AC/DC – Let There Be Rock. Lyrics & Meaning
AC/DC – Let There Be Rock : The Genesis of a Revolution
Ever had that one moment? You know the one. You’re minding your own business, and then a song comes on that feels less like music and more like a bolt of lightning. The air crackles, the beat thumps in your chest, and for three glorious minutes, nothing else matters. It’s a primal, powerful feeling that can turn a bad day into a great one with just a single power chord.
That raw, unfiltered jolt of energy is the very essence AC/DC captured and unleashed in their biblical-level anthem, Let There Be Rock. This track isn’t just another song in their legendary catalog; it’s a full-blown creation story, a loud and proud gospel celebrating the birth of the music that changed the world. So, grab your air guitar, because we’re about to dive into the epic tale of how rock ‘n’ roll came to be, according to its most dedicated disciples.
The Gospel According to AC/DC: Unpacking “Let There Be Rock”
The song kicks off by painting a picture of a world that feels almost black and white, a time before the color and chaos of rock ‘n’ roll existed. It’s a history lesson, but way cooler than any you got in school.
In the beginning
Back in nineteen-fifty-five
- AC/DC – Thunderstruck : The Electrifying Shock of Pure, Unfiltered Life
- AC/DC – You Shook Me All Night Long [OST “Who Made Who”] : A Salute to an Unforgettable Night
- AC/DC – Thunderstruck : It’s All About That Overwhelming Adrenaline Rush
- AC/DC – T.N.T. : The Explosive Anthem of a Rock and Roll Outlaw
- AC/DC – Who Made Who [from “Who Made Who”] : The Ultimate Question of Control in the Digital Age
- AC/DC – For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) [from “Who Made Who” soundtrack] : An Anthem For The Ages
- AC/DC – Ride On [from “Who Made Who”] : Finding Hope on a Lonely Highway
- AC/DC – Shoot To Thrill : An Anthem for Living Dangerously
- AC/DC – If You Want Blood (You Got It) : The Brutal Price of Rock and Roll Glory
- AC/DC – Let There Be Rock : The Genesis of a Revolution
Man didn’t know about a rock ‘n’ roll show
An’ all that jive
Bon Scott, with his signature snarl, sets the stage in 1955. It’s a world divided. You had one side of the musical spectrum, and then you had the other. As the lyrics put it:
The white man had the schmaltz
The black man had the blues
No one knew what they was gonna do
But Tchaikovsky had the news
Here, “schmaltz” refers to that overly sentimental, sappy pop music of the era, while the “blues” was the raw, emotional heart-music that would become a cornerstone of rock. The world was simmering with these separate ingredients, just waiting for someone to mix them together. And the mention of Tchaikovsky? It’s a classic bit of AC/DC humor, a wink to the audience suggesting that even a classical composer from a century before could see the storm that was brewing.
The Divine Commandment
This is where the song truly becomes a creation myth. It mimics the language of Genesis, but instead of creating the heavens and the earth, this deity is building the ultimate rock concert. It’s simple, direct, and incredibly powerful. You can just imagine a giant, cosmic hand pointing down from the heavens and demanding it into existence.
He said, “Let there be sound”
There was sound
“Let there be light”
There was light
“Let there be drums”
There was drums
“Let there be guitar”
There was guitar
Oh, let there be rock
First comes the sound, the very medium of music. Then the light, for the stage show, the spectacle. Then the foundation: the thunder of the drums and the electrifying wail of the guitar. Together, they form the holy quartet of a rock show. And with that final, resounding command, rock is born.
And It Was Good: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Explosion
Once created, this new force couldn’t be contained. The second verse describes how rock ‘n’ roll spread like wildfire, a cultural phenomenon that took over everything. It wasn’t a quiet arrival; it was a storm.
And it came to pass
That rock ‘n’ roll was born
And all across the land, every rockin’ band
Was blowing up a storm
This new world had new heroes and new dynamics. The quiet guitarist in the corner became a god, and the business side of things quickly followed. It became an industry, a dream, a lifestyle. The line about the “seven year itch” is a clever nod to the fleeting nature of fame and the constant desire for something new and exciting that rock music always seemed to provide.
But my favorite part is the imagery of its impact on the masses. It wasn’t just for the superstars; it was for everyone.
There were fifteen-million fingers
Learning how to play
And you could hear the fingers pickin’
And this is what they had to say:
This is so visual! You can just picture kids in their bedrooms all over the world, hunched over cheap guitars, painstakingly trying to copy their heroes. Rock ‘n’ roll wasn’t just something to listen to; it was something to do. It gave millions of people a voice and a way to express themselves.
The Sermon on the Stage
After telling this grand, sweeping story of rock’s creation and its global takeover, the song brings it all back down to its most essential, purest form: a live show. The final verse transports us to a sweaty, packed club called “The Shaking Hand.”
One night, in the club called “The Shaking Hand”
There was a 42 decibel rockin’ band
And the music was good, and the music was loud
And the singer turned and he said to the crowd:
“Let there be rock”
This is the perfect ending. The creation myth becomes a reality right there on that stage. The singer (a stand-in for Bon Scott himself) isn’t just singing a song; he’s delivering a sermon, renewing the covenant of rock with his congregation. The music is good, the music is LOUD, and the message is the same as it was in the beginning. It’s a cycle, constantly being reborn every night in clubs and arenas around the world.
So, what’s the big takeaway here? The message of this song is a powerful and positive one. It’s about the unifying force of music. Before rock, things were separated—schmaltz over here, blues over there. Rock and roll smashed those barriers together to create something new, energetic, and for everyone. It’s a celebration of raw passion, creative energy, and the simple, undeniable joy of a loud guitar and a heavy beat.
At its core, Let There Be Rock is a tribute to the power of music to create a universe of its own, a world of light, sound, and pure, unadulterated fun. But that’s just my interpretation of this rock and roll scripture. What do you feel when Angus Young’s riff kicks in? Does it tell you a different story? I’d love to hear your take on it!
