So, it looks like it’s St. Patrick’s Day here in Through the Shattered Lens. For my lone contribution to all things Irish I present “The Rocker” by Dublin, Ireland’s very own Thin Lizzy.

A song that was part of their 1973 album release Vagabonds of the Western World and it features the Dublin trio of Phil Lynott on bass guitar, Eric Bell on lead guitar and Brian Downey on drums. The song itself has the Thin Lizzy rock sound with Irish folk music influence.

I’ve chosen this song as my choice since it also qualifies as having one of the great rock guitar solos in history. Eric Bell’s guitar solo actually occurs throughout the length and breadth of the song. It’s sometimes hard to hear that there’s even a guitar solo but the whole song could be looked at as being a guitar solo from start to finish with Eric Bell being the lead and only guitar with Phil supporting on bass.

“The Rocker” by Thin Lizzy is not a song that many fans today would ever think is a major classic, but rock aficionados, especially of music of the late 60’s through the 70’s would not hesitate to have this song as one of the classics.

The Rocker

I am your main man if you’re looking for trouble
I take no lip, no one’s tougher than me
I’d kick your face, you’d soon be seeing double
Hey, little girl, keep your hands off of me

I’m a rocker
I’m a rocker
I’m a roller too, baby
I’m a rocker

Down at the juke joint, me and the boys are stompin’
Bippin’ and boppin’ and telling a dirty joke or two
In walked this chick and I knew she was up to something
And I kissed her right there, out of the blue

I said, “Hey baby, meet me, I’m a tough guy
Got my cycle outside, you wanna try?”
She just looked at me and rolled them big eyes
“Said, I’d do anything for you, for you’re a rocker”

I’m a rocker
I’m a roller too, honey
I’m a rocker

I love to rock and roll
I get my records at the Rock On stall
Sweet rock and roll
Teddy boy, he got them all

Rocker

I love to rock and roll
I get my records at the Rock On stall
Sweet rock and roll
Teddy boy, he’s got them all

I’m a rocker

Great Guitar Solos Series

• Master of Puppets (by Metallica)
• Free Bird (by Lynyrd Skynyrd)
• Hotel California (by The Eagles)
• Stairway to Heaven (by Led Zeppelin)
• Texas Flood (by Stevie Ray Vaughan)
• Comfortably Numb (by Pink Floyd)
• Powerslave (by Iron Maiden)
• Fade to Black (by Metallica)
• Bohemian Rhapsody (by Queen)
• Sweet Child o’ Mine (Guns N’ Roses)
• Mr. Crowley (by Ozzy Osbourne)
• Rainbow in the Dark (by Dio)
• Róisín Dubh (by Thin Lizzy)
• Rock You Like A Hurricane (by Scorpions)
• Whipping Post (by Allman Brothers Band)
• Carry On Wayward Son (by Kansas)
• War Pigs (by Black Sabbath)
• Since I’ve Been Loving You (by Led Zeppelin)
• Satch Boogie (by Joe Satriani)
• Rambin’ Man (by The Allman Brothers Band)
• Sympathy for the Devil (by The Rolling Stones)
• Little Wing (by Jimi Hendrix)
• While My Guitar Gently Weeps (by the Beatles)