ZZ Top formed after Gibbons' previous band, Moving Sidewalks, disbanded in 1969. Within a year, they signed with London Records and released ZZ Top's First Album in 1971. Subsequent releases, such as Tres Hombres (1973) and Fandango! (1975), and the singles "La Grange" and "Tush", gained extensive radio airplay. By the mid-1970s, ZZ Top had become renowned in North America for their live act, including the Worldwide Texas Tour (1976–1977), which was a critical and commercial success.
After a hiatus, ZZ Top returned in 1979 with a new musical direction and image, with Gibbons and Hill wearing sunglasses and matching chest-length beards. With the album El Loco (1981), they began to experiment with synthesizers and drum machines. They established a more mainstream sound and rose to international stardom with Eliminator (1983) and Afterburner (1985), which integrated influences from new wave, punk, and dance-rock. The popularity of these albums' music videos, including those for "Gimme All Your Lovin'", "Sharp Dressed Man", and "Legs", gave them mass exposure on television channel MTV and made them prominent artists in 1980s pop culture. The Afterburner tour set records for the highest-attended and highest-grossing concert tour of 1986.
After gaining additional acclaim with the release of their tenth album Recycler (1990), and its accompanying tour, the group's experimentation continued with mixed success on the albums Antenna (1994), Rhythmeen (1996), XXX (1999), and Mescalero (2003). They most recently released La Futura (2012) and Goin' 50 (2019), a compilation album commemorating the band's 50th anniversary. By the time of Hill's death in 2021, ZZ Top had become the longest-running band with an unchanged lineup in the history of popular music. Per Hill's wishes, he was replaced by their longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis on bass.
ZZ Top has released 15 studio albums and sold an estimated 50 million records worldwide. They have won three MTV Video Music Awards, and in 2004, the members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked Gibbons the 32nd greatest guitarist of all time. The band members have supported campaigns and charities including Childline, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and a fundraiser for the Delta Blues Museum.
Studio albums
ZZ Top's First Album (1971)
Rio Grande Mud (1972)
Tres Hombres (1973)
Fandango! (1975)
Tejas (1976)
Degüello (1979)
El Loco (1981)
Eliminator (1983)
Afterburner (1985)
Recycler (1990)
Antenna (1994)
Rhythmeen (1996)
XXX (1999)
Mescalero (2003)
La Futura (2012)
Rough Boy
ZZ Top Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain't got a chance of one in three
Ain't got no rap, ain't got no line
But if you'll give me just a minute I'll be feelin' fine
I am the one who can fade the heat
The one they all say just can't be beat
I'll shoot it to you straight and look you in the eye
I'm a rough boy, I'm a rough boy
I don't care how you look at me
Because I'm the one and you will see
We can make it work, we can make it by
So give me one more minute and I'll tell you why
I'm a rough boy, I'm a rough boy
The song "Rough Boy" by ZZ Top talks about a man who is confident in his abilities despite not having any particular talent or charm. The opening lines of the song suggest that something unusual has come over him, something that makes him feel better about his chances with life. He considers himself an underdog, not having a good chance of success in whatever he may do. The line "Ain't got no rap, ain't got no line" emphasizes the fact that he doesn't have the smooth talk or charm that others may have. However, despite his shortcomings, he requests the listener to give him a minute, claiming that he will be feeling fine.
The chorus of the song, "I'm a rough boy, I'm a rough boy," establishes the idea that he's tough and rough around the edges. He doesn't care about how others look at him because he knows what he is capable of. He claims to be the one who can withstand the heat and the one no one can beat. He's confident that he can shoot it straight and look you in the eye. The last lines of the chorus, "So give me one more minute, and I'll tell you why I'm a rough boy," show that he believes he has more to offer, and if he's given a chance, he can prove himself.
Line by Line Meaning
What in the world's come all over me?
Why am I feeling this way?
I ain't got a chance of one in three
I have a very low probability of success.
Ain't got no rap, ain't got no line
I don't have any clever words or tactics to impress you.
But if you'll give me just a minute I'll be feelin' fine
If you give me a chance to explain myself, I will be confident and comfortable.
I am the one who can fade the heat
I am able to handle difficult situations without breaking down.
The one they all say just can't be beat
I am often underestimated, but I am actually very capable.
I'll shoot it to you straight and look you in the eye
I will tell you the truth with honesty and confidence.
So gimme just a minute and I'll tell you why
Give me a chance to prove myself.
I'm a rough boy, I'm a rough boy
I may not be polished or refined, but I am a strong and capable man.
I don't care how you look at me
I am confident in who I am, regardless of others' opinions.
Because I'm the one and you will see
I know I have what it takes to succeed, and I will prove it to you.
We can make it work, we can make it by
We can overcome any challenge and succeed together.
So give me one more minute and I'll tell you why
I just need a little more time to explain myself and convince you of my capabilities.
I'm a rough boy, I'm a rough boy
I may not be perfect, but I am confident in my abilities and will succeed.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HellRazor228
My mother used to request this for my birthday on the radio. I lost her a few days ago. I'm gonna have this song playing at her and eventually, my funeral like the momma's boy I am. Love you mom, and I know we'll see each other one day.
@haydenhodges34
Extremely sorry for your loss. Prayers from me and mine!
@spaceflight1019
I feel your pain...my parents died long ago but I miss them every day and look forward to being a family again.
@deedeelarson8149
Prayers
@ronaldchappell3046
Not a typical Top Song But We All Know We're We Came From.
@jonathanmillican8836
I'm sorry for your lost brother. Life's full of soft n hard lessons. I don't know if you seek God or not, I did and I'm no poster child for Christianity, but what I can tell you is the journey was worth it and today I celebrate there passing because I know exactly where they are and where I'm going. All you have to do is believe and do your best everyday and repent. Colossians 2 and 15 I believe or a few paragraphs of there. I live by the Cross and the blood of the lamb Jesus Christ who died for our sins etc.
@Perktube1
Good for a night drive.
@jeffbenjamin9862
One of my favorite ZZ Top songs. Guitar is just brilliant!
@thatguywiththemitsu9696
metoo
@mojalefataunyana2988
Mojalefa Taunyana
Classic indeed, of all time...especially the talent of the guitarist...