Lyrics That Rock: Back In Black by AC/DC – Ep 5
Episode 5 – Back In Black by AC/DC
Show Notes
Back In Black
In December 1980, AC/DC released one of their most popular tracks of all time… Back in Black. Today we’re here to find out a little more about one of our favorite songs from down under and just exactly what the lyrics mean on this episode of Lyrics That Rock.
The Lyrics
Back in black, I hit the sack
I’ve been too long, I’m glad to be back
Yes, I’m let loose from the noose
That’s kept me hanging about
I’ve been looking at the sky ’cause it’s getting me high
Forget the hearse ’cause I never die
I got nine lives, cat’s eyes
Abusing 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 beating the flack
Nobody’s gonna get me on another rap
So look at me now, I’m just making my play
Don’t try to push your luck, just get out of my way
About The Song
“Back in Black”—one of the most iconic songs in rock history. Released by the Australian band AC/DC in 1980, this electrifying track served as the second single from their seventh studio album, also titled Back in Black. The album, released through Atlantic Records, marked a new chapter for the band following the tragic death of their original lead singer, Bon Scott, earlier that year.
The song’s opening guitar riff, immediately recognizable to fans around the world, is a tribute to Scott, who had been the heart and soul of AC/DC before his untimely passing in February 1980. In this moment of loss, the band channeled their grief into a powerful statement of resilience, returning to the music scene with Back in Black—a declaration of their survival and a tribute to their fallen friend.
Upon its release, the song quickly became a hit, reaching number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981. It continued to resonate with audiences for decades, earning a place in the hearts of music lovers around the globe. In 2012, it re-entered the charts in both Australia and the United Kingdom, ranking at number 65 and number 27, respectively.
About The Lyrics
Speaking to Mojo magazine in 2009, Johnson recalled the pressure the band placed on him when they asked him to write the lyrics. “They said, ‘It can’t be morbid – it has to be for Bon and it has to be a celebration,'” Johnson recalled. “I thought, ‘Well, no pressure there, then’ (laughs).”
Despite the weight of the task, Johnson wrote what he could. At the time, he considered the words “mumbo jumbo,” but they would later resonate deeply with the band. The lyrics, including the famous lines “Nine lives. Cat’s eyes. Abusing every one of them and running wild,” seemed to capture something of Bon Scott’s wild spirit, a life lived on his own terms, full of energy and defiance.
As Johnson put it, “The boys got it though. They saw Bon’s life in that lyric.”
According to americansongwriter.com, he also reiterated roughly the same thing in another interview with NME at some point, stating:
“I remember Back in Black was particularly difficult because the boys were saying, ‘Listen we want this song in memory of Bon, but we don’t want it to be sad or maudlin, we want it to be a good thing, positive song’. So it was pretty tough, but I think we managed it pretty good. It’s kinda slow but it’s got a great riff. It was a toughy, that one.
A Legacy Lives On
Back in Black” stands as more than just a song—it is a powerful tribute to the resilience and spirit of AC/DC in the face of tragedy, it captures the band’s refusal to be defined by loss and their determination to honor Scott’s legacy in a way that celebrates life rather than mourning it. The defiant energy of the song, coupled with its iconic riff and memorable lyrics, has made it a timeless anthem of survival and rebirth. For fans around the world, “Back in Black” is not just a rock song—it’s a declaration of strength, a symbol of enduring spirit, and a testament to the band’s unshakable will to keep rocking, no matter the odds.
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