A People's History of Rock: "God Gave Rock & Roll to You"

Rock and roll is a transcendent concept. You can gussy it up, commoditize it, sell it like a can of Pepsi to preteens at a Newsboys concert, but you can never completely divorce it of its anarchic potential. There something about even the most palatable, soccer-mom-approved, insipidly pious use of rock music that makes one want to, well, fuck stuff up. If a song doesn't inspire at least a hint of dissatisfaction with the status quo--an urge to "stick it" to the "man" in some way-- whether it's dancing like a moron, spitting on a stranger, or refusing to vote, well, then, I don't know what the fuck you're listening to, but it's not rock and roll. No matter what they do to make rock a force of lobotomized obedience (Sir Mick--Yeah, right), its primal nature will prevail. For something there is in rock that does not love a king, whether it be a king of men or a king of the charts. Rock is primal. Rock is anarchy. Rock is is. Where does this powerful force come from? Fucking God, man.

Russ Ballard of prog-rock pioneers Argent knew this. In 1973 Argent released the definitive statement of rock's divine nature in "God Gave Rock & Roll to You," a song that would later be covered by probably over 1,000 Christian bands and Kiss. Ballard's tune is deceptively simple lyrically (musically, it's appropriately complex in a progy sort of way--actually, it sounds almost exactly like the missing link between the Zombies and Rush), but the lyrics contain a trenchant commentary on the transcendent nature of rock music. In the first verse our parents admonish us to "Love Cliff Richard, but please don't tease." Imagine Elvis without all that sexiness. The second verse assures us that "Music can make [our] dreams unfold," but we "gotta sweat" cause "it's never too late to work 9 to 5." The chorus tells us what's in our souls: Rock.

Most people associate "GGR&RTY" with Kiss, but in 1977, seminal Christian rockers Petra put a church-friendly version on their album, Come and Join Us. (Amy Grant was the egg. Petra was the sperm. Actually, maybe Larry Norman was the sperm. It's fun thinking of Christian rockers as jizz.) The chorus stayed the same, but the verses made it clear what "rock" Greg X. Volz was really talking about. Actually, Volz acts like rock and roll isn't really all that great. He asks, "where will you be when the music's gone?" And it's clear he's not talking about your dad when he talks about the "old man" taking "his toll." Doesn't matter. The rock abides. A little suckier, but it abides. Kind of.

Kiss didn't record their version until 1992. They changed the lyrics too, but they keep the spirit of the song intact. I like Argent's version better, but this version is appropriate if a bit campy. I still get goose bumps at Paul Stanley's closing monologue:

"I know life sometimes can get tough

And I know sometimes can be a drag

But, people, we have been given a gift

We have been given a road

And that road's name is rock and roll."

Along comes Disciples of Christ in 1993 to rap-rock it up with Christian metal band Bride. They completely ditch the verses and use the chorus as a hook for Absalom, Ben Reges, and Prophet to rapulicate around. The subject matter seems to be beating up the devil. Oh, and "God gave it to you." It's actually pretty aggressive for a Christian song in 1993 (both in sound and attitude), but it totally misses the nuance and beauty of the original. Plus, the delivery is way too serious. I'm pretty sure I can make out a bit about putting the devil in a "chokehold" and something about getting him with a "bodyslam." I don't care what you believe, that's just silly.