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Like a Rock (song)

"Like a Rock" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Bob Seger. The single peaked at No. 1 on the US Album Rock Tracks chart.[1]

Background and writing

Seger told the New York Times that the song "was inspired partly by the end of a relationship that had lasted for 11 years. You wonder where all that time went. But beyond that, it expresses my feeling that the best years of your life are in your late teens when you have no special commitments and no career. It's your last blast of fun before heading into the cruel world."[2]

Reception

Cash Box called it an "emotional ballad of perseverance and commitment."[3] Billboard called it a "slow-paced, rough-edged ballad [that] mourns the certainties of youth."[4]

Classic Rock History critic Janey Roberts rated it as Seger's 10th best song.[5]

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Like a Rock.[6]

The Silver Bullet Band

Additional musicians

  • Bob Seger – lead vocals
  • Chris Campbell – bass
  • Craig Frost – organ
  • Dawayne Bailey – acoustic guitar
  • Douglas Kibble – background vocals
  • Russ Kunkel – drums
  • Bill Payne – piano
  • Rick Vito – slide guitar
  • The Weather Girls (Izora Armstead and Martha Wash) – background vocals

Chart performance

In media

This song's greatest exposure was in Chevrolet truck television advertisements from 1991 until 2004,[11] for their massively successful "Like a Rock" campaign.[5] Chevrolet originally wanted to use Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." for the ad campaign but when Springsteen declined, "Like a Rock" was chosen.[5]

"Livin' Inside My Heart"

The B-side of some versions of the "Like a Rock" single was "Livin' Inside My Heart". Seger said of the song:"I wanted so bad to put "Living Inside My Heart" on my Greatest Hits, Volume 2 record and I fought and fought and fought. My manager said: “No, that’s a movie song.” I said: “No, I want it on there.” It’s beautiful. I was so bummed when they wouldn’t let me put it on there. I was actually working on my new album and let that one slide, and I wished I had worked harder on that Greatest Hits, Volume 2 package because there were other songs that I really wanted on there.[12]"

See also

  • List of number-one mainstream rock hits (United States)

References

  1. Bob Seger > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles Allmusic, retrieved December 18, 2009^
  2. The Pop Life – Bob Seger's view of life and loving^
  3. Single Releases Cash Box, May 17, 1986, retrieved 2022-08-04^
  4. Reviews Billboard, May 24, 1986, retrieved 2022-08-04^
  5. Roberts, Janey. Top 20 Bob Seger songs Classic Rock History, retrieved 2023-01-22^
  6. Like a Rock Capitol Records, 1986^
  7. RPM Top 100 Singles - August 2, 1986^
  8. RPM Top 30 AC Singles - August 9, 1986^
  9. JAMMS – BMAT Charts – Top 10 Jamaica Music Society, retrieved December 22, 2025^
  10. JAMMS – BMAT Charts – Top 10 Jamaica Music Society, retrieved February 6, 2026^
  11. Chevrolet "Like A Rock" From The Mid-90s^
  12. Sharp, Ken. How Bob Seger changed the face of American Music Classic Rock, Louder Sound, September 10, 2018, retrieved 2022-06-29^