Say, Dad (Mmm, yes kids) We'd like to have a heart-to-heart talk (Oh-oh, have you spoken to your mother yet?) No, Dad, we wanna ask you (Well, I guess you're both old enough) What we wanna know is What did they do before rock 'n' roll? (ah-ha) How'd they ever make it Bless my soul All day long they had to listen to (ah-ha) (My time is your time) What did they do before Elvis Pee (ah-ha) Fabian and Avalon and Brenda Lee? All they heard on the radio was (May the blue of the light, make the buh-buh-buh-boom) I found some ancient records (ah-doo-wah) From nineteen-forty-five (ah-doo-wah) I put a couple on the phonograph (laughed) Laughed ha-ha-ha-ha ha-ha Oh well, I thought I'd die Now, let me tell you, Dad It was an awful sound To hear what twenty-seven cats Were puttin' down I couldn't believe my ears It was a shock to me 'Cause all that they were playin' Was the melody They had a thing called swing They didn't have no beat That rikki-tikki music never move my feet And then I played your records Strangest thing I heard I know you'll think I'm goofy But I'm pretty swerve They didn't twang guitars I meant like it was sad And tell me What's a Hugo Winterhalter, Dad? Oh well, I felt so poor For those old time souls (ah-ha) They never had the benefit Of rock 'n' roll All they heard on the radio was (ah-ha) (Doo-fal-dee-ooh, boop-boop-pee-doo, ooh) Oh, no!