Originated from a surf rock group called the Crossfires, the Turtles delved into many genres such as breezy pop, psychedelic music, and folk rock. A precursor to the bubblegum pop of the late 60s and early 70s as well as a foil to the more self-consciously hip and "serious" acts of the era, the Turtles produced at least a dozen memorable, radio-friendly chart singles. Yet they remain best known for 1967's "Happy Together", which was their only chart-topping single.
The Turtles wound down their career in 1970.
The two prominent singers - Howard Kaylan ("Eddie") and Mark Volman ("Flo" a.k.a. "Phlorescent Leech") - collaborated with Frank Zappa for a short but very intensive period of one and a half years (between 1970-72) and were the cornerstone of what was known to be the Zappa "Vaudeville" band; two of the most famous achievements of that period being the albums Fillmore East – June 1971 and 200 Motels, the soundtrack of the film by the same name.
The Story Of Rock and Roll
The Turtles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Took a left and headed on out
It was movin' along very slowly
'Cause it was travelin' by word of mouth
Made a short stop in New Orleans
Then it headed for the New York scene
and the people there, they dug on air
'Cause they found out just what it means, yeah to have...
(Chorus)
Rock and roll music, sweet groovy music
Well, it's the only kind of music
That reaches right to your soul
Here come a guitar-pickin' fella
And he took them by the hand
He said "Now, listen to me, everybody
I got a message that you gotta understand"
And then he took that brand-new music
And he let it cross the U.S. of A.
And now some folks laughed when they heard that sound
But it looks like it's here to stay, and they call it rock
(Repeat Chorus)
Rock and roll music
Rock and roll music
Rock and roll music
Talkin' 'bout rock and roll, I like rock and roll, yeah
Long live rock and roll, yeah, talkin' 'bout rock and roll
Rock and roll, sweet groovy music
(...and fade)
The Turtles' song "The Story Of Rock and Roll" is a tribute to the genre, telling a story of its evolution and success while celebrating its unique ability to resonate with listeners on a deep level. The opening lines reveal that rock and roll originated "way down south" and traveled slowly by word of mouth, making a pit stop in New Orleans before finally reaching New York City, where it truly found its stride. The song's chorus describes rock and roll as "sweet groovy music" that is the only kind of music capable of reaching "right to your soul."
As the song continues, it introduces the idea of a guitar-picking fella who takes the new music on a cross-country trip, introducing it to people all over the country. Some laughed at first, but eventually, it became clear that rock and roll was there to stay. The final verses celebrate the enduring popularity of rock and roll music and declare that "long live rock and roll."
Line by Line Meaning
Well, it started out way down south
The origin of rock and roll was in the Southern part of the United States
Took a left and headed on out
Then it spread towards the North and other parts of the country
It was movin' along very slowly
The growth of rock and roll was gradual and organic
'Cause it was travelin' by word of mouth
It spread mainly through oral tradition, from person to person
Made a short stop in New Orleans
Rock and roll was influenced by the music scene in New Orleans
Then it headed for the New York scene
Rock and roll eventually made its way to New York, which became a major center of the genre
and the people there, they dug on air
People in New York enjoyed listening to the new sound on the radio
'Cause they found out just what it means, yeah to have...
They understood the power and significance of rock and roll music
Rock and roll music, sweet groovy music
Rock and roll is a type of music that has a rhythmic and captivating quality
Well, it's the only kind of music
For some people, rock and roll is the only genre that truly speaks to them
That reaches right to your soul
Rock and roll has the ability to touch people on a deep emotional level
Here come a guitar-pickin' fella
A musician with a guitar arrived on the scene
And he took them by the hand
He led the way for others to follow and appreciate rock and roll
He said 'Now, listen to me, everybody
He tried to educate people about the new music genre and its importance
I got a message that you gotta understand'
He believed that rock and roll was not just about the music, but also about the message it conveyed
And then he took that brand-new music
He introduced the new style of music to a wider audience
And he let it cross the U.S. of A.
He helped to spread the music across the entire United States
And now some folks laughed when they heard that sound
Despite its growing popularity, some people still dismissed rock and roll as a passing fad
But it looks like it's here to stay, and they call it rock
However, it became clear that rock and roll was more than just a passing trend, and it established itself as a legitimate and enduring genre
Rock and roll music
Once again, the song references the genre of music it is about
Talkin' 'bout rock and roll, I like rock and roll, yeah
The singer expresses his appreciation for rock and roll and discusses it in the song
Long live rock and roll, yeah, talkin' 'bout rock and roll
The singer wishes for the continued existence and relevance of rock and roll, and discusses the topic further
Rock and roll, sweet groovy music
Once again, the song describes the genre of music and its qualities
(...and fade)
The song fades out, concluding its discussion of rock and roll music and its history.
Contributed by Bentley B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.