Rock and Roll
The Runaways Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Jenny said, when she was just five years old
There was nothin' happening at all
Every time she puts on the radio
There was nothin' goin' down at all, not at all
Then, one fine mornin', she puts on a New York station
You know, she couldn't believe what she heard at all
She started shakin' to that fine, fine music
You know, her life was saved by rock'n'roll

Despite all the imputations
You know, you could just go out
And dance to a rock'n'roll station
And it was all right, hey baby,
You know, it was all right

Jenny said, when she was just about five years old
`You know, my parents are gonna be the death of us all
Two TV sets and two Cadillac cars
Well, you know, ain't gonna help me at all

Then, one fine morning, she turns on a New York station
She doesn't believe what she hears at all
Ooh, she started dancin' to that fine, fine music
You know, her life was saved by rock'n'roll
Yeah, rock'n'roll

Despite all the computations
You could just dance to that rock'n'roll station
And baby, it was all right, yeah
Hey, it was all right
Hey, here she comes now

Jenny said, when she was just about five years old
'Hey, you know, there's nothin' happening at all, not at all
Every time I put on the radio
You know, there's nothin' goin' down at all, not at all
But, one fine morning, she hears a New York station
She couldn't believe what she heard at all, hey, not at all
She started dancing to that fine, fine music
You know, her life was saved by rock'n'roll
Yes, rock'n'roll

Despite all the computations
You know, you could just dance to the rock'n'roll station

All right
All right, all right, and it was all right
Oh, listen to me now, it was all right
Come on now, believe me, it was all right




it was all right
hey, it's all right now

Overall Meaning

The Runaways' song "Rock and Roll" is about the transformative power of music. The lyrics tell the story of Jenny, who becomes disillusioned with music because nothing exciting is happening on the radio. But then she discovers a New York station playing rock and roll, and it changes her life. She feels the music and starts dancing, and suddenly everything is "alright". The song celebrates the freedom and joy that rock and roll can bring.


The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "it's all right", emphasizing that rock and roll is a universal language that can bring people together and make everything okay. The verses describe Jenny's story and the contrast between her boring, materialistic life and the vitality she finds in music. The lyrics suggest that rock and roll is a way to escape from the mundane and find meaning and excitement in life.


Overall, "Rock and Roll" is a powerful celebration of the transformative power of music, and the joy and freedom it can bring to those who listen.


Line by Line Meaning

Jenny said, when she was just five years old
Jenny recalled her childhood, when she was only five years old


There was nothin' happening at all
She felt that nothing was going on in her life and in the world around her


Every time she puts on the radio
Jenny listened to the radio frequently


There was nothin' goin' down at all, not at all
She heard nothing that interested her when she listened to the radio


Then, one fine mornin', she puts on a New York station
Jenny discovered a New York station one morning


You know, she couldn't believe what she heard at all
She was astonished by what she heard on the New York station


She started shakin' to that fine, fine music
Jenny began to dance to the music on the New York station


You know, her life was saved by rock'n'roll
Rock and roll music gave Jenny a new sense of purpose and meaning in her life


Despite all the imputations
Despite being criticized or condemned by others


You know, you could just go out
Jenny realized that she could go out and enjoy herself despite criticism


And dance to a rock'n'roll station
She could dance to the music she loved on the radio


And it was all right, hey baby,
Despite what others might say, it was all right for her to enjoy herself


Jenny said, when she was just about five years old
Jenny was still reminiscing about her childhood


`You know, my parents are gonna be the death of us all
Jenny felt that her parents' extravagant lifestyle was detrimental to their well-being


Two TV sets and two Cadillac cars
Her parents had two TVs and two expensive cars


Well, you know, ain't gonna help me at all
Jenny did not believe that her parents' possessions would improve her own life


Then, one fine morning, she turns on a New York station
One day, Jenny discovered a New York radio station


She doesn't believe what she hears at all
Jenny was surprised by the music she heard on the New York station


Ooh, she started dancin' to that fine, fine music
The rock and roll music inspired her to dance


Despite all the computations
Despite what others might say or calculate


You could just dance to that rock'n'roll station
Jenny could still enjoy rock and roll music, regardless of what others thought


And baby, it was all right, yeah
In the end, it was all right for Jenny to enjoy the music she loved


Hey, here she comes now
Jenny is still dancing to the music


Come on now, believe me, it was all right
Jenny wants others to know that it was all right to enjoy rock and roll music


hey, it's all right now
Jenny still believes that it's all right to enjoy the music she loves




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lou Reed

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

johnny zell

(It's all right)
(It's all right)
(It's all right)
(It's all right)

All right!
Whoo!

Ginni said when she was five years old
You know there's nothing going down at all
She turned on that radio
And there was nothing happenin' at all
She turned on that LA station
Couldn't believe what she heard at all
She started dancing to that fine fine music
Her life was saved by rock and roll

Despite all the complications
You could just dance to that rock and roll station
And it was all right (it's all right)
It was all right (it's all right)
It was all right (it's all right)
Yeah, it was all right (it's all right)
You betcha
Whoo!

Ginni said when she was five years old
You know our parents will be the death of us all
Two TV sets and two Cadillac cars
Well they don't mean nothin' at all
She turned on that LA station
Couldn't believe what she heard at all
She started dancin' to that fine fine music
Her life was saved by rock and roll

Despite all the complications
You could just dance to that rock and roll station
And it was all right (it's all right)
Said it was all right (it's all right)
Said it was all right (it's all right)
It was all right, (it's all right)
All right!
Whoo!
Ow!

Despite all the complications
You could just dance to that rock and roll station
And it was all right (it's all right)
And it was all right (it's all right)
And it was all right (it's all right)
Yeah, it was all right, (it's all right)
Said it was all right!



All comments from YouTube:

João Gurgel

Sou fascinado pelas The Runaways 🤘❤️🇧🇷

Littletreasure✨

I started to listen to the runaways when I was 13, my life was saved by rock n roll

João Gurgel

I love The Runaways ❤️ Joan Jett always beautiful ❤️ Queens of Rock'n'Roll 🤘🇧🇷❤️

Basil McDaisy

I didn’t realize this was written by Lou Reed! This is a great cover

Phishphantom

Check out the "Jane's Addiction" version. Both are excellent covers.

Kohntarkosz

Yeah, it took a bunch of teenage GIRLS to make one of Lou's songs sound good! lol

Bruce Hams

It wasn't it was written by Chuck Berry...

Tilted4Fun

@Kohntarkosz excuse me? Have you heard the original? 😂 Sorry, this cover is good but the original is fucking bomb.

Kohntarkosz

@Tilted4Fun Yes, I've heard the original. I still prefer the Runaways version.

1 More Replies...

Tangerinedream

2018!!! At my house drinking beers fuck yeah this is still a tune. I don’t wanna grow old

More Comments

More Versions