So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star
The Byrds · Complete Album Collection [2011]
So, you want to be a rock 'n' roll star
Then listen now to what I say
Just get an electric guitar
And take some time
And learn how to play
And when your hair's combed right
And your pants fit tight
it's gonna be all right
Then it's time to go down town
Where the agent men won't let you down
Sell your soul to the company
Who are waiting there to sell plastic ware
And in a week or two if you make the charts
The girls'll tear you apart
The price you pay for your riches and fame
Was it all a strange game
You're a little insane
The money that came and the public acclaim
Don't forget what you are
You're a rock 'n' roll star...
Then listen now to what I say
Just get an electric guitar
And take some time
And learn how to play
And when your hair's combed right
And your pants fit tight
it's gonna be all right
Then it's time to go down town
Where the agent men won't let you down
Sell your soul to the company
Who are waiting there to sell plastic ware
And in a week or two if you make the charts
The girls'll tear you apart
The price you pay for your riches and fame
Was it all a strange game
You're a little insane
The money that came and the public acclaim
Don't forget what you are
You're a rock 'n' roll star...
So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star
Released by The Byrds, this track stands as a quintessential example of the group's transition from folk-rock to psychedelic rock. The song captures the band's signature jangly guitar tone and harmonies while addressing the aspirational and often chaotic nature of pursuing a rock 'n' roll career. It reflects the era's fascination with the music industry and the dream of stardom, delivered with a playful yet earnest tone that defined the band's sound during their most innovative period. The recording showcases the Byrds' ability to blend traditional country and folk structures with emerging psychedelic influences, cementing their legacy as pioneers of the genre.