So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star

Album: Younger Than Yesterday (1967)
Charted: 29
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  • So you want to be a rock and roll star?
    Then listen now to what I say
    Just get an electric guitar
    Then take some time

    And learn how to play
    And with your hair swung right
    And your pants too tight
    It's gonna be all right

    Then it's time to go downtown
    Where the agent man won't let you down
    Sell your soul to the company
    Who are waiting there to sell plastic ware

    And in a week or two
    If you make the charts
    The girls'll tear you apart
    The price you paid for your riches and fame

    Was it all a strange game?
    You're a little insane
    The money, the fame, and the public acclaim
    Don't forget who you are

    You're a rock and roll star
    La, la, la, la, la, la, la Writer/s: Chris Hillman, Roger McGuinn
    Publisher: Wixen Music Publishing
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 9

  • Tim from Los AngelesThe first verse and last verse contain some incorrect lyrics. If you listen closely to the Byrds' recording of the song, you'll hear what I mean. It should be as follows:

    So you want to be a rock'n'roll star
    Then listen now to what I say
    Just get an electric guitar
    Then take some time and learn how to play
    And when your hair's combed right and your pants are tight
    It's gonna be all right
    ---
    What'd you pay for your riches and fame
    Was it all a strange game
    You're a little insane
    Play the game and the public acclaim
    Don't forget what you are
    You're a rock'n'roll star
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 22nd 1967 "So You Want To Be A Rock 'N Roll Star" by the Byrds entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on February 26th it peaked at #36 and spent 7 weeks on the Top 100...
    It was track 1 of side 1 on the group fourth studio album, 'Younger Than Yesterday', the album reached #24 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart and spent almost a half-year on the chart (24 weeks)...
    Two other tracks from the album also made the Top 100; "My Back Pages" (#30) and "Have You Seen Her Face" (#74).
  • Brian from Boston, MaThis song rings even more true today then when it was written.With Rap music and hip hop and dance music one need not learn how to play an istrument or know anything about songwriting.
  • Andy from B'ham, AlOk, now I have. And it does have lyrics. Why the Royal Guardsmen didn't put any lyrics to it, I can't figure out. Anyhow, both the Byrds and Royal Guardsmen rock! Long live they!
  • Andy from B'ham, AlI've actually never heard this version that I recall. But I've heard the Royal Guardsmen cover version, which took place roughly in '70. It has no lyrics. I couldn't tell you whether or not this one has any lyrics or is an instrumental as well.
  • Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiIt's just as easy to become a pop act now as it was back in 1967. Look at...Paris Hilton for example.
  • Madison from Norway, MeLooks like not much has changed in the music business.
  • Sean from Chicago, IlI seem to remember seeing Chris Hillman on VH1's "My Generation" years ago, and Peter Noone asked him if it's true that the song is a dig at the Monkees. Hillman said that even though he'd been denying it for 20 years, he admitted it was.
  • Cam from Cambridge, CanadaThe byrds performed this song at the legendary Monterey Pop Festival in JUne of 67. Summer of LOve babay!
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