Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley & His Comets

Introduction

“Rock Around the Clock,” belted out by Bill Haley & His Comets in 1954, wasn’t just a catchy tune – it was a cultural earthquake. While rock and roll had been brewing for years, this song, with its pulsating rhythm and rebellious lyrics, blasted through the door, forever changing the musical landscape.

Born in the pens of Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers, the song initially languished in obscurity. But when Bill Haley & His Comets, known for their energetic stage presence, laid their hands on it, magic happened. Haley’s charismatic vocals, the band’s tight saxophone riffs, and that iconic opening piano intro ignited a firestorm.

The song’s impact was seismic. Radio stations, initially hesitant, couldn’t ignore the public’s insatiable demand. Teenagers, the song’s natural audience, embraced its defiant spirit. “Rock Around the Clock” became an anthem, a rallying cry for a generation yearning for something new, for something loud and alive.

It wasn’t just a hit – it was a watershed moment. In 1955, the song became the first rock and roll song to top the Billboard charts. It then smashed international barriers, becoming the first to hit number one in the UK. More importantly, it broke down racial barriers, bringing the sounds of Black musicians to a wider, predominantly white audience.

“Rock Around the Clock” wasn’t just a song; it was a cultural revolution. It paved the way for Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and countless others. It gave birth to a rebellious youth culture, forever shaking up the establishment. It’s a musical time capsule, capturing the raw energy and unbridled spirit of a new era. So, when you hear those opening chords, remember – you’re not just listening to a song, you’re witnessing history.

Video

Lyrics

One, two, tree o’clock, four o’clock rock
Five, six, seven o’clock, eight o’clock rock
Nine, ten, eleven o’clock, twelve o’clock rock
We’re gonna rock around the clock tonight

Put your glad rags on, join me, hon
We’ll have some fun while the clock strikes one
We’re gonna rock around the clock tonight
We’re gonna rock, rock, rock ’till broad daylight
We’re gonna rock, gonna rock around the clock tonight

When the clock strikes two or tree and four
If the band slows down we’ll yell for more
We’re gonna rock around the clock tonight
We’re gonna rock, rock, rock ’till broad daylight
We’re gonna rock gonna rock around the clock tonight

When the chimes ring five, six and seven
We’ll be right in seventh heaven
We’re gonna rock around the clock tonight
We’re gonna rock, rock, rock, ’till broad daylight
We’re gonna rock, gonna rock, around the clock tonight

When it’s eight, nine, ten, eleven too
I’ll be goin’ strong and so will you
We’re gonna rock around the clock tonight
We’re gonna rock, rock, rock, ’till broad daylight
We’re gonna rock, gonna rock, around the clock tonight

When the clock strikes twelve, we’ll cool off then
Start a rockin’ round the clock again
We’re gonna rock around the clock tonight
We’re gonna rock, rock, rock, ’till broad daylight
We’re gonna rock, gonna rock, around the clock tonight