it's a terrible song, I didn't like it, I didn't want to record it, I didn't want to sing it." Why do we have to know this? The songs should speak for themselves.

I wasn't on John Lennon's side for many years but now I'm beginning to understand why Lennon-McCartney parted ways.



John LaStrada

@◇m x x r i◇ - He's a convicted murderer. Let's start there.

Yes, he was a great producer, and a quirky individual & the late Sonny Bono told me many things about him behind the scenes.

Who are we to judge? Once you're a convicted murderer all your good achievements go to the back of the bus.

We are not perfect but I'm not a murderer. He shot her in the mouth.

Funny that he said it was an "accidental suicide" when he had her "kiss the gun" that fired the fatal shot. But, told his chauffeur that "he killed somebody." If it's an accidental suicide then he didn't kill anyone.

Conflicting information & I'm not a lawyer.
Phil wrote the last chapter of his biography.

I'm disappointed too. I liked his work in the 60s but his appearance in court wearing a mile-high wig didn't help exonerate him.



비정한세상

See the way he walks down the street
Watch the way he shuffles his feet
My, he holds his head up high
When he goes walking by
He's my guy

When he holds my hand, I'm so proud
'Cause he's not just one of the crowd
Why is he always the one
To try the things they've never done?
And just because of that, they say:

"He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good
He's a rebel 'cause he never ever does what he should"
But just because he doesn't do what everybody else does,
That's no reason why I can't give him all my love
He's always good to me,
Always treats me tenderly
'Cause he's not a rebel, no no no
He's not a rebel, no no no, to me

INSTRUMENTAL BRIDGE

If they don't like him that way,
They won't like me, I'm sure, today
And I'll be standing right by his side when they say:

"He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good
He's a rebel 'cause he never ever does what he should"
But just because he doesn't do what everybody else does,
That's no reason why we can't share love
He's always good to me
Good to him, I try to be
'Cause he's not a rebel, no no no
He's not a rebel, no no no, to me
Oh! (he's not a rebel, no no no)

He's not a rebel, no no no
(repeat and fade out)



Bilal Gümüş

See the way he walks down the street
Watch the way he shuffles his feet
My, he holds his head up high
When he goes walking by, he's my guy
When he holds my hand, I'm so proud
'Cause he's not just one of the crowd
My baby's always the one to try the things they've never done
And just because of that, they say
He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good
He's a rebel 'cause he never ever does what he should
But just because he doesn't do what everybody else does
That's no reason why I can't give him all my love
He's always good to me, always treats me tenderly
'Cause he's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no, to me
If they don't like him that way
They won't like me after today
I'll be standing right by his side when they say
He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good
He's a rebel 'cause he never ever does what he should
Just because he doesn't do what everybody else does
That's no reason why we can't share a love
He's always good to me, good to him, I try to be
'Cause he's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no, to me
Oh, he's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no



Rita Taddeucci Raffanti

LYRICS TO HE'S A REBEL
written by GENE PITNEY

See the way he walks down the street
 Watch the way he shuffles his feet
 My, he holds his head up high
 When he goes walking by, he's my guy
When he holds my hand, I'm so proud
 'Cause he's not just one of the crowd
 My baby's always the one to try the things they've never done
 And just because of that, they say
He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good
 He's a rebel 'cause he never ever does what he should
 But just because he doesn't do what everybody else does
 That's no reason why I can't give him all my love
He's always good to me, always treats me tenderly
 'Cause he's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
 He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no, to me
If they don't like him that way
 They won't like me after today
 I'll be standing right by his side when they say
He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good
 He's a rebel 'cause he never ever does what he should
 Just because he doesn't do what everybody else does
 That's no reason why we can't share a love
He's always good to me, good to him, I try to be
 'Cause he's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
 He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no, to me
Oh, he's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
 He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
 He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
 He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
 He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
 He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
 He's not a rebel, oh, no, no, no
 



All comments from YouTube:

Janine Luana

My dad used to sing this song to me saying she instead of he. I lost him a few years ago but his spirit feels alive when I hear this song.

Bob Vogel

To remember a loved one with a song is such a novel concept. Especially a parent who is no longer with you. Keep the memories alive. Peace for you always.

HarpoonDon

What a wonderful memory to have.

Elizabeth Kelly

Love that he left you with that beautiful gift as a reminder ❤

Gucciii Sosaaa

He prolly was 6VY

Joshua Ryan

Sounds like a really cool dude

26 More Replies...

Bill Cash

It just doesn't get any better than this!!! Darlene Love on vocals, Gene Pitney lyrics & Phil Spector's genius in the studio. Also a masterpiece is Lala Brooks on "Da Do Ron Ron". WOW. You did good Spector, you did good.

Brock White

Darlene Love is one of the most powerful and accomplished singers ever!

◇m x x r i◇

Plus, The Crystals were in New York and Phil was in LA. He liked recording at Goldstar better, and he didn't have time to get the real Crystals.

𝗝𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀

The lyrics [Gene Pitney - 'the Rockville Rocker' (from Rockville CT)] to this song were outstanding too... they didn't do anything to prevent the song from becoming a hit! ツ👍

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