Rocky (song)
Encyclopedia
"Rocky" is a 1975 song written by Jay Stevens (aka Woody P. Snow). "Rocky" would be Dickey Lee
's most successful single on the country chart, becoming his only number one on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for a single week and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the country chart.
Other versions were recorded by Austin Roberts
(1975) and Orion (1979). Austin Roberts' version reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100
in 1975. The track reached #22 in the UK Singles Chart
in November 1975; Roberts' only chart
appearance in the UK
.
Although the family has its usual problems, the happy memories outweigh the bad; one particular example is a particularly rambunctious first birthday party for the couple's daughter. With things going well and the family settling in on a content life, Rocky soon gets devastating news: his wife has been diagnosed with an apparently inoperable illness — the specific illness is unidentified in the song — and that she has a short time to live.
All of this is told in flashback, as in the final verse, his young wife has passed away
. Rocky is now a widower and raising his daughter alone. He feels a sense of sadness every time he looks at his daughter (who strongly resembles her mother) and now doing the same things alone that he once did with his wife. However, he feels a sense of hope, with his wife looking down on him and the couple's daughter, and reassures that his love for her will always remain safe.
Each of the first three verses — telling one of the chapters in the couple's life — ends with the woman having a sense of fear and unknowningness, expressed through the refrain's statement, "Rocky, I've never had to ... ," followed by the appropriate follow-up ("been in love before," "have a baby before," "die before") and the unassured, "Don't know if I can do it." However, both he and she realize that the strength they have in each other can help them meet each challenge head on. At the end, Rocky says that "if the world should end, your love is safe with me." The fourth refrain has Rocky envisioning hearing his deceased wife reassure, "Rocky, you know that you've been alone before, you know that you can do it," and that in her own way, she can still advise him in his time of need.
A German version had been recorded by Frank Farian
, hitting the German (#1 for four weeks) and Dutch Top 10's.
Dickey Lee
Royden Dickey Lipscomb , known professionally as Dickey Lee , is an American pop/country singer and songwriter, best known for the 1960s teenage tragedy songs "Patches" and "Laurie ."-Career:Lee made his first recordings in his hometown of Memphis for Tampa...
's most successful single on the country chart, becoming his only number one on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for a single week and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the country chart.
Other versions were recorded by Austin Roberts
Austin Roberts (singer)
Austin Roberts is an American singer and songwriter. His most successful recording was 1975's "Rocky"; a transatlantic Top 40 hit single.-Early years:...
(1975) and Orion (1979). Austin Roberts' version reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 1975. The track reached #22 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in November 1975; Roberts' only chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
appearance in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Song plot
Rocky is the title protagonist, who tells the tragic story of his young wife in first person. He first recalls the day four years earlier where, as an 18-year-old college student, he met his wife-to-be (unnamed in the song), and recalls how well they hit it off. She accepts Rocky's marriage proposal and they spend the next several months fixing up an old house to make their home. The two soon learn they are expecting their first child, a girl.Although the family has its usual problems, the happy memories outweigh the bad; one particular example is a particularly rambunctious first birthday party for the couple's daughter. With things going well and the family settling in on a content life, Rocky soon gets devastating news: his wife has been diagnosed with an apparently inoperable illness — the specific illness is unidentified in the song — and that she has a short time to live.
All of this is told in flashback, as in the final verse, his young wife has passed away
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
. Rocky is now a widower and raising his daughter alone. He feels a sense of sadness every time he looks at his daughter (who strongly resembles her mother) and now doing the same things alone that he once did with his wife. However, he feels a sense of hope, with his wife looking down on him and the couple's daughter, and reassures that his love for her will always remain safe.
Each of the first three verses — telling one of the chapters in the couple's life — ends with the woman having a sense of fear and unknowningness, expressed through the refrain's statement, "Rocky, I've never had to ... ," followed by the appropriate follow-up ("been in love before," "have a baby before," "die before") and the unassured, "Don't know if I can do it." However, both he and she realize that the strength they have in each other can help them meet each challenge head on. At the end, Rocky says that "if the world should end, your love is safe with me." The fourth refrain has Rocky envisioning hearing his deceased wife reassure, "Rocky, you know that you've been alone before, you know that you can do it," and that in her own way, she can still advise him in his time of need.
Chart performance
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 9 |
Cover versions
The song had been translated into Dutch; Don Mercedes hit #1 in June, 1976, in the Nederlandse Top 40 with it.A German version had been recorded by Frank Farian
Frank Farian
Frank Farian , is a German record producer and songwriter. He started out as a trained cook before moving into the music industry...
, hitting the German (#1 for four weeks) and Dutch Top 10's.