B.T.O. (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) - Rock Is My Life, And This Is My Song Lyrics






It's a hurried up life
But it's the life I choose
No use in asking me to slow down
Cause I got nothing to lose

But time and time is all I've got
You know I born standing up with a guitar in my hand
I'm not trying to come on like hollywood
But hollywood is what I am

When we come into a new town
Everybody's there
When we play our music
Hands are in the air

When the music's over
You wonder where we are
I'm standing in the silence
With my old guitar

Rock is my life and this is my song
It's a crying shame
That some of us have not survived
No use in asking how it happened
But very few are left alive

I just wanna keep on makin' music
We gotta keep on keepin' on
You're only as good as your last record
I know that someday we'll be gone, gone

When we come into a new town
Everybody's there
When we play our music
Hands are in the air

When the music's over
You wonder where we are
I'm standing in the silence
With my old guitar

Rock is my life and this is my song
When we come into a new town
Everybody's there
When we play our music
Candles light the air

When the music's over, over
You wonder where we are
I'm standing in the silence
With my old guitar, my only friend
Rock is my life and this is my song





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B.T.O. (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) Rock Is My Life, And This Is My Song Comments
  1. r.... ....

    i had this album when i was 15 now i'm 56

  2. M.... A....

    I'm 51 and never heard this song, what an amazing band.

  3. K.... T....

    This brought me to tears.
    Talk about taking a time machine back to my youth!!
    Thanks for posting!!!

  4. D.... M....

    Yoooooooooooooo I havnt heard this in years!

  5. c.... ....

    I was born standin up with a guitar in my hand...

  6. R.... D....

    When it comes the rock anthems that's a story about about the life of a rock star what He or She goes through this one is as good as any of them the lyrics are so powerful so well written a great great song doesn't nearly get the recognition it should get it's right up there With turn the pages far as I'm concerned .And for the 35 people that Gave this Great rock anthem thumbs Down you Wouldn't know a great rock song If it crawled up your a** and kiss you on the lips

  7. J.... D....

    This kids is how you do it🎸

  8. 1.... ....

    Thumbs down??? Go die

  9. o.... m....

    must be Italian. pronounced Not Frageeelee

  10. C.... B....

    The rock & roll Hall of Fame means nothing until BTO is in!!!

  11. K.... A....

    Best Album ever and very underrated!!

  12. k.... k....

    Surviving the industry. That's what it's about.

  13. G.... G....

    In my opinion, this is the ROCK ANTHEM TO END ALL ROCK ANTHEMS! When Randy Bachman wrote this song back in 1974, he said all there needs to be said about the rock and roll lifestyle UNTIL THE END OF TIME!!!!

  14. R.... T....

    Guitar artistry here. Listen up young guns!

  15. R.... T....

    Forgot how good this track was. God i was a kid and now an old man and still love it?

  16. R.... D....

    I had this on 8-track cassette would pop this in the the tape player Cruise the back roads and to tracks of Northern Michigan at Passing around a bottle of boones farm wine smoking a few dubes with my best friends listening to BTO Not Fragile I'd give my left nut to be able to go back to them days world we live in now is so f***** up thank God for memories

  17. J.... C....

    Damn ...... these guys were amazing....

  18. G.... L....

    A big album in a time when disco was king

  19. T.... M....

    More cow BELLS

    T.... M....

    Rob Bachman is the greatest cowbell player in all of rock music--The drummer from BOC has nothing on him!

  20. B.... P....

    BTO should be in the R&R HOF without a doubt!

  21. S.... P....

    For a minute there I thought BachmanTurnerOverdrive had turned into a pathetic docudrama about small business software applications.

  22. J.... B....

    I saw them in San Diego in 1976.

  23. D.... D....

    More cowbell needed.

  24. R.... D....

    Would have loved to see them in concert

  25. R.... D....

    Pretty much the first album I heard when I was introduced to rock and roll and I like the whole album. Definitely brings back memories

  26. G.... K....

    TAHOE IS OUR TOWN AND METAL IS OUR MUSIC !!! TURN IT UP !!!

  27. G.... L....

    Grabbing pussy is my life come to me MAGA for life

  28. D.... M....

    IMO - this was Ran Bach's best song. told about his life in r n r. blended rock and jazz. unreal. totally choice.

  29. E.... *....

    you’re only as good as your last record – I know that someday we’ll be gone...gone......or maybe not.

  30. P.... H....

    I bought this album when it was new. I still love it! Randy Bachman is one of the best!

  31. R.... D....

    Need more cowbells

  32. G.... G....

    hi super song I love it thank you the best who hates this song don't know great music that's for sure

  33. C.... N....

    2019: Rock is my Life!

  34. R.... R....

    HEY, LOVE?. WOULD EWE BEE MINE? T H.I.S ST. VAL EN TI NO 'ZZ DAY & KNIGHT.

  35. R.... D....

    I think this is one of the best songs BTO ever released probably the most underrated song they ever did the lyrics of this song are so f****** Kick-Ass love the cowbell

  36. R.... C....

    Randy Bachman once said that if he could not be a successful musician, he would be an unsuccessful one.

  37. M.... ....

    Nice construction song about one's career in the biz.

  38. M.... C....

    I saw them in San Diego in 1976. They were tremendous.

  39. K.... L....

    GREAT !

  40. M.... B....

    The true highway rock n roll

  41. T.... C....

    I stole a lick from this song over 30 years ago and still use it lol. It's a good lick.

  42. R.... K....

    I saw BTO so many times in the past, ROCK AND ROLL Canadian style 😎

  43. O.... G....

    Happy Birthday today(September 27) to Randy Bachman. Cheers!

  44. K.... P....

    fuck of 20 or up to 500 ass holes,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ROCK IS MY LIFE ,,, PLAY IT

  45. J.... B....

    I saw them in San Diego in 1976.

    J.... B....

    Jeff Brownlee Hampton roads coliseum, 73

  46. g.... m....

    Dang, i love this song. From borrowing Not Fragile when it was new then buying my own copy to buying a '64 SG that looked just like Blairs in '75 to just a few years back i'd joke "laundry's my life' while helping the missus.
    "....I'm standing in the silence, with my old guitar. My only friend..." Fine with that if i could play more. gotta fix that.

  47. w.... ....

    need more cowbell

  48. K.... B....

    Rock is my life . This is my song. Enough said

  49. B.... A....

    Very Nice song. Has always been a fav of me!

  50. T.... W....

    11 Dislikes? what the hell??? I LOVE this hard-driving music. I like to switch it up with garage rock, Classical, bluegrass, Led Zeppelin and opera. But this music yells 'Get out of my way here I come!' Love it!

  51. S.... Q....

    Not Fragile and Sledgehammer crush, but this was always my favorite from the album. That echo in the vocals...

  52. Z.... T....

    Foos is my life

  53. D.... M....

    A band at its peak and a very good one indeed

  54. K.... B....

    All I can say is wow. Thanks for the memories.

  55. n.... ....

    R o c k is my life....

  56. C.... P....

    Sounds like "everybody else can see that" at the end. Wonder if Randy was talking to his dad.

  57. T.... C....

    saw these guys when this album 1st came out. Indy at state fair grounds 1974

  58. K.... W....

    i had this album when i was 12 now i'm 53 still smokes

    K.... W....

    Kevin Wingler I do also have vinyl

    K.... W....

    So do I

    K.... W....

    Bought this 8-track when I was 15 I'm now 58 me and my best friend who was one year older than I was used to ride around on Friday night cranking this 8-track this song is the first song I ever got stoned to miss them times miss those days miss my friend he's now gone

    K.... W....

    Taking me back to my teenage years. Born in 1955, 64 now and still rocking!!

    K.... W....

    i'm 62 now and it still smokes. and i still smoke to it (not cigs)

  59. D.... D....

    Now you know where KISS got Cold Gin from

  60. L.... S....

    AHH-My teenage years.

  61. T.... K....

    ...bringing back sweet memories of them seventies, way back at the city of Groningen, 1979... Great!

  62. T.... W....

    This is the 2nd cut on Not Fragile, not the 8th cut.

    T.... W....

    Cool, thanks.

  63. J.... J....

    Oh Rock is my life all off Not Fragile have the original album of this. Wonderful , gracious guy!

  64. j.... c....

    Simply the best album of 1974 maybe ever :)

  65. M.... ....

    One of my all time favorite songs from any Rock and Roll Band!!!

  66. x.... ....

    I just wish I have it like that ;)
    I'm playing drums/percussion in a BTO amateur band.

    x.... ....

    Called: [Back To Overdive] ;)
    AND we are just having a GRRRREAT TIME :)

    x.... ....

    Yeahhh... One drummer is not enough. I was filling in as a resrerve/substitute drummer (drummers bronken leg !). We/the band decided that some extra drums was needed.
    I cuntinued as a Percussionist. And a substitute. I've never felt so good. Just love my bandmates.
    By the way..... I didnt play ANY drums for 25 years...before beeing hijacked into this "band"....
    First day of substituting: "Nahhhh, I dont believe that you havn't played for 25 years. BUT.... really.... I havnt...
    NOW I enjoy my new life....

    x.... ....

    xxxstonie Robbie was a badass.

    x.... ....

    xxxstonie What's a broken leg?

  67. R.... W....

    "I'm not trying to come off like Hollywood! But Hollywood is what I am!"

  68. J.... D....

    Still got it over 70🎸👍

  69. B.... B....

    1st Rock album I ever heard...next to Deep Purple Machine headI was at an April Wine concert recently here in Vegas. The lead guitar player mentioned that they are good friends with BTO

    B.... B....

    I just said that same thing God Bless you. You are truthfull!

  70. F.... J....

    Sunofab*fch!!!!! I posted on the "Sledgehammer" thread that I'm 55 now. New knee a couple years ago too! 1979 HS-Grad. NOT A GODDAMMMN THING these days can ROCK like these Canadians! I was born & raised in ND, so I'm just gonna claim I'm "their neighbor".....OK?!! LOL! ROCK the Hell on everybody/BTO!

  71. S.... B....

    When we play our music ~hands are in the air~

    S.... B....

    Now that's Rock'Roll. Pure hard driving Rock... Still sounds tough.....

  72. b.... r....

    kick back

  73. j.... k....

    alright bitches !!!!!...don't get any better than this ...so listen the fuck fuck up !!!

  74. B.... B....

    we gotta keep on keepin' on

  75. M.... C....

    BTO was exceptional. In some ways better than Zeppelin

    M.... C....

    MERLE CELESTE BROWNLEE Very underrated.

    M.... C....

    Jeff Brownlee I was a teenager back then and saw them live and they rocked. I don't know if they were better than Zepp but in early 74 they definitely moved to the head of the Class and passed the Stones , Zeppelin , Alice Cooper , Jethro Tull Deep Purple. It only lasted a few months but they definitely ruled . This was no minor feat because back then almost everyone was unique , gifted, and putting out some of the best RocknRoll ever heard !

    M.... C....

    And what ways would that be, because they certainly aren't anywhere nearly as creative and I'm sure Zeppelin would be more than happy to place their sales along side BTO's any day. Don't get me wrong, I like BTO and they were one of the saving grace bands in the sucky 70's, but not better than Zeppelin.

    M.... C....

    Zep might be the best band ever, but I think BTO were *funner* than Zep in some ways... looser attitude, and they had that playful pop groove that you hear on "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" and "Let It Ride" (my favorite).

    M.... C....

    @ Merle, Yeah I was a big BTO fan deep purple then a large Lep. Fan. In that order. And to those that dont know Randy Bachman is a Mormon and I think Canadian. Not that it matters I lived in Salt Lake City area for 30 yrs though not Mormon.

  76. j.... ....

    Awesome. Burton Cummings would have rocked this song.

  77. H.... J....

    as hard as it gets

  78. k.... G....

    best rock song ever made

    k.... G....

    right up there..

    k.... G....

    fucking eh bubba !!!!!

  79. d.... ....

    The outro solo, starting about 3:37 and running until the song fades out, is one of my favorites of all time. It just kills. The tone! The phrasing! The vibrato!

    d.... ....

    Yeah man!!! I totally agree, that’s Blair Thornton , I was recording in LA 1992 with my band BBSTEAL, were on here! And I walked into this shop on sunset , this song was playin’ and that end solo caused a fever all convulsion it’s just SG tone

  80. a.... L....

    Not Fragile means Not S***t

  81. A.... B....

    What will history write about the Baby Boomers? Rock is our life! We didn't die lying down!

    A.... B....

    Well said, April!

    A.... B....

    no little old ladies here - party on or get the hell out of the way! :)

    A.... B....

    well, I'm a Boomer and I'm not particularly impressed with Boomers...we gave it all away on our watch. The music was the best but few got what it was trying to tell us.

  82. R.... T....

    memories oh to have those days back. I survived.

  83. D.... J....

    This was the best cut off the album IMO

    D.... J....

    BTO's best album, I say.

  84. d.... ....

    My friends/ older brothers from the hood turned me onto this album back 34 years ago... This song is the epitome to any rocker living or dead. Just fucking KILLER!!!
    ROCK IS MY LIFE AND THIS IS MY SONG!!! NO FUCKING DOUBT!

    d.... ....

    this song is rock and roll athem

  85. j.... ....

    to my old party pal ... eddie bishop ... 'the reverend' ...

  86. R.... F....

    sounds as fresh as when i first heard it  its the 70 s  all the time at this time  we have it all    now and then  enjoy  people !!!!!

  87. B.... ....

    Power chords, drums, or guitar, gotta' love 'em all....

  88. C.... V....

    To give up the NFL to make rock music...........A Band ...one of a kind in history

  89. M.... C....

    I will say it again i was born to late!

    M.... C....

    +Matt CHEVYMAN Hell ya me too 20 years too late; chevy FTW

    M.... C....

    +Matt CHEVYMAN too late, or to be late? ;)

    M.... C....

    never to late it's all hear !!  enjoy it now ,, no different now,,,,,,,,,,,,,, then  I did then

    M.... C....

    I always say the same thing. But for other reasons. The great part is that music is still here. We missed out on some great times but the music lives forever

    M.... C....

    It's never too late. Welcome to the party, pal.

  90. t.... m....

    Anyone else think the band's jazz influence seems to be Django Reihardt?

    t.... m....

    @***** My brain has always wanted to connect Humble Pie to Rory Gallagher. I guess it's largely era related, but the two play well together.

    t.... m....

    +protometalphreak there is also bluegrass influence check out lowland fling

    t.... m....

    tom mabry Lenny Breau

  91. t.... m....

    Randy Bachman was born standing up, with a guitar in his hand.

    t.... m....

    Etwas anderes hätte ich von ihm auch nicht erwartet! ;-)

    t.... m....

    tom mabry laughn

  92. B.... S....

    I am obsessed with this song. 🎤🎸

    B.... S....

    +Bob Schneider  badest song ever made.

    B.... S....

    I don't blame you

    B.... S....

    It has that effect on you. I would have thought a lot of bands who have great work would have covered this by now !

  93. m.... c....

    Great Rock Anthem....straight ahead jam...this song holds a special place in the memories of my youth

  94. s.... H....

    I-Man wuz 'de're...U we're SNOT there...!   hint: it was SO FUN....U juss wood-dent BELIEVE!    hehehehee!

  95. e.... b....

    "you're only as good as your last record,
    I know that someday we'll be gone....."

    Some of the greatest lyrics ever recorded in Rock N Roll.......

    e.... b....

    am back

  96. r.... ....

    Just straight ahead meat and potatoes rock.  No bullshit.  Just great guitar riffs and simple lyrics.    Its all you need.  KISS.  Keep it simple stupid

    r.... ....

    @*****


    Bullshit.  That's complete nonsense.   They're a very tight band.   I  play guitar and I know what I am talking about.   I don't mean so much today but back in 74/75/76 etc there is concert footage of them and they are very solid.   Ace was a great guitarist.  Peter is a very solid drummer.

    r.... ....

    @roquefortfiles   Saw them in Savannah back in 74 they tore the roof down they were loud it was a great concert.  Rock on BTO!

    r.... ....

    @Steve rock

    I love that era of rock. All the guys are from my town.  Blair went to school just down the street. 

    r.... ....

    +roquefortfiles They were no BTO,,,,its that simple.

    r.... ....

    Do you still see Blair Thornton man? One of the great unsung guitar heroes ! Played with passion and feel !!!!!

  97. S.... L....

    and my pops played this on his own guitar all the time. good times man, good times.rip old man.

    S.... L....

    Shannon Leak RIP

  98. m.... m....

    this is a great song. i remember my dad and uncle paul playin this all the time when i was a kid keep on rockin