Browne, Jackson - For A Rocker Lyrics

One of Jackson's great songs.

Love this song

Lawyers in Love was labored. This was utterly uninspired. Poor Jackson. He peaked in the late 70s.

a prophetic labor of luv, foo.

This song is really very sad.

What's the guitarist's name?

Go tell Peggy Sue. Doesn't get any better.

I'm gonna tell something I found out. Whatever you think life is about, whatever you think life has in store, things will happen that you won't be ready for. Shit

The best J.B. song in my opinion. It moves.

In my educated opinion, "Somebody's Baby" from Fast Times At Ridgemont High is his best pop song.

Im a Rocker, with a C

4 good, huh? Goodbye, friend.

got it sew taxed petty cash partners with cash receipts dunned gave at better help

IF YA PLAYED THE 80'S LIKE I DID THIS WAS THE SONG YA KINDA TREASURED CAUSE IT DIDN'T GET THE AIRTIME IT TRULY DESERVED

A great song, but unfortunately it's been put through the Glenn Freyish AOR 80's production machine. I think I would have loved it had it been recorded a decade earlier.

So many memories of my days in Greenwich Village hanging out with all the street kids! Good times!

My all time favorite Jackson Browne song and one of my favorite songs ever ! Love it ! Thanks !

I really like Browne's energetic AOR songs like this. Probably one of his most rocking songs, and you usually don't think of him when you think of party rock anthems.

When he wanted to, Jackson could almost rock with the best and usually with supportive friends. When he got a chance, I think he loved and relished in it.

@Stargazer Yeah, he was on the mellower side but could rock out too. Songs like this, Boulevard, For America, The Road and the Sky, maybe Lawless Avenues too. Are there any others I'm missing?

@JPMcFlyFeelsTheBern Hey, I got a few more and trying to condense the whole list. Some from concerts. It's going to be fun. I'll be back in time.

I wore this album back when it was new :-)

Love it ` Shared ;->

strong song

can't denied, greatness,,....one of my favorites

Wonder what Jackson thinks of the state of the world today?

Who cares what elites that live in gated compounds think? That's the PROBLEM with the state of the world today.

I sing this song to my dog his name is rocco so I have to change the lyrics a bit

still sounds great in 2016..........jackson browne rocks......

good solid cut. happy birthday jackson. say ya sorry to daryl

+ john asson. He did everything to clear his name and she never pressed charges because it is a serious crime to press false charges against anyone. Very serious.

This song cracks me up. I wonder how he would react if somebody called for it at an acoustic show. LOL

Nita Almand like the magical pro he IS

This would be slowed down and sung as an elegy. It would bring you to tears

@Joel Palmer I agree. He could do it.

One of the best songs of the 80's in my humble opinion. And yes I know opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.

You're correct!
Great song to crank up!
Things will happen that your won't be ready for.

So true

Very underrated song, my favorite JB song. This came out the year I was born. Have always loved it

@Jeff C Hey, smart guy. When is the last time you heard this song on the radio. When is the last time you heard someone mention Jackson Browne in the greatest musicians of all time lists. No one even knows who JB is anymore. That is what I mean by underrated. Jerk off.

@Jeff C why don't you stop trying to be the smartest guy in the room, because you definitely are not. My nine year old kid sounds smarter than you.

@Alexander Steiner You're too stupid to argue with. Why don't you stop trying to be the dumbest guy in the room? Oh, wait, you can't stop! You ARE the dumbest guy in the room!

@Jeff C Well said!

Have to agree with Jeff C and/or anyone who has reasonable hearing. eh It's nothing more than a fun ditty. Definitely not deep, nor on par with his other material. Point being: While it may be your favorite song, would you choose "For a Rocker" to prove that Jackson Browne is up there with the greats? LOL! He has so many other great songs to choose from that highlight his lyrical genius. "For a Rocker" is not one of them.

No one ever thinks of him when they think of true rock genius but he is up there with Elvin and Roy Orbison hell even the Boss...

mary ann louviere Still beating around the bush i see ! Either answer the question or take a hike !!

@Mike Thaxton , when you say that he (Jackson Browne) is up there with Clapton, do you mean in terms of songwriting or singing?

Jackson once said in an interview that he wished he could be a rocker like Bruce. ( This song was not about Bruce).@joe

@joe Jackson once said in an interview that he wished he were rocker like Bruce. Interesting. ( This song is not about Bruce , as some may think).

@james gearhart Yes indeed man, he is overlooked.

This song was dedicated to "The Boss".

+Twinsfan7777 This song was written as a tribute to James Honeyman-Scott, guitar player for the Pretenders.

60s70sTheBest Really? Cool.

+60s70sTheBest I have been a humongous Pretenders fan since before high school, and I only just found this out today. I absolutely love it.

The boss of who?

Twinsfan7777 nope, a Crocker, minus, the C- a concert girl.

    As has been said, still processing the loss of Lowell George.

Hoo dat

Jackson Browne sucks.

@Tabman Conard Oh do tell us why Tabman? I'm sure inquiring minds want to know why Jackson Browne sucks so much.

+Tabman Conard UUUUUHHHHHHHH no.

opinions from shit birds don't count !

No. Just no. TBH, I cannot listen to JB for hours, because all the minor keys get a bit depressing, but a little bit of "misery minor key music" can be pretty good.

He has had several good songs over the years, starting with _Doctor My Eyes_ or maybe the later hit _Take It Easy_ for MOR.

But some his work like _Lives In The Balance_ and _For America_ and _I Am A Patriot_ are incredibly relevant in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, and even now are really relevant.

I hated JB's works in the Reagan years, because I had bought into the lies politicians were selling us, and distrusted the Christic Institute, but in retrospect, *he may have been correct*. At least he provided a counterpoint to the narrative of the people who were selling America on wars and the war industry.

Yeah, and I have heard he might be an asshole, but has done some really great songs.

Did Daryl Hannah really beat him up?

Love your moniker vinylman and your ideas about pop music. Jackson is still one of the greatest.

Miss you ma robert

I just love that lots of kids have found and like this stuff! It's passed the test of time for sure.....

Glad I'm not the only one who thought he was singing "For Robert". THought that for a long time, great tune.

You kidz ever hear of a band called LITTLE FEAT ? They weren't too well known, but Lowell George was in THAT band.

Oh, Yeah. Me too.

I always thought this tune had an Eddie Money flavor to it...

Why this is not on the greatest hits cd I really do not know.

I always thought we were throwing a party "for Robert" HA!

Bradley Hamilton yes for years I thought the song was "For Robert"

love that guitar

Were you? What happened?

N.O.W., boys and girlz....this was, according to Mr. Browne...an homage to Lowell George...he said it was a little fait acompli, da cor decorator... Bobby Trndy???? Oh OH OH Anna Nicole...she's so...lol

I thought he was singing for robert also

Years ago I thought he was singing For Robert.. haha !

Ford rocker baby

I thought it was " *Bo* Rocker "

As a matter of fact, I still think that

for a friend of mine...from the neighborhood...

More like sue zcute

@cwazymbfan We stayed together for 6 years had a daughter that graduated college last year.

@thelazyboydj How did that turn out for you?

This song reminds of the time I stole my gf from Texas and fled to Fla. because her family didn't want us to marry but when we came back there was nothing they could do, I was 17... go figure.

Great song. Not a big fan, but I can give this song kudos. Didnt Jackson slap around Daryl Hannah while married? Just wondering.

That was settled a long time ago. It was Jackson who called the police when she was trying to move out with his stuff like Paul McCartney's wife did in later years. And it was Jackson who called for an investigation by the police when she started making unverified accusations. He and Miss Hannah were together for 10 years when she decided that JFK Jr. might be a better catch ( and how did that work out ?) ,and it broke Jackson's heart as in the album " I'm Alive ". As for the claim of physical abuse, Miss Hannah never made a legal claim because to make a false statement under the law is a very serious offense with lots of legal consequences. At that time,, he intimated that something happened, but that he did not hit her, and that he was not going to talk about her or "what happened" ( as in the tabloids ). Use your imagination. She was considered a " wild child" or something like that at the time, even by JFK Jr. Jackson was unmarried and with Daryl Hannah for 10 years when she decided to move out with his stuff and join JFK Jr.l

@Stargazer nailed it. police showed up and said there were no signs of physical abuse or anything done to daryl

This Tape got me back to OKC from Tn!! It rocked my cradle all the way home. 16 hrs!

yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss! \m/

For all Rockers.

Great guitar work on this great song! This is my favorite JB song! Who was on guitar on this?

Rick Vito, legendary rocker who replaced Lindsey Buckingham in Fleetwood Mac from 87 to 92 and played and produced on many records played lead guitar on the "lawyers In Love" LP and "For a Rocker" song which was on the record. Great musician.

@Uncle Elmer and did the phenomenal slide guitar and solo on bob seger's like a rock and is playing in the video for that song

Great song!! Thanks for posting!!

Classic... I was a Sophomore in High School when this was out, Lucky for me I was already a Jackson Browne fan thanks to my older brother jamming on the "Running On Empty" album (when i was 10) back in 1977. It's just carried over with me in my growing up years...!!!