Originally performed by The Gas Station Dogs' vocalist Barry Dworkin on The Best Show.
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists version released as the Chunklet Magazine issue 20 bonus 7" in 2008.
lyrics
RODDY’S DADDY DENNY
SAVED EVERY PENNY
TO BUY A GUITAR FOR ROD
THREE JOBS A DAY
HE TOOK ALL HIS PAY
& WENT DOWN TO DAWN’S PAWN SHOP
DAWN SAID “DENNY,
IF YOU BUY THIS GUITAR,
YOUR SON WILL BE A ROCK ‘N’ ROLL STAR”
RODDY TRIED HIS BEST,
HE COULDN’T PASS THE TEST
BUT HE KNEW THAT HE WOULD SOMEDAY
RODDY’S BABY BETTY,
SHE’S GOT A BABY,
THAT SHE HAD WITH ROD’S FRIEND ROG
SUCKIN’ ON A JELLY
DONUT AT THE DELI,
BETTY’S BABY CRIES FOR ROD
DENNY CALLED BETTY,
SAID, “BETTER GET READY
TO STAY AWAY FROM MY SON”
BETTY SAID, “DENNY,
ROG AND I ARE FINISHED
AND ROD IS MY #1”
BETTY’S DAD KENNY
TALKED TO BETTY’S MOM JENNY
AND SAID, “WHAT CAN WE DO?”
BETTY’S DADDY KENNY
HE CALLED BACK DENNY
AND SAID, “BETTY AND ROD ARE TRUE”
[pre-chorus]
BETTY TOO KNOWS THAT IT’S TRUE
THAT IT’S GONNA COME TRUE
THAT ROCK ‘N’ DREAMS’LL COME THROUGH
THAT IT WILL BE TRUE
THAT ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DREAMS’LL COME THROUGH
[chorus]
LISTEN EVERYBODY,
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DREAMS’LL COME THROUGH
THE MUSIC IS THE MASTER,
CAN’T YOU HEAR IT CALLING YOU?
THE ROCK WILL BATHE YOU,
THE ROLL COULD SAVE YOU,
IF YOU’RE ONE OF THE CHOSEN FEW
THEN THE DREAM COMES TRUE
THAT ROCK ‘N ROLL DREAMS’LL COME THROUGH
[re-intro]
RODDY’S BROTHER BUDDY,
HE’S GOT A BUDDY
WHO WORKS AT THE FIVE AND DIME
WHOSE UNCLE RON RUNS A RECORDING STUDIO
RODDY SHOWS UP
WITH A 6-STRING FRIEND
AND A HEADFUL OF TUNES
LAID DOWN SOME TRACKS
AND THE TAPE BURNED WITH ROCK ‘N’ ROLL FIRE
RON TOOK THE TAPE
TO RADIO ROB,
THE BIGGEST DEEJAY IN THE LAND
ROB TOLD RON THAT IT ROCKS,
RON TOLD ROB, “GET IN ON THE AIR!”
RECORD STORE BEN SAID,
“I’LL TAKE TEN,
NO, FIFTY-FIVE 45’s”
THE VERY NEXT DAY,
THE SONG HIT THE CHARTS,
STRAIGHT IN AT NUMBER ONE
IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK,
BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS
AND RODDY’S NOW A ROCK ‘N’ ROLL STAR
HE’LL BE THE FIRST ONE TO TELL YOU THAT
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DREAMS’LL COME THROUGH
[double chorus]
LISTEN EVERYBODY,
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DREAMS’LL COME THROUGH
THE MUSIC IS THE MASTER,
CAN’T YOU HEAR IT CALLING YOU?
THE ROCK WILL BATHE YOU,
THE ROLL COULD SAVE YOU,
IF YOU’RE ONE OF THE CHOSEN FEW
THEN THE DREAM COMES TRUE
THAT ROCK ‘N ROLL DREAMS’LL COME THROUGH
credits
from Nothing But The Best: The Very Best of Theme Weavers LLC,
released November 8, 2016
Barry Dworkin (Jon Wurster) - lead vocals, percussion, hand claps
Ward Abronski (Polkacide/Flipper) - baritone sax
Ajax, Anthony, and Alison - backing vox
Music and lyrics by Ted Leo, Jon Wurster, Tom Scharpling, Phil Morrison
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