The Bob Seger Lyric Meant To Acknowledge the Support of His Fans From the Leaner Years

Bob Seger took a winding path to eventually get to rock superstardom. For a decade, he released albums of somewhat meager success, slowly building a following until finally breaking out from his Midwestern home base to nationwide acclaim.

Once he started to reach that point, he felt gratitude for those who had supported him along the way. And that gratitude can be felt in the song “Rock and Roll Never Forgets,” one of the unforgettable tracks off his 1976 album Night Moves.

Devoted to Rock and Roll

The first single credited to Bob Seger (with the band The Last Herd) appeared in 1966. He didn’t become what you might call a household name until a decade later. That’s when he delivered the 1-2 punch of the concert album Live Bullet and the studio release Night Moves.

In between, Seger stayed consistently active, both as the leader of the Bob Seger System and as a solo artist. Each new year would bring a new album, and he’d tour constantly in support of them. But his albums didn’t sell much, and his singles, outside the 1969 Top 20 hit “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man,” did nothing on the charts.

The 1975 album Beautiful Loser started to gain him some traction on FM radio. Granted, it wasn’t as if it was a massive hit, but Seger could sense a change in how he was being received. And, as he explained to Classic Rock, he couldn’t help but write a song to thank those who stuck with him through the lean years:

“So I’m writing for Night Moves and I just felt grateful; here I am and I’m starting to make it. You know, rock ‘n’ roll never forgets. You build up goodwill over 10 years and you set the stage. ‘Rock And Roll Never Forgets’ is a grateful song. I’m grateful to all the people I played for in those small clubs, on the top of cafeteria tables, in gymnasiums, and in hockey rinks. Suddenly all those people came out and bought my records and said: ‘I remember him. I saw him at the high school or hockey rink.’”

Exploring the Lyrics to “Rock and Roll Never Forgets”

The title of “Rock and Roll Never Forgets” personifies the music, suggesting it has heart and soul just like the people who create it. Seger makes a good case the music can give you back all you put into it and more, especially when you need it the most.

He begins by reaching out to those who might be feeling their age a bit: So you’re a little bit older / And a lot less bolder than you used to be. That changes priorities: So you used to shake ’em down / But now you stop and think about your dignity.

Note the lyric: So now sweet 16’s turned 31. Seger was 31 when Night Moves was released, so you can tell he’s giving himself a pep talk right along with the audience. His suggestion is for those who are feeling a little down to go out and reconnect with the music of their youth, because it will be waiting for them with open arms: Come back, baby, rock and roll never forgets.

The rest of “Rock and Roll Never Forgets” basically describes the thrills one can derive from listening to the music—the way the venue shakes to the beat, the squeal of the guitars, the connection that accompanies singing, and dancing along with the crowd. As a standard-bearer for the music, Seger also makes sure to pay homage to Chuck Berry, who played such an integral role in its creation: Well, all of Chuck’s children are out there playing his licks.

“Rock and Roll Never Forgets” was the third single released from Night Moves. While it didn’t do as well as its predecessors “Night Moves” and “Mainstreet” on the charts, it certainly has maintained its relevance. Thanks to Bob Seger, ace songwriter and performer and true believer in the genre’s merits, few songs sing the praises of rock and roll to fans of all ages so well.

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Photo by Tom Hill/WireImage