For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) – AC/DC

Lyrics: For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) by AC/DC

Oh, yeah, yeah

Yeah, oh

Oh, oh

We roll tonight

To the guitar bite

Yeah, yeah

Oh

Stand up and be counted

For what you are about to receive

We are the dealers

We'll give you everything you need

Hail-hail to the good times

'Cause rock has got the right of way

We ain't no legend, ain't no cause

We're just living for today

For those about to rock, we salute you

For those about to rock, we salute you

We rock at dawn, on the front line

Like a bolt right out of the blue

The sky's alight with the guitar bite

Heads will roll and rock tonight

For those about to rock, we salute you

For those about to rock, we salute you

For those about to rock, we salute you, yes, we do

For those about to rock, we salute you

Oh, salute

Oh, yeah

Oh, yes

Load up

We're just a battery for hire with a guitar fire

Ready and aimed at you

Pick up your balls and load up your cannon

For a twenty-one gun salute

For those about to rock— fire

(We salute you)

Oh, for those about to rock

(We salute you)

Oh, those about to rock— fire

(We salute you)

Oh— fire

We salute you

We salute you

Come on

Oh

For those about to rock, we salute you

For those about to rock, we salute you

For those about to rock, we salute you

For those about to rock, oh, we salute you

Shoot, shoot

Shoot, shoot

Oh, for those who give and those who take

Doing your time and those on the rank

We salute you, yeah

We salute you

We salute you

We salute you

Fire!

Anthem of Rock: Power, Unity, and Tribute

“For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)” is a powerful anthem that pays homage to both rock fans and performers. The lyrics rally listeners with images of battle and celebration, urging them to “stand up and be counted” and join in the electrifying energy of live music. AC/DC uses military metaphors—like “load up your cannon” and “twenty-one gun salute”—to honor those who dedicate themselves to the spirit of rock. The repeated salutation, “we salute you,” transforms the song into a unifying tribute, celebrating everyone who lives for the moment and the music. It’s a call to arms for rockers everywhere, blending raw energy with a sense of camaraderie.

Song Credits

  • Songwriters: Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson
  • Release Year: 1981
  • Label: Atlantic Records