Rock'n'roll I Gave You All the Best Years of my Life

[euroman32589]

true classic..when i bought my first i was 19 living on my in a flat..family didn't speak to me, but learning songs like this gave me a family ..

[andrew12579]

came across this song whilst looking for another one. amazing song soounding a little autobiographical. confess that i don't know of another kevin johnson. was he a one hit wonder or is he still around? any info would be great.

[darkallegiance666]

@andrew12579 Try checking on wiki. Kevin Johnson is an Australian musician whose 2 biggest hits were this song & "Bonnie please don't go". I saw him in concert at the Bendigo Twin Cinemas in the early 80's, & he sang one song after another for about 2 hours. He was fantastic - must have sung about 30 songs & then autographed my LP after the concert. A nice man & a good singer.

[JohnMRavenscroft]

Surprised and delighted to see myself in this video! I'm the guy playing guitar at 1.46 on some beach in Morocco! Must have been about 1981. Many thanks to my good friend Aileen for spotting it and letting me know. Glad to say I'm still strumming those strings!

[billy270564]

@JohnMRavenscroft nice 1 john to be part of a great song/video...1.52 gets me every time also..simple folk having a fantastic time without a care in the world...sigh..

[Countrygent100]

"... I thank the Lord for giving me the little bit I knew..."

I have no idea how many young men have burned away their youth chasing after the phantom that is R&R. I did. And you know what...?

No regrets. Not one.

[gillsteve]

always fill up when he ,sells his old guitar, and always pleased I do

[TheNEWfilmfanatic99]

I wish I were a punk rocker totally stole from this song

[ConorAttymass]

i am 16 and i fell in love with this song instantly 5 years ago. I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!!!

[kaffymaria]

Happy memories

[euroman32589]

love this fuckin tune

[marmas58ink]

Funny I was listening to some old song from around 1973/74, thought of Mac Davis' Don't Get Hooked on Me and a moment later this song. The funny thing is.. I didn't think it was him that had a hit with the song, thought it was someone else. Looking around the internet a bit though I 'realize' it was him.

Really good video! Good work.

Version here called KEVIN JOHNSON - ROCK AND ROLL doesn't have the cool imagery but even better sound

[theDukeOfEmerald]

beautiful song... great vid mate, nuff said

[thedrillseargeant]

YESSSSSS!!!!! ROCK AND ROLL!!!!!

[bagup59]

How true this is to all who have give thiere lves to music !

[bullet77fh]

check out the following

[trainerv08]

no words, simply fantastic - greatings to all +/- 50

[javernot]

I was familiar with Mac Davis's hit version of this song. I only heard this original on Casey Kasem's show, of all places.

Davis's take on the story lacks the pathos of Kevin Johnson's. After all, Davis did become a star.

[MrKatzenpierre]

I love it

Great greater greatest

[ferryhouse77]

@Flyaway26121

[22jonsel]

Brilliant song, remembered it from years ago and prompted me to buy his album ! Some of the songs you have to listen to a few times to appreciate them.. "The wales are calling to me" and "sense of it all" to name a couple.

[DaveWollenberg]

Mac Davis' cover made #15 in Billboard. God bless!

[IantheWoodcraftsman]

This guy is a great talent. Thanks for posting the clip

[lindacox13]

What a well put together video. Well done that guy.

[billy270564]

1=51 and that my folks is how you enjoy yourself

[crocfme]

Don't have to be a failed muso to relate to this song; it says something to all us battlers.

One of my favourites. ty for sharing.

[shiZZle1887]

thanks for uploading!

[bargeanimal]

Absolutely rancid fuckin song. I just put it on for a sickener and had to stop after the first verse.  Before this I listened to W.O.L.D. Now I'm goin to put on Dean Friedman, "You can thank your lucky stars". God help you all with the shite you're into.

[madlizzee]

You've got issues - get therapy.

[goldiebuilder]

silly reply

[rizla0071]

great post. this number is hard enough to find in the shops. thank you.

[nudenuts]

So you never made it " Big Time"...it doesn't matter...as long as you enjoyed the journey. An all time classic this one !

[justmusicandme]

Love the song, Kevin Johnson is great, and i do like your video! 5*****Going on Playlist, Just Some of the Best!

[maryjulie2]

LOVE this song!! ( It`s for you, Jim!!! )

[Guitarpixx]

Awesome song and video! Though I'd say rock and roll has given me the best years of my life. Maybe one day I'll be able to give a little myself... or maybe not :)

[inisk]

I did not give the best years of my life to Rock & Roll, but I did waste a lot of time on chasing girls, still have not tired chasing girls. Wonderful song, I knew a lot of musicians who never made it, bad luck.

[JuergenTreller]

wirklich ein super Oldie

[GlobeLiner84]

Dem kann ich mich nur anschliessen!

5/5 Stars!

[muintir]

This is a wonderful song that I have loved for mamy years...reminds me of so many things...I too had a dream of making it big in the music biz but unlike Kevin Johnson never wrote a winner.

[phoenix1916]

And IRONIC!!!

I

I

V

[phoenix1916]

This is simply fantastic, very emotive lyrics and a catchy melody : 0 )

[Sheebles66]

This reminds me of my chidhod and MY DAD.... Go "Jersey Sound"

[csyarto]

Thanks for te info, I just knew I heard Mac sing it many times a long time ago. :)

[csyarto]

Nice.....didn't Mac Davis write this song?

[FabFM]

No, Kevin Johnson wrote the song based on his own life and recorded it first, Mac Davis was just one of the many, many artists that covered the song!

[clarebannerman]

Loved this song. Brought back loads of memories ♪♫ ♥

[nalydennud]

fantastico .

[supakab1955]

one of my all time favourites. thanks for bringing

it all back kevin

[claudio4415]

My no 1 song. Thank you Kevin! Claudio

[billy270564]

kevin...you de man..superb mate.

[SiSiboyy]

uhhhhh

[alschtir]

SUPERB::::::genial:::::wonderf­ul:::::::::

[alschtir]

this is a great song of rock' and roll...superb...wonderful..

[2eggsnbacon]

Haven't heard this in years! - The sunny slopes of long ago!

[scottish63]

Brings it all back.

[turnpike01]

always has been and always will be 1 of my favourite songs.

[gfrkiss]

Another thing..nice bit of Skynyrd...AND as i live in London ..thanks for the Routemaster buses (Thats what we call the old fashioned double decker buses here!) Cheers!

[gfrkiss]

I have a "Born To Rock" tattoo on my hand...the words totally ring true...(I'm 45 ,but i will die a rocker)

[phantasiegirl]

thanks for posting this song i am surching so long for it. sorry for my bad english

[Hoot96]

This reminds me of Tamsweg, Austria, in the early 1970s. They always played it on Austria 3. Thanks for posting it and for the memories.

[wanker2311]

the best years of my life ... yeah !!!

I was born 1947 ...

[alandhopewell]

Terry Jacks did a version of this, in '74, I think.

[FabFM]

Yeah and IMO it was a poor version.

[FMCQ66]

What a briliant song! Pure Class.

[MJL3764]

great song.

[daveclarkstonv]

Songs like this one and Shaney Boy have made me a real Kevin Johnson fan.

[shirls2]

And you were right you were a great singer and i loved all your records this message is meant for him only and the lovely person who put it on love Shirlsxx

[CrazyCharlieManson]

Kevin Johnson 1973 original and writer Mac Davis 1975 charted #15. Davis personalize his version by using his then wife Sarah. Well 71 I was all alone when I met Sarah... ...And she came up to me softly and she took me by the hand. She listened to my problems and she seemed to understand.... She followed me back to Tennessee where she finally made me see I'm just a plain old country boy and that's all I'll ever be. The next year she ran off with Glen Campbell...

[FabFM]

I don't like Mac Davis' version, because he changes the end to where the singer does make it as a country singer, which is not what the song is about.

I like the Johnson version. He never makes it, but is grateful for "the little bit" he knew and the love of his life loves him for the person he is, regardless of him not making it.

I'm not sure if Johnson and Suzanne are still together, but the original is the best!

[billy270564]

beats smack my bitch up anytime...dontcha think. cheers kev.

[cincotti]

great - love it

[Toby48624]

excellent song/vid

[lilynick1]

Thanks for posting this! Great job on a great song. I even liked the bouncing boobs at the end. Super!

[schusterlehrling]

If there is a Rock'n'Roll god, Kevin is blessed.

[daveclarkstonv]

It's not coming up. Too bad. A great song.

[mirandasmusings]

Thank you for the memories, very well done....excellent!

[Celestino51]

great tune...

I would love to find Mac davis version...

He is also very good...

[Keijz74]

In dutch, I would call it "een goed gemaakte smartlap". It means: a well-made tearjerker.

[Keijz74]

By the way, the Cats were a dutch band.

[Keijz74]

Nicely made clip. It was also covered by the Cats.

[goonerbrain59]

wonderful song. not heard this 4 years. thanx 4 postin.

[alschtir]

wonderful...a great song....SUPER!!!!!!!!!

[Scorpio426]

Omg what a fantastic song its dame good more songs like these days would be fantastic your never get songs like any more

[spbsteve]

where is kevin now .we need to hear much more of this fantastic talent[i geuss hes older than me now] steve the cameraman

[FabFM]

Kevin is still making music today!

[petesahatna88]

song and video are well suited to each other

[jazzerk123]

Probably the most complete song I have ever heard. Magnificent.

[tarquin45]

Melodically and lyrically absolute great, as is the performance by Kevin Johnson. You also did a great job with the video accompaniment.

[FabFM]

Kevin once stated this song was largely based on his own life, and then this is the song that made him a millionaire.

[spbsteve]

kevin is such a talent,shame his 10,000 miles away. not to many people know this song ,but it one of the few i know word 4 word. steve the cameraman

[Celestino51]

Evreything about this song is GRAT!!!!

Music, arraigment & message...

It does not get better than this...

Thanx for sharing...

[aleksey168]

simply greatful

[mynameisbastardson]

thanks for posting, this is such a great song...!

[Foggienotion]

Great song that I am sure alot of frustrated guitarists can relate to. It reminds me a bit of Harry Chapin's songs.

[FabFM]

I have heard a lot of Johnson's other music and it's good, he's more like Kenny Rogers than Harry Chapin though.

[wabzeebo2]

Great song, compare the humanity in the lyrics with most of the packaged crap being shovelled out today. You gotta despair... Thanks for posting.

[annapuppe]

My all time favorite song!! Great video! Thanx from Germany!

[hoopshead14]

Anyone got a clip from his other song Shaney boy?

[petesahatna88]

this song fits exactly when you are looking old pictures from your childhood, i know i am only 20 years old and i have nothing to do with this time such songs were actual, this makes me sad, then i always want to be born 30 years earlier......great song makes me think about thousand things....time in school, in the austrian military. and the times when i was younger and played with my friends.....great song i will download it now............

[Zlo1naopako]

@petesahatna88 what a great comment ! you've said it all. cheers!

[hissphillips]

@petesahatna88 One of the best songs of the 60's....And Kevin sings it almost to perfection.... Anna

[pannoni1]

@hissphillips Actually this was '70s

[river2walk]

Thanks for posting this great song, surely of the most memorable songs ever written.

[SaintTony1968]

Would listen to this song over and over

Great song

Lots of great memories

[jamesant93]

kwl

song

 j

[dalrympledowns]

One of the very first songs I ever bought on a good old 45rpm record... still have it and play it from time to time on my old record player. Even have a short 25 second download from Kevin's website as the music on my mobile when it rings!

This is a classic song that is hard to find online and your clip has done the song a great justice... the whole thing is very, very well done.

[smego36]

Known this song 4 a long time,,,,,it must have been written for my dearest friend "Pete Cowap" from Manchester, (R.I.P.)

[gibakick]

any wanabees should hear this song and save themselves for something that really matters

[melvinroad]

does anyone have another song kevin sang, think its called Shaney Boy ?? wud love to hear it

[AnjaLovesMusic]

I'm so happy I found this song here at youtube!!! Just heard it on the radio two days ago and then I had the idea to look for it here. I love this song since the first time I listened to it, and everytime I have to keep myself from crying. It's such a wondeful and touching song!

[viperman567]

what can you say? brilliant!!!

[herschel0815]

Einer der schönsten und zeitlosesten Songs die ich kenne. Immer wieder schön ihn zu hören.

[GlobalStranger]

beautiful song & i love the video, i actually thought it was an original vid, xclnt stuff & reminds me of jammin that song, & my ex thinkin it was her that the song was about, cause i walkd 2steps behind her all our lives, thank u for bringin bak sum memories, & the video is perfect. 5 stars from all accounts.

[joeo2222]

hey great job on this song,

hav always loved this song,

i sing it at karaoke venues allthe time

i always get a fantastic response from the crowd who always join in on the chorus, many thanks

[whiskey85]

Thanks so much for posting this - I love this song! You've just made my day, cheers :D

[rcharrelson]

You can find CDs and videos on Kevin's website "rocknrolligaveyou". He has other great songs.

[melvinroad]

do you know where i would find Kevin's "Shaney Boy" ?? would love to hear it, thank you

[blakesville]

I always loved this song - I used to have the record, must track it down. Lovely voice and good video

[jena4]

you made a wonderful job with this !!!

fits so good with the song.

[limi1313]

;O) Ein wundervolles Lied, weck Erinnerungen und läßt Leben leben

[marktyme0379]

thanks a million for posting this, one of the most heart rending songs ever written especialy to a musician who hasnt "become a star" after 31 years in the business, God bless ya mate

[viperman567]

wow thanks for posting this,what a great song and good video!!!!

[mrslovelips]

this is the bollox tune new to this its GREAT

[1973nitram]

this version is of course the best still one of my favourite songs even after all this time

[hamo1944]

Brilliant! Wondeful song.

Where is Kevin Johnson now, did he become a big star.??

[marktyme0379]

Kevin is still in Oz, to my knowledge, no he never made it big, he was invited to perform this song on T.O.T.P in Britain, but he was taking his son fishing, I guess he unlike the subject of his song put his family first.

[FabFM]

Well, in the song the guy dosen't have a kid or a wife, or even a love interest until the very end. Johnson once told me this song was based on his own life.

[FabFM]

Johnson never became a big star, but he was by no means unsucessful, as a singer and songwriter he sold more than 10 million records worldwide and is still making new music today.