Back In Black - AC/DC

Artist: AC/DC
Song: Back In Black
Year: 1980
Album: Back In Black

This was AC/DC's tribute to Bon Scott. It's cathartic in a way. Given the blessing by Bon's family to move forward with the band, the Young brothers crafted an album of great proportions. The entire album is solid from top to bottom. The planning stages of the album originated while Bon was still alive, but I can't begin to imagine what the album would've sounded like with him singing. I suppose that I could sacrifice this perfect album for extending the life of Bon Scott.

"Back In Black" plays like a statement for the mourning. Do not mourn the dead. Remember them and move forward. Live life. That's exactly what the band did. With Brian Johnson on vocals, the sound only got dirtier and more rock-like. Brian's screams almost seem like wails of sorrow from the rest of the band. It is a perfect way to release and to rock.

The song's meaning gets lost in the year's since its release. "Back In Black" has been used in everything from sporting events to illegal sampling in hip hop music. It seems odd that the song is an anthem of sorts for Wal-Mart today, since they have a nice partnership with AC/DC. One thing that I never thought I'd see back in the early eighties is AC/DC selling out to corporate America. I thought they were above that, but I'd be wrong.

While the brothers Young seem content to sit back on their laurels, I wish that they wouldn't take so long between albums. The way I figure, the more albums that are out, the more likely there will be some worthy new songs. This album was made in the span of a few months, from writing to release. It just goes to show what can be accomplished if one doesn't start to tinker.

Lyrics:
Back in black
I hit the sack
I've been too long I'm glad to be back [I bet you
know I'm...]
Yes, I'm let loose
From the noose
That's kept me hanging about
I've been looking at the sky
'Cause it's gettin' me high
Forget the hearse 'cause I never die
I got nine lives
Cat's eyes
Abusin' every one of them and running wild

'Cause I'm back
Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back
Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back, back
(Well) I'm back in black
Yes, I'm back in black

Back in the back
Of a Cadillac
Number one with a bullet, I'm a power pack
Yes, I'm in a bang
With a gang
They've got to catch me if they want me to hang
Cause I'm back on the track
And I'm beatin' the flack
Nobody's gonna get me on another rap
So look at me now
I'm just makin' my play
Don't try to push your luck, just get out of my
way

'Cause I'm back
Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back
Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back, back
(Well) I'm back in black
Yes, I'm back in black

Well, I'm back, Yes I'm back
Well, I'm back, Yes I'm back
Well, I'm back, back
Well I'm back in black
Yes I'm back in black

hooo yeah
Ohh yeah
Yes I am
Oooh yeah, yeah Oh yeah
Back in now
Well I'm back, I'm back
Back, I'm back
Back, I'm back
Back, I'm back
Back, I'm back
Back
Back in black
Yes I'm back in black

Out of the sight

She's Got Balls - AC/DC

Artist: AC/DC
Song: She's Got Balls
Year: 1976
Album: High Voltage (U.S. album)

When my uncle first introduced me to AC/DC, he played T.N.T. He had recorded it off the radio. My task was to find the album that the song was on. That was my specialty. Before the computer was the primary source of information, I would scour through many different resources to find this sort of information out.

I tracked down the cassette for him and he was happy. Now, he could blast AC/DC in his car, on the way to his job at CTA. I tracked down most of his music collection for him. Everything from Black Sabbath to Aerosmith. As of yesterday, he's been gone for one year and five months. My uncle selfishly took his own life. That doesn't change the memories that we shared. All of them were happy. That's how I choose to remember him.

After I got his copy of the album, I had to buy it for myself. This cassette was in my car for the longest time. The U.S. version of the High Voltage album has to be one of my favorites from their catalogue. There really are no clunkers on this album.

"She's Got Balls" is one of the album tracks, but it stands up with anything else on the album. I think it could have been a single, if they really wanted to push it. This song is one of the two from the U.S. version that was on the original 1975 Australian release of High Voltage. The U.S. album, borrows the rest of the songs from their T.N.T. album. This is one of the reasons why my uncle had me track the song down for him. With all the different releases, it can get confusing for someone who doesn't look into that sort of stuff.

This song is about Bon Scott's wife. She complained that he never wrote anything about her in a song. By the time "She's Got Balls" was released, the marriage had ended.

Lyrics:
She's got style that woman
Makes me smile that woman
She's got spunk that woman
Funk that woman
She's got speed my babe
Got what I need my babe
She's got the ability
To make a man outta me

But most important of all
Let me tell you
My lady's got balls
She's got balls

She's got soul my lady
Likes to crawl my lady
All around the floor on her hands and knees
Oh because she likes to please me

But most important of all
Let me tell you
My lady's got balls
She's got balls

And she's got taste my lady
Pace my lady
Makes my heart race
With her pretty face
She's got balls my lady
Likes to crawl my lady
Hands and knees all around the floor
No one has to tell her what a fella is for

But most important of all
Let me tell you
My lady's got balls
She's got balls