All forms of music eventually go down the same road. It starts with a new idea and a new approach to the music – something previously unheard of that only a few (often young) people pay attention to. These “fans” create a subculture with the music in the centre. Generally, if not always, they are viewed as outsiders by the general public and the music is often blamed for “twisting the minds of the youths”.
As time progresses, this subculture becomes larger and consequently less “sub“. An audience at a punk-rock or heavy-metal concert today would not be viewed as a threat to society. As a matter of fact, young people would rather consider the music and its fans to be dull and outdated.
Keep this in mind when you read about today’s public enemies such as Marilyn Manson and the hip hop scene. Are they actually more dangerous than Elvis shaking his hips on The Ed Sullivan Show or is it the same thing in different times?
Before rock ’n’ roll was transformed to fit the general public, the music was truly independent and definitely something for the outsiders. The musicians in this subculture could deal with whatever issues they wanted without having directors from big record labels trying to mould the sounds for radio and TV.
This is why some of the rawest – and perhaps most interesting – rock songs hail from a time when the word rock’n’roll wasn’t even invented. With lyrics about drunkenness, sex, poker, dice and general gambling and other by some perceived as devilish activities. All this together with dirty guitar licks created a lethal combination that changed the history of music forever.
Just take a look at the two pre-historic rock’n’roll lyrics below, often sadly forgotten when discussing the birth of rock.
Drunken Hearted Man – Robert Johnson
I'm a drunken hearted man
my life seem so misery
I'm the drunken hearted man
my life seem so misery
And if I could change my way of livin'
it t'would mean so much to me
I been dogged and I been driven
eve' since I left my mother's home
I been dogged and I been driven
eve' since I left my mother's home
And I can't see no reason why
that I can't leave these no-goods womens alone
Me and the Devil Blues - Robert Johnson
My father died and left me
my poor mother done the best that she could
My father died and left me
my poor mother done the best she could
Every man likes that game you call love
but it don't mean no man no good
Now, I'm the drunken hearted man
and sin was the cause of it all
spoken: Oh, play 'em now
I'm a drunken hearted man
and sin was the cause of it all
And the day that you get weak for no-good women
that's the day that you bound to fall
Early this mornin'
when you knocked upon my door
Early this mornin', ooh
when you knocked upon my door
And I said, "Hello, Satan,"
I believe it's time to go."
Me and the Devil
was walkin' side by side
Me and the Devil, ooh
was walkin' side by side
And I'm goin' to beat my woman
until I get satisfied
She say you don't see why
that you will dog me 'round
spoken: Now, babe, you know you ain't doin' me
right, don'cha
She say you don't see why, ooh
that you will dog me 'round
It must-a be that old evil spirit
so deep down in the ground
You may bury my body
down by the highway side
spoken: Baby, I don't care where you bury my
body when I'm dead and gone
You may bury my body, ooh
down by the highway side
So my old evil spirit
can catch a Greyhound bus and ride