New Wave

The song was written by band member Ric Ocasek for their 1978 debut album The Cars.  It was released as a single in 1979, backed with “All Mixed Up.” It had modest charting success, going to #31 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #5 in France, and #74 in Canada. The album, on the other hand has earned 6x multi-platinum certification in the U.S. and silver certification in the U.K. It has now appeared on a number of compilation albums by The Cars, including the 1985 Greatest Hits; the 1995 Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology; and the 2002 Complete Greatest Hits.

Ocasek said that the song was a comment, sarcastic in intent, about the good times that could be had with rock and roll but often aren’t. He has said: “It was kind of a parody of good times, really. It was kinda like not about good times at all.”

The Cars formed in Boston in 1976. On the 1978 album were Ric Ocasek (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Elliot Easton (lead guitar, backing vocals), Greg Hawkes (keyboards, percussion, sax, backing Vocals), Benjamin Orr (lead vocals, bass), and David Robinson (drums, percussion, Syndrums, backing vocals).

Here are the lyrics to “Good Times Roll” by The Cars:

Let the good times roll
Let them knock you around
Let the good times roll
Let them make you a clown

Let them leave you up in the air
Let them brush your rock and roll hair

Let the good times roll
Let the good times roll
Let the good times roll

Let the stories be told
Let them say what they want
Let the photos be old
Let them show what they want

Let them leave you up in the air
Let them brush your rock and roll hair
Let the good times roll
Let the good times roll-oll
Won’t you let the good times roll?

Good times roll

If the illusion is real
Let them give you a ride
If they got thunder appeal
Let them be on your side

Let them leave you up in the air
Let them brush your rock and roll hair
Let the good times roll
Let the good times roll-oll
Let the good times roll

Let the good times roll
Won’t you let the good times roll?
Well let the good times roll
Let ’em roll (good times roll)

Let the good times roll
Oh, let the good times roll
Ooh, let the good times roll
Let ’em roll (good times roll)

Let the good times roll
(Let the good times roll)
Let the good times roll
Good times roll, roll-oll

For More 70s Tunes

The System has daily featured music from all sorts of genres of 1970s music. You’re welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections in The System. Thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed “Good Times Roll” by The Cars.