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Song: Rock And Roll
Album: Untitled [released Nov 8, 1971 (US) | Nov 12, 1971 (UK)]
Single: Rock And Roll/Four Sticks [Feb 21, 1972]
Credited to: Jimmy Page, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant
Related Songs:
Keep A Knockin' - Little Richard (music)
Keep A Knockin' - Fleetwood Mac (music)
Train Kept A Rollin' - The Yardbirds (music)


Lyrics:

It's been a long time since I rock-and-rolled
It's been a long time since I did the stroll
Ooh, let me get it back, let me get it back, let me get it back
Baby, where I come from
It's been a long time, been a long time, been a long, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time
Yes, it has

It's been a long time since the book of love
I can't count the tears of a life with no love
Carry me back, carry me back, carry me back
Baby, where I come from, whoa-whoa, whoa
It's been a long time, been a long time, been a long, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time
Ah, ah-ah, ah-ah

Oh, it seems so long since we walked in the moonlight
Makin' vows that just couldn't work right
Aw, yeah, open your arms, open your arms, open your arms
Baby, let my love come running in, yeah
It's been a long time, been a long time, been a long, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time

Yeah, hey, yeah, hey, yeah, hey, yeah, hey
Ooh, yeah, ooh-ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah, ooh-ooh, yeah
Been a long time, been a long time, been a long, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time


Influences: The story goes that John Bonham was having trouble nailing Four Sticks, so in his frustration he began playing the intro to the Little Richard song Keep A Knockin', which the band had likely recently heard performed live by Fleetwood Mac (as can be heard on the Live At The Boston Tea Party live album recorded in 1970). Jimmy Page added some licks to the groove and Rock And Roll was born. It has also been said that Jimmy's solo in this song is recycled from the solo he played in the Yardbirds' hit cover song Train Kept A Rollin'.