Disavowing the punk rock roots of many of their alt-rock contemporaries, they have a diverse, densely layered, and guitar-heavy sound, containing elements of gothic rock, heavy metal, dream pop, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, shoegazing, and, in later recordings, electronica. Corgan is the group's primary songwriter; his musical ambitions and cathartic lyrics have shaped the band's albums and songs, which have been described as "anguished, bruised reports from Billy Corgan's nightmare-land".
The Smashing Pumpkins broke into the musical mainstream with their second album, 1993's Siamese Dream. The group built its audience with extensive touring and their 1995 follow-up, the double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. 1998's Adore would just barely miss out, peaking at number two. With 30 million albums sold worldwide, the Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the 1990s. However, internal fighting, drug use, and diminishing record sales led to a 2000 break-up.
In 2006, Corgan and Chamberlin reconvened to record a new Smashing Pumpkins album, Zeitgeist. After touring throughout 2007 and 2008 with a lineup including new guitarist Jeff Schroeder, Chamberlin left the band in early 2009. Later that year, Corgan began a new recording series with a rotating lineup of musicians entitled Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, which encompassed the release of stand-alone singles, compilation EP releases, and two full albums that also fell under the project's scopeāOceania in 2012 and Monuments to an Elegy in 2014. Chamberlin and Iha officially rejoined the band in February 2018. The reunited lineup has released three albums so farāShiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. in November 2018, Cyr in November 2020, and ATUM in 2023.
Rock On
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rock on, ooh my soul
Hey kids, it's no use sleeping
Lost out, summertime blues
Jump up and die in your blue suede shoes
Hey kids, rock and roll
We're gonna rock on
Which is the way that's clear
Still looking for that blue jean baby queen
Prettiest girl I've ever seen
See her die on my movie screens every day
Rock on
Hey kids, rock and roll
Rock on, ooh my soul
Hey kids it's no use dreaming
Lost out and full of doubt
Shut up, cracked out
Hey kids, rock and roll
We're gonna rock on
Where do we go from here
Which is the way that's clear
Where do we go from here
Which is the way that's clear
Still lookin' for that blue jean baby queen
Prettiest girl I've never seen
See her die on my movie screen
Rock on
And the cradle will rock
Yes, the cradle, the cradle will rock
I said rock on
Rock on
Everybody wants some
I want some too
Everybody wants some
Hey, how about you
I said rock on
Rock on
Rock on
Hey kids, rock and roll
We're gonna rock on, rock on
To your song
Hey kids, rock and roll
We're gonna rock on
Rock on!
We're gonna rock on, rock on, rock on
The lyrics of the song "Rock On" by The Smashing Pumpkins is a call to let loose, be yourself, and rock on regardless of the world around you. The song starts with a direct address to the youth to enjoy rock and roll, adding the phrase "Rock on, ooh my soul," to emphasize the joy and soulful liberation that comes with turning up the music and losing yourself in its beat. The song speaks of the frustrations of life, its monotony, and lost opportunities, which the youth can relate to during the summer blues. Offering an escape, the song speaks to the deep desire that everyone has to break out, escape, and find something new.
The lyrics go on to represent a path of confusion and doubt, with the repetition of the question: "Where do we go from here? Which is the way that's clear?". The singer admits to still searching for that special someone, "the blue jean baby queen, the prettiest girl he's ever seen," which could only exist in fantasies played out on movie screens. Even if things are still unclear, the song insists to "rock on"; it is a plea to keep the spirit of rock and roll alive, as it can provide an escape, even in the darkest of moments.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey kids, rock and roll
Let's enjoy rock and roll music, kids.
Rock on, ooh my soul
Continue enjoying the rocking music, soulfully.
Hey kids, it's no use sleeping
Don't waste time sleeping, kids.
Lost out, summertime blues
Feeling lost and sad during summertime.
Jump up and die in your blue suede shoes
Be energetic and dance until you drop in your blue suede shoes.
We're gonna rock on
We are going to keep enjoying rock and roll.
Where do we go from here
What direction should we take now?
Which is the way that's clear
What path should we follow that is easiest to understand?
Still looking for that blue jean baby queen
I am still searching for my perfect girl in blue jeans.
Prettiest girl I've ever seen
She is the most beautiful girl I have seen.
See her die on my movie screens every day
I can only watch her die in movies every day.
Hey kids, rock and roll
Let's enjoy rock and roll music, kids.
Where do we go from here
What direction should we take now?
Which is the way that's clear
What path should we follow that is easiest to understand?
Still lookin' for that blue jean baby queen
I am still searching for my perfect girl in blue jeans.
Prettiest girl I've never seen
She is the prettiest girl I have never seen in reality.
And the cradle will rock
The beginning of an exciting era.
Yes, the cradle, the cradle will rock
Yes, this new era is really happening.
Everybody wants some
Everyone wants to be a part of this amazing music scene.
I want some too
I want to be a part of it too.
Hey, how about you
Do you want to join us too?
We're gonna rock on
We are going to keep enjoying rock and roll.
Hey kids, rock and roll
Let's enjoy rock and roll music, kids.
We're gonna rock on
We are going to keep enjoying rock and roll.
Rock on!
Keep on rocking!
To your song
Let's rock on to your music.
We're gonna rock on
We are going to keep enjoying rock and roll.
Rock on!
Keep on rocking!
We're gonna rock on, rock on, rock on
We are going to keep on rockin' and enjoying rock and roll.
Contributed by Micah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
The Microdance
One of the greatest cover versions ever. The majority of people don't understand that sometimes the ridiculous is beautiful and utterly necessary to art.
sticksman1979
This is some serious drumming. Jimmy, we salute you!
Rebecca Leopold
OMG. My mind is totally blown. Canāt go to work. Have to listen to this again and again and again.
Brannon Barr
This KICKS ASS! They really made this tune their own.
helixfire11
I love this song!!!
SuzAnne Walley
Cleansing my soul and mind and heart ā¤ IJKN. One of the best of Smashing Pumpkins!
wldtrky38
Smashing Pumpkins SMASHED this song ššRock On forever !
Yolanda Garcia
Rock on!
stiggyyyyy
This is the best cover they did imo. The space to hear everyone weave in and out with their own little flare is fantastic. Chamberlain is the severely underated backbone of the pumpkins.
Barry Douglas
He's hardly underrated.