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Rock And Roll Band Lyrics

Well, we were just another band out of Boston
On the road to try to make ends meet
Playin' all the bars, sleepin' in our cars
And we practiced right on out in the street
No, we didn't have much money
We barely made enough to survive
But when we got up on stage and got ready to play
People came alive.

Rock and roll band
Everybody's waitin'
Gettin' crazy
Anticipating love and music
Play, play, play, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Dancin' in the streets of Hyannis
We were getting pretty good at the game
People stood in line and didn't seem to mind
You know everybody knew our name
Livin' on rock-n-roll music
Never worry 'bout the things we were missing
When we got up on the stage and got ready to play
Everybody'd listen.

Rock and roll band
Everybody's waitin'
Gettin' crazy
Anticipating love and music
Play, play, play, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Playin' for a week in Rhode Island
A man came to the stage one night
He smoked a big cigar
Drove a Cadillac car
And said, "Boys, I think this bands outta-sight
Sign a record company contract
You know I've got great expectations
When I hear you on the car radio
You're goin' to be a sensation!"

Rock and roll band
Everybody's waitin'
Gettin' crazy
Anticipating love and music
Play, play, play, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
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Cover art for Rock And Roll Band lyrics by Boston

This has to be the best-rockin' tune Boston ever recorded! The song is not autobiographical, though, it's a fictional account of a band making it big. Boston was basically hatched by Tom Scholz and went, as far as I understand it, straight into recording rather than playing venues first.

I'm sorta mad I never got the words to the third verse right. I've always heard it as the man saying, "When I hear you all in Carnegie Hall," not "on the car radio." I kinda like the Carnegie Hall thing though because it makes the line rhyme. Oh well.

@law4 Interesting. I always heard it as "car radio"...

Cover art for Rock And Roll Band lyrics by Boston

It's well-known that this song is based on a story the band's original drummer, Jim Masdea, told to Tom Scholz. (The record company made Scholz replace Masdea with Sib Hashian.)

Tom Scholz played (mostly keyboards) with a few other bands, and tried to start one himself. However, the only time BOSTON played live prior to opening for Black Sabbath on tour was for a record-company showcase. That was done as a demand by Epic records, who wanted to make sure the band wasn't just a "mad genius" working alone in his basement (which it was).

Song Fact
Cover art for Rock And Roll Band lyrics by Boston

Love the Wurlitzer organ jazz break. Then it goes into an epic chord progression

Cover art for Rock And Roll Band lyrics by Boston

It more of an inspirational thing

Cover art for Rock And Roll Band lyrics by Boston

This is the actual story of how the band got started.

Not true, although it is something any band can relate to. The 1st album was almost all Tom Scholtz. He did jam with bands in the club scene in Boston durhng the 60's, but there wasn't a "Boston" yet. Did have some people that flowed in and out before the band that toured on the album.
He played everything on it except the drums, which he brought in someone (and not the one on the album cover) to do so. Most of that album was done on his home studio over the course of several years.

There was...

@ye-interpreter Less is more.

Cover art for Rock And Roll Band lyrics by Boston

well its a beleivable story... did anyone notice how they have two guitars playing at the same time and harmonizing! its so friggen awsome.

Cover art for Rock And Roll Band lyrics by Boston

With the guitar part, and the guitars harmonizing like in More Than A Feeling during the solo, and the movement of the lyrics and melody, this is a truly amazing song.

Cover art for Rock And Roll Band lyrics by Boston

Only 4 comments? How sad...this is my favorite Boston tune. The chorus gets stuck in my head so often, and I listen to it in the car a lot. Such a catchy song about Boston getting their start as a rock band.

Cover art for Rock And Roll Band lyrics by Boston

Another great song by Boston, I don't think it needs any explaining. It tells the story about getting their big break.

Cover art for Rock And Roll Band lyrics by Boston

I don't think this song is completely true. The first Boston album was written and recorded in Tom Scholz' basement by himself basically until Brad Delp was brought in to do the vocals. Up until they had the first album out I don't think they played anywhere other than that basement.

 
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