#-----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE------------------------------#
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#----------------------------------------------------------------------------#
IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N' ROLL
by The Rolling Stones
(M. Jagger, K. Richards)
(c) 1974
------
INTRO:
------
E
E|------------------------------------------------|
B|-10/12~--10/12-10-9----------9------------------|
G|-11/13~--11/13-11-9--9----9--11(13)11p9------9~-|
D|---------------------9h11---------------9h11----|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|
-----------
VERSE RIFF:
-----------
E|-0-----0----0--0-----0--|
B|-0-----0----0--0-----0--|
G|---0h1-----------0h1----|
D|------------------------|
A|------------------------|
E|------------------------|
E
If I could stick my pen in my heart
I would spill it all over the stage
Would it satisfy ya, would it slide on by ya,
Would you think the boy is strange?
A G E
Ain't he strange?
E
If I could win ya, If I could sing ya
a love song so divine
would it be enough for your cheating heart
if I broke down and cried?
A G E
If I cried?
--------------------------
CHORUS (Chuck Berry) RIFF:
--------------------------
E|-------12---------12------------------------|
B|-12----12---12----12---12-------------------|
G|-14(16)-----14(16)-----14(16)-14--12(14)----|
D|-----------------------------------------14-|
A|--------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|
A E
I said I know... it's only rock and roll, but I like it
A
I know... it's only rock and roll,
E D A E
but I like it, like it, yes I do
A
Oh well I like it
E
I like it
A
I like it
D A
I said can't you see
D A E
that this old boy has been a-lonely
------
VERSE:
------
E
If I could stick a knife in my heart
Suicide right on the stage
Would it be enough for your teenage lust
Would it help to ease the pain?
A G E
Ease your brain?
E
If I could dig down deep in my heart
Feelings would flood on the page
Would it satisfy ya, would it slide on by ya,
Would you think the boy's insane?
A G E
He's insane
[PLAY CHORUS]
-------
BRIDGE:
-------
B
E|--------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------|
G|-------9-11(12)-(13)-(13)-(13)-(13)-(13)11~-|
D|--9h11--------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|
|------11------11-------9-|
|-------------------------|
|-9/11----9/11----119~---|
|-------------------------|
|-------------------------|
|-------------------------|
A
|----------------------------------------|
|-12-----12--12-----12-------------------|
|-14(16)-----14(16)----------------------|
|----------------------14(16)-12(13)-----|
|------------------------------------14~-|
|----------------------------------------|
|------11------11-------9-|
|-------------------------|
|-9/11----9/11----119~---|
|-------------------------|
|-------------------------|
|-------------------------|
B A
And do ya think that you're the only girl around?
B A
I bet you think that you're the only woman in town.
----
SOLO (very choppy and aggressive):
----
2x
||-------------------------------------||
||-12------12-----12------12-----------||
||-14(16)--14(16)-14(16)-(16)14-12-----||
||---------------------------------14--||
||-------------------------------------||
||-------------------------------------||
|-------12-12-------12-12---------------12-|
|-12----12-12-12----12-12-15------------12-|
|-14(16)------14(16)------14(16)14-12h13---|
|------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------|
|-----------12---------12-12---------12---------12---------12-|
|-12--------12--12-----12-12--12-----12--12-----12-12-12---12-|
|-14(16)--------14(16)--------14(16)-----14(16)----14(16)-----|
|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|--------12---------12-------------------------------|
|-12-12--12--12-12--12---15------15------------9-----|
|-14(16)-----14(16)-----(16)14--(16)14------9-11(13)-|
|---------------------------------------9h11---------|
|----------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------|
[PLAY CHORUS]
----------------------------
"I like it" Acoustic A riff:
----------------------------
A E
|--0-x-x---0---0--0---0----0-|
|--2-x-x---2---5--3---2----0-|
|--2-x-x---2---6--4---2----1-|
|--2-x-x---2---------------2-|
|--0-x-x---0---------------2-|
|--------------------------0-|
---------------------------
Accompanying electric lick:
---------------------------
|------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------|
|-14(16)-14(16)-14(16)14--12(13)-----|
|--------------------------------14~-|
|------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------|
-----------
OUTRO RIFF:
-----------
----------------------------------------|
-12-----12--------12--------------------|
-14(16)-14(16)----14(16)~-14-12(13)-----|
------------------------------------14~-|
----------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------|
"It's only Rock 'n' Roll but I like it...It's Only Rock 'n' Roll..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
------
NOTES:
------
1. Bending
Strike the note and bend up 1/2 step (one fret).
----------5(6)--------------
whole step bend (two frets)
---------5(7)---------------
2. Bend & Release
Strike the note and bend up 1/2 (or whole) step, then release the
bend back to the original note. All three notes are tied, only
the first note is struck.
---------5(7)5--------------
3. Pre-Bend
Strike note in bent 1/2 (or whole) step, then release.
---------(7)5---------------
4. Unison Bend
Strike the two note simultaneously and bend the lower note to the pitch of the higher.
--------5(7)----------------|
--------5(7)----------------|
5. Vibrato
Vibrate the note by rapidly bending and releasing the string
with a left-hand finger.
-------10~~-----------------
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Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
|
No Picture
albert Rhythm Player |
#1 by albert casualtie at Apr 13, 1970 at 5:17 AM EST |
| This song was actually Ronnie Wood's, him and Mick Jagger cut the original track with David Bowie. There was another track, Mick had, '(cant remember the name of it), and Mick said "Ronnie, I'll keep It's Only Rock and Roll, you keep the other", and Ronnie agreed. Even more interesting, when Keith heard it and found out Ronnie did all of the guitar, he made sure all of his guitar parts were erased. Keith then re-did them. This was the first contribution to The Rolling Stones Ronnie Wood made, although it was credited for Jagger/Richards | |
|
No Picture
ALEX Lead Player |
#2 by ALEX FOWLER at Aug 12, 1970 at 3:54 PM EST |
| sex sport | |
|
No Picture
A.K.A. Steven Average |
#3 by A.K.A. Steven Stelacio at Jul 9, 1973 at 5:37 PM EST |
| This is the single best post-Exile on Main St Stones song. Hand of Fate is a close second. I read that Keith Richards didn't play on this song but it sure sounds exactly like him. | |
|
No Picture
Ziggy Professional |
#4 by Ziggy at Apr 1, 1974 at 5:10 AM EST |
| Brilliant, indeed. I like BM's interpretation. It's not far off but I did read that this was Mick's response to that bitch Bianca telling him he should be something a little less sleazy than a rock star. She fancied herself more sophisticated and intelligent than him. Oh, if she only knew how her naivete showed with those thoughts. | |
|
No Picture
Steil Wanna Be |
#5 by Steil Lionhart at May 8, 1974 at 12:25 PM EST |
| The sunlight bores the daylights outa me! Jagger Richards on being the worlds most over-stimulated rockstars. Richards strung out on heroin (loss of sexual apetites) in his french villa. | |
|
No Picture
skater-boy Rhythm Player |
#6 by skater-boy at Oct 18, 1976 at 12:53 AM EST |
| If i remember correctly he actually co-wrote it with Mick but was left out of the credits cause they wanted it to be Jagger/Richard... anyway i guess they all liked it ;] | |
|
No Picture
Gunther Wanna Be |
#7 by Gunther at Feb 24, 1978 at 8:06 AM EST |
| man I wonder how many times jagger has gotten laid in his life? I definately am envious of his past love life actually come to think of it im envious of anyone that gets laid mainly because I of course being the loser i am have never gotten laid. but thats besides the point my real intents for this post were to say that this song is just grand in its own unique way! | |
|
No Picture
Joe Average |
#8 by Joe Fitzpatrick at May 9, 1981 at 5:10 PM EST |
| Oh yes, sorry, the meaning? Keith claimed it was that the band was sick of hearing how all the fans would mumble "Oh, this wasnt as good as their last album", this and that, so they wrote the song. Makes sense when yoiu think of it taht way. | |
|
No Picture
a Average |
#9 by a a at Nov 7, 1987 at 11:58 AM EST |
| I agree---mature thinking on your part. I think you're right but I doubt Jagger put that much thought into it. | |
|
No Picture
Chuck Average |
#10 by Chuck Norris at Nov 16, 1990 at 1:20 AM EST |
| I think that song is about having fun, and enjoying your life. Don't take it all to seriously. "Would it satisfy ya, would it slide on by ya" Y'know, its only rock 'n' roll.. :D BRILLIANT lyrics btw | |
|
No Picture
sebastian Professional |
#11 by sebastian at Dec 9, 1992 at 9:41 PM EST |
| Corrected. Next time post corrections in the Report thread in the forums. | |
|
No Picture
David Rhythm Player |
#12 by David Bradley at Jun 28, 1993 at 7:30 PM EST |
| I can't say I know what this means, but I don't really think it was about gay sex experiences, that has never crossed my mind. I don't see the reference, if there is one, either. | |
|
No Picture
|
#13 by at Oct 9, 1996 at 10:28 AM EST |
| This is yet another song about Mick's gay sex experiences. Confused yet romantic and as it's Mick, always enthusiastic! Feel so hypnotized, can't describe the scene. Feel so mesmerized all that inside me. | |
|
No Picture
zoe Wanna Be |
#14 by zoe cherrie at Oct 11, 1996 at 3:41 PM EST |
| few errors in lyrics: Oh yeah! I hear you talking when I'm on the street, Your mouth don't move but I can hear you speak. What's the matter with the boy? He don't come around no more, Is he checking out for sure? Is he gonna close the door on me? I'm always hearing voices on the street, I want to shout, but I can't hardly speak. I was making love last night To a dancer friend of mine. I can't seem to stay in step, 'Cause she come ev'ry time that she pirouettes over me. And I only get my rocks off while I'm dreaming, I only get my rocks off while I'm sleeping. I'm zipping through the days at lightning speed. Plug in, flush out and fire the fuckin' feed. Heading for the overload, Splattered on the dirty road, Kick me like you've kicked before, I can't even feel the pain no more. But I only get my rocks off while I'm dreaming, (only get them off) I only get my rocks off while I'm sleeping. Feel so hypnotized, can't describe the scene. Its all mesmerized all that inside me. The sunshine bores the daylights out of me. Chasing shadows moonlight mystery. Headed for the overload, Splattered on the dirty road, Kick me like you've kicked before, I can't even feel the pain no more. But I only get my rocks off while I'm dreaming (only get them off, get them off), I only get my rocks off while I'm sleeping (only get them off, get them off). | |
|
No Picture
Conar Wanna Be |
#15 by Conar Gillard at Jul 8, 1997 at 10:26 PM EST |
| fuck yeah! again i love those horns | |
|
No Picture
Rene Average |
#16 by Rene Salojärvi at Sep 10, 1999 at 12:06 AM EST |
| It seems like the song's chorus is a double entendre- the only time he has to gratify himself is when he stops to take a break, and the only time he does that is when he sleeps (get his rocks off, which would mean shooting his load, but in the larger context of the song also represents gratification) | |
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