Well Nashville had country music but Memphis had
the soul Lord, the white boy had the rhythm and
that started rock and roll And I was here when it
happened don't you all think I ought to know I
was here when it happened, yeah, yeah, yeah I
watched Memphis give birth to rock and roll, Lord,
lord yeah.
Well the cat named Elvis Be-Bopped in to Sun right
off the street Sang "Blue Moon of Ole K-Y"
but he did it with a brand new beat Guess he
sought him a sleeping world and out there by
surprise Jack 'em up, you rang them out and
he' hung 'em out to dry I was there when it
happened, don't you all think I ought to know,
lord, lord Yeah I was here when it happened I
watched Memphis give birth to rock and roll
Here's kinda the way it happened
Well the drummer boy was the beatin' on the
drums a rockin' and a goin' wild The real city
slicker was clickin' and clackin' and doin'
it in a different style hit car strumming a beat
and a pumpin' and the lead man picking out the
blues hip-shaking singer was a swinging and a
swinging saying some style blue suede shoes and I
was here when it happened, Lord I think I ought to
know, yeah, yeah Folks I was here when it happened
I watched Memphis give birth to rock and roll What
you think about it little guitar c'mon son
Some folks called it the devil's music others said
it wouldn't last long 31 years since we started
shakin' proves somebody was wrong the 64's,
the Beatles and the four were rock and roll's best
friends The Beatles and The Stones brought the old
beat home And world went crazy again I was here
when it happened My friend I think I ought to
know, yeah , yeah Well I was there when it
happened I watched Memphis give birth to rock and
roll Lord yeah, c'mon
Lyrics: Birth of Rock and Roll, Roy Orbison [end]
the soul Lord, the white boy had the rhythm and
that started rock and roll And I was here when it
happened don't you all think I ought to know I
was here when it happened, yeah, yeah, yeah I
watched Memphis give birth to rock and roll, Lord,
lord yeah.
Well the cat named Elvis Be-Bopped in to Sun right
off the street Sang "Blue Moon of Ole K-Y"
but he did it with a brand new beat Guess he
sought him a sleeping world and out there by
surprise Jack 'em up, you rang them out and
he' hung 'em out to dry I was there when it
happened, don't you all think I ought to know,
lord, lord Yeah I was here when it happened I
watched Memphis give birth to rock and roll
Here's kinda the way it happened
Well the drummer boy was the beatin' on the
drums a rockin' and a goin' wild The real city
slicker was clickin' and clackin' and doin'
it in a different style hit car strumming a beat
and a pumpin' and the lead man picking out the
blues hip-shaking singer was a swinging and a
swinging saying some style blue suede shoes and I
was here when it happened, Lord I think I ought to
know, yeah, yeah Folks I was here when it happened
I watched Memphis give birth to rock and roll What
you think about it little guitar c'mon son
Some folks called it the devil's music others said
it wouldn't last long 31 years since we started
shakin' proves somebody was wrong the 64's,
the Beatles and the four were rock and roll's best
friends The Beatles and The Stones brought the old
beat home And world went crazy again I was here
when it happened My friend I think I ought to
know, yeah , yeah Well I was there when it
happened I watched Memphis give birth to rock and
roll Lord yeah, c'mon
Lyrics: Birth of Rock and Roll, Roy Orbison [end]