Hey Hey My My
young neils Lyrics

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Hey hey, my my
Rock and roll can never die
There's more to the picture
Than meets the eye
Hey hey, my my

Out of the blue and into the black
They give you this, but you pay for that

And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black

The king is gone but he's not forgotten (Johnny Rotten, Johnny Rotten)
Is this the story of Johnny Rotten? (Johnny Rotten, Johnny Rotten)
It's better to burn out than to fade away
The king is gone but he's not forgotten

Hey hey, my my
Rock and roll will never die
There's more to the picture

Than meets the eye
Hey hey, my my

Overall Meaning

Young Neil's song "Hey Hey, My My" is a tribute to the iconic genre of rock and roll. The opening lines serve as both an introduction and a proclamation that rock and roll will never die. The verse highlights how the music industry can be deceptive, offering you one thing while requiring another, and once you leave, you can never return. The narrative then turns to the metaphor of the king, symbolizing a rock and roll legend who has passed on, but still lives on in the hearts and minds of fans.

The chorus amplifies the declaration that rock and roll is immortal and gives a nod to the complexity of the genre. It suggests that you can't just take rock and roll at face value; there's always a deeper story at play. The song ends on a hopeful note, reminding us that although kings may leave us, the energy and passion of their music will remain with us forever.

The song's lyrics are inspired by two rock legends, Johnny Rotten of The Sex Pistols and Rusty Kershaw. The lyric "It's better to burn out than to fade away" was later quoted by Kurt Cobain in his suicide note. It is said that these lyrics were also an inspiration for his band Nirvana's song "Out of the Blue." Interestingly, the line that says, "Hey hey, my my, rock and roll can never die" was printed in the obituary for Elvis Presley, in the local Memphis newspaper, The Commercial Appeal. The song has been widely covered by various artists, including Oasis, Soundgarden, and Kurt Cobain. "Hey Hey, My My" was used in 2010 as a theme song for the series finale of "Friday Night Lights," a popular American television series.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey hey, my my
A greeting to the subject of the song, indicating that the message is about to begin

Rock and roll can never die
Regardless of its ups and downs, rock and roll will always exist in some form

There's more to the picture Than meets the eye
There are hidden complexities in the music industry that the average person doesn't see

Hey hey, my my
A repetition of the opening line to emphasize the message

Out of the blue and into the black
Abrupt changes can occur in life, both positive and negative

They give you this, but you pay for that
The industry can appear to offer opportunities, but there are always hidden costs

And once you're gone, you can't come back
When someone leaves the industry, it's difficult to return

When you're out of the blue and into the black
Reiteration of the opening couplet, emphasizing the sudden and dramatic changes in life

The king is gone but he's not forgotten (Johnny Rotten, Johnny Rotten)
Johnny Rotten and his influence are still relevant and powerful in the industry, even though he's no longer active

Is this the story of Johnny Rotten? (Johnny Rotten, Johnny Rotten)
Questioning whether Johnny Rotten's impact aligns with the message of the song

It's better to burn out than to fade away
It's preferable to have a short but intense music career than a long but unremarkable one

The king is gone but he's not forgotten
Reiteration of the idea that significant artists have lasting legacies

Hey hey, my my
Repetition of the chorus to bring the song full circle

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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