Grandpa Wilbur was the first to be saved
He traveled the country playing on the church stage
They′d pass the hat, that was all he was paidHe was a dying breed long before his day, oh-oh
The lights came up and he brought them to tears
They'd run the aisle, talked in tongues and they cheered
They asked him how he did it, his response was the same
There was a little voice inside that kept on calling his name that said
Give ′em three chords and the Holy Ghost
They'll start a-moving and shaking on the floor
Don't let up when they start to sweat
They′ll be dancing all night long when revival hits
Now watch ′em dance
Go on and dance
Now Wilbur's gone and the path that he charted
Now it′s up to me to carry on what he started
The message is different, but the chords are the same
Every night in the green room I hear him calling my name, he says
Give 'em three chords and some rock and roll
They start a-moving and shaking on the floor
Don′t let it up when they start to dance
They'll be waving and a-clapping and a-shaking their hands, yeah
Oh yeah, there they go
They wanna feel the rhythm and they′re ready for more
So give 'em three chords
Give 'em three more
Hmm, now watch ′em dance
Go on and dance
Go on and dance
Go on and dance, yeah
He gave ′em three chords and the Holy Ghost
I give 'em rock and roll
Don′t let up when they start to dance
They keep moving and a-shaking and a-waving their hands, yeah
Oh yeah, there they go
They want to feel the rhythm and they're ready for more
So give ′em three chords and some rock and roll, yeah
Whoa, now watch 'em dance
Go watch ′em dance
Go watch 'em dance, yeah-yeah-yeah
Give 'em that organ, Rodney