[Verse 1: Eric Bloom]
In a dark horse town, in the middle of the west
Where Friday takes so long to arrive
Johnny wakes up dreaming turns on the radio
Than he jumps up plays his guitar in the mirror
Starts his day with a rock and roll pose
Tonight's the night that Suzy and he
Are going to a rock and roll show

[Bridge: Eric Bloom]
Tonight! I'm gonna see some rock and roll!
Yeah, my favorite group is playing!
Tonight! I'm gonna see some rock and roll!

[Verse 2: Eric Bloom]
Well it's showtime and he's caught up in the crowd
He hates the crush but he loves the music loud
He reaches out and Suzy's disappeared
Now Johnny's standing on a corner after the show
Looking for his Suzy dear
But there goes his Suzy - in the band's limousine!
Yeah, well that's the way it goes at these rock and roll shows

[Bridge: Eric Bloom]
That's the way it goes - it's rock and roll
That's the way it goes - it's rock and roll
[Verse 3: Eric Bloom]
Now Suzy's gone, and Johnny hears the thunder
As he rolls another number and he counts
He counts the times he's felt himself to be the hero
'Cause ever since he was a boy
He's heard about adventure
As he looks into the mirror now he knows
He must be the star and play guitar like thunder
Find Suzy at his rock and roll show

[Bridge]
Boy, if I only had a good guitar and a big amp
Boy, it wouldn't be somebody else taking my girl away... tell ya
I know what I should do... I'll put an ad in the paper
Get a few other guys who want to play as much as I do
Tell ya, I ain't playin' no surf music
I'm gonna play some heavy music
I'm gonna play bad, I'm gonna play loud
I know just what I want it to sound like
It's gonna sound like, it's gonna sound like...
(This is Don Kirshner)
(And tonight on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert)
(A new phenomenon in the music world)
(With six million albums to his credit in just two short years)
(My good friend, here's Johnny!)
[Verse 4: Eric Bloom]
Now Johnny became a legend in his time
Found it easier to live in pain
Half a hero in a hard-hearted game
Now it's showtime and he's caught up in the flow
He hates the rush but he needs the music so
Still he reaches out but Suzy's disappeared
Well that's the way it goes at these rock and roll shows

[Outro: Eric Bloom]
It's rock and roll
That's the way it goes
It's rock and roll
That's the way it goes
It's rock and roll
That's the way it goes
It's rock and roll
That's the way it goes