Well when I first got to Memphis...
I was knocked out by those friendly people
They all said "howdy, howdy, come on in
we don't know the meaning of the word outsider"

I said "people, you gonna play this kinda music
well there's something I would surely like to know
When I was a boy I heard this wild kinda music
and I think they called it, oh, rock and roll
Can you tell me what you know about rock and roll?"

They said "son, it's just a feeling, way down in your soul"
Just a simple story with this wild rock and roll
Yeah, well all the boys in Louisiana called it rock and roll
But I'll tell you a secret, it drives the women crazy
And that's all you need to know about rock and roll

Well you could not imagine the shape my head was in
I took me a walk down by the Mississippi
When I heard this rockin' out of the harbour inn
I couldn't resist, I had me a drink, then I had me a listen

I said "people, you gonna play this kinda music
There's something that I'd really like to know
When I was a boy I heard this wild kinda music
and I think they called it, rock and roll
Can you tell me what you know about rock and roll?"

They said "son, it's just a feeling, way down in your soul"
Just a simple story with this wild rock and roll
Yeah, well all the boys in Louisiana called it rock and roll
But I'll tell you a secret, it drives the women crazy
And that's all you need to know about rock and roll


• Roy Orbison bio
• Roy Orbison discography