Lyrics: Let There Be Rock by AC/DC
In the beginning Back in nineteen-fifty-five Man didn't know about a rock 'n' roll show An' all that jive The white man had the schmaltz The black man had the blues No one knew what they was gonna do But Tchaikovsky had the news He said, "Let there be sound" There was sound "Let there be light" There was light "Let there be drums" There was drums "Let there be guitar" There was guitar Oh, let there be rock And it came to pass That rock 'n' roll was born And all across the land, every rockin' band Was blowing up a storm And the guitar man got famous The businessmen got rich And in every bar, there was a superstar With a seven year itch There were fifteen-million fingers Learning how to play And you could hear the fingers pickin' And this is what they had to say: "Let there be light Sound Drums Guitar" Oh, let there be rock One night, in the club called "The Shaking Hand" There was a 42 decibel rockin' band And the music was good, and the music was loud And the singer turned and he said to the crowd: "Let there be rock"
Exploring the Lyrics of “Let There Be Rock”
A Rock ‘n’ Roll Origin Story
“Let There Be Rock” takes listeners on a high-voltage journey through the birth and explosive rise of rock and roll. AC/DC cleverly weaves a tongue-in-cheek biblical narrative, portraying the genre’s creation as a moment of divine intervention. The song highlights the fusion of musical influences—blues and schmaltz—culminating in an electrifying new sound. With vivid imagery of bands, fame, and the irresistible urge to play, the lyrics capture the unstoppable energy and rebellious spirit that define rock music. The repeated call, “Let there be rock,” is both a celebration and a rallying cry for generations of fans and musicians.
Song Credits
- Songwriters: Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott
- Release Year: 1977
- Label: Atlantic Records