Song

Rock Around The Clock

Bill Haley and His Comets

Album:

Rock Around The Clock

Song Meaning of Rock Around The Clock by Bill Haley

The origin of "Rock Around the Clock" is disputed. The song was credited to Max Freedman and Jimmy DeKnight (the pseudonym of music publisher James Myers) when it was copyrighted on March 31, 1952, but it is not known for certain who wrote the lyrics. Freedman was a well-established music industry figure by that time, having worked as a radio singer and songwriter in the 40s, and Meyers was an experienced composer who had written songs for other performers, including Myers's former band, Sonny Dae and His Knights.

When Bill Haley and the comets recorded their version of the song for the Essex label in late 1952, lead guitarist Danny Cedrone did not have much time to work up a new solo for the instrumental break. He used one he had already recorded for the group two years earlier, on a different song. That solo would become legendary and is now recognized as one of the most influential guitar solos in history.

The release of the song coincided with a cultural revolution, as young people rebelled against established norms and demanded change. Rock 'n' roll was seen as a vehicle for this change, bringing people together across racial and cultural lines through a common love of music. As a result, "Rock Around the Clock" and other songs like it helped to usher in the modern world we live in today.

Rock Around The Clock is a song about a man and woman having fun dancing together until the wee hours of the morning.

Rock Around The Clock lyrics by Bill Haley

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