He rocked his way through yesterday, Lord, he thought he had a chance
He played guitar and wrote some tunes, of love and romance
He did his share of travelin', like a dog without a home
A fugitive who would rather give, a star that never shone
Isn't it a pity? Isn't it a shame?
No-one ever warned the boy
Rock 'n' Roll is a vicious game, oh, yeah
He said he wouldn't get led around, or caught up in the games
Or, end up in a gallery, of faces with no names
And, Rock 'n' Roll was in his soul, and music was a friend
He recorded a song that made us sing along, and he was on the road again
Isn't it a pity? Isn't it a shame?
No-one ever warned the boy
Rock 'n' Roll is a vicious game, oh-oh, oh, yeah, oh-oh
Stage fright, ooh, and long black limousines
He's pushing himself a way too hard, or so it seems
He opened up his heart to us, he gave us what he could
We sympathized and harmonized, he made us all feel good
But, it's funny how those things can change, and time can pass us by
Songs that moved us so easily, no longer make us cry
Now, isn't it a pity? Isn't it a shame?
No-one ever warned the boy
Rock 'n' Roll is a vicious game, oh-oh, oh
Oh, yeah, oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
My-my-my, Rock 'n' Roll is a vicious game, yeah
Rock 'n' Roll, Rock 'n' Roll, yeah, yeah, yeah, ooh