Don't you know that I was sittin' back in Texas
Playin' old rhythm and blues
And then I got a big offer
For more money than I could refuse

I had my chance to make it
Playin' anything I wanted to play
Way back in my mind
You know I can hear the people say

Keep playin' that rock 'n' roll
Keep doin' what you been told
Save your money up for when you get old
Got to keep playin' that rock n' roll

So I packed up and I made it off to New York
Where my brother was a great big star
He was doin' funky music
Singin' and playin' guitar

Johnny was makin' the big time
Everything was goin' his way
Way back in my mind
You know I can hear the people say

Keep playin' that rock 'n' roll
Keep doin' what you been told
Save your money up for when you get old
Got to keep playin' that rock 'n' roll

Don't you know that I been doin' lots of thinkin'
I been tryin' hard to figure it out
Well, there's a certain kind of music
Got to make you jump and shout

Now you may call it commercial
If you want to see it that way
But way back in my mind
You know I can hear the people say

Keep playin' that rock 'n' roll
Keep doin' what you been told
Save your money up for when you get old
Got to keep playin' that rock n' roll

Keep playin' that rock n' roll
Keep doin' what you been told
Save your money up for when you get old
Got to keep playin' that rock 'n' roll
Rock n' roll, rock 'n' roll to satisfy my soul