Rock of Ages by Def Leppard Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Timeless Anthem of Resilience and Rock

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Def Leppard's Rock of Ages at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

Gunter gleiben glauchen globen
All right
I got somethin’ to say
Yeah, it’s better to burn out
Yeah, than fade away
All right
Ow gonna start a fire
Come on

Rise up gather round
Rock this place to the ground
Burn it up, let’s go for broke
Watch the night go up in smoke
Rock on Rock on
Drive me crazier, no serenade
No fire brigade, just pyromania, come on

What do you want, what do you want?
I want rock ‘n’ roll, yes I do
Long live rock ‘n’ roll
Oh let’s go, let’s strike a light
We’re gonna blow like dynamite
I don’t care if it takes all night
I gonna set this town alight, come on

What do you want, what do you want?
I want rock ‘n’ roll, alright
Long live rock ‘n’ roll

Rock of ages, rock of ages
Still rollin’, keep a-rollin’
Rock of ages, rock of ages
Still rollin’, rock’n’rollin’
We got the power, got the glory
Just say you need it and if you need it
Say yeah
Heh heh heh heh
Now listen to me

I’m burnin’, burnin’, I got the fever
I know for sure, there ain’t no cure
So feel it, don’t fight it, go with the flow
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme one more for the road

What do you want?
What do you want?
I want rock ‘n’ roll, You betcha
Long live rock ‘n’ roll

Rock of ages, rock of ages
Still rollin’, keep a-rollin’
Rock of ages, rock of ages
Still rollin’, rock’n’rollin’
We got the power, got the glory
Just say you need it and if you need it
Say yeah
Say yeah
We’re gonna burn this damn place down
Down to the ground

Def Leppard’s ‘Rock of Ages’ is more than just a fist-pumping anthem from the 1980s’ glittering pantheon of rock. It’s a multi-layered ode to the timelessness and unwavering spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. Released on their 1983 album ‘Pyromania’, the track has stood the test of time, echoing the resilience of the genre and compelling fans to decipher its deeper significance.

With a cryptic Germanic chant ushering in its infectious melody, ‘Rock of Ages’ beckons listeners with a mysterious allure. The song’s seemingly straightforward celebration of rock music veils nuanced references to culture, philosophy, and the human condition. Beyond the surface lies a treasure trove of metaphor and allusion that beckons a closer listen.

An Overture of Gibberish: The Curious Case of ‘Gunter Glieben Glauchen Globen’

The four German-sounding words that open ‘Rock of Ages’ contribute nothing to the song’s meaning, yet they invite intrigue and conversation. They’re a nonsensical incantation, a ritualistic chant that makes the song instantly recognizable. And in the realm of rock, perhaps that’s the point—not all that glitters needs to be gold; sometimes, it simply needs to rock.

These words serve as a rallying cry, a preparation for the raw energy that follows. It bonds the listener to the song through its peculiarity, ensuring that ‘Rock of Ages’ is not easily forgotten. It’s more incantation than nonsense; it’s the spell that conjures the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.

The Philosophical Echo in an Age of Rock: Understanding Mortality

One might think ‘Rock of Ages’ talks only of music and mayhem, but Def Leppard taps into something more primal with the lines ‘Yeah, it’s better to burn out / Yeah, than fade away.’ These words recall Neil Young’s poetic ruminations on mortality. Def Leppard, using a phrase synonymous with passionate living, hints at an existential choice—live vibrantly or languish quietly into oblivion.

The song’s title itself—’Rock of Ages’—plays with the duality of rock as a genre and the concept of enduring through time, like a ‘rock’ weathering all storms. The band masterfully turns the map of rock ‘n’ roll’s history into a banner of defiance against the eroding tides of time, suggesting that rock has, and always will, persist through ages.

Unleashing Pyromania: The Spark That Lit an Era

Def Leppard’s album title ‘Pyromania’ shares a thematic connection with its standout track. The song is peppered with fiery imagery, evoking not destruction but a passionate uprising. Through raucous beats and an anthemic chorus, the band captures the zeitgeist of an era defined by excess, intensity, and the unapologetic pursuit of pleasure.

The lyrics ‘Ow gonna start a fire / Come on’ aren’t merely about incendiary shows; they’re a proclamation to ignite the internal flame that propels the rock ‘n’ roll spirit. ‘Pyromania’ as a concept is reconciled with an unbridled love for rock, asserting that this musical conflagration is eternal.

Chanting the Mantra of Immortality: ‘Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll’

In a resounding chorus that captures the very soul of the genre, ‘Rock of ages, rock of ages / Still rollin’, keep a-rollin” celebrates rock ‘n’ roll as an entity that defies age and era. Each repetition of ‘Long live rock ‘n’ roll’ is both a declaration and a resistance to the whims of cultural shifts.

Def Leppard chants this like a sacred mantra, imploring listeners to embrace the longevity of rock. It’s more than nostalgia; it’s an affirmation that no matter the era, the chord structures and riffs that encapsulate rock ‘n’ roll’s essence endure. It’s a legacy preserved in sound.

The Hidden Meaning; Or, a Homage to Rock’s Tenacity

Beneath ‘Rock of Ages’ anthemic veneer and adrenaline is a hidden meaning that pays homage to the enduring nature of rock ‘n’ roll. The spirited refrain ‘We got the power, got the glory / Just say you need it and if you need it / Say yeah’ isn’t just a call-to-arms—it’s a reminder of music’s transformative power and an eternal bond among those who seek solace in the genre’s embrace.

The song’s hidden meaning is a reflection on the communal spirit of rock concerts, where a single note can unify thousands. It insinuates that rock ‘n’ roll isn’t just music; it’s a spiritual haven, a bastion against the trials of time and a medium through which generations find common ground.