About The Song
“I Dig Rock and Roll Music” is a 1967 song by the American folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, written by Paul Stookey, James Mason, and Dave Dixon. Released as a single in August 1967 by Warner Bros. Records, it was included on their album Album 1700, which came out on September 2, 1967. The track, credited to Stookey-Mason-Dixon, runs for 2:31 and blends folk rock with psychedelic folk elements. Produced by Albert Grossman and Milt Okun, it was recorded at A&R Recording Studios in New York City. The song is a playful homage to the rock music scene of the 1960s, with lyrics referencing contemporary artists like the Mamas & the Papas, Donovan, and the Beatles.
The single entered the Billboard Hot 100 at position 71 on August 19, 1967, and peaked at number 9 on September 30, 1967, remaining on the chart for 10 weeks. It also reached number 4 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. Internationally, it charted at number 13 in Canada on the RPM Top Singles and number 25 in Australia. The song’s chart performance reflected its appeal as a crossover between folk and the emerging rock genre. Cash Box magazine described it as a “bright, up-tempo item with a contagious, danceable beat,” praising the trio’s vocal delivery.
The song’s background involves subtle satire, parodying the vocal style of the Mamas & the Papas in the first verse, Donovan in the second, and the Beatles in the third. Specific references include the Mamas & the Papas’ “Monday, Monday” with the line “When the words don’t get in the way, yeah,” mimicking their phrasing, and Donovan’s “Sunshine Superman” through psychedelic feedback effects and mentions of “crystal images.” The Beatles’ influence appears in lyrical nods to their harmonic style. Despite its celebratory tone, the song stems from a period when Peter, Paul and Mary were navigating their identity as folk artists amid the rise of rock. In a 1966 Chicago Daily News interview, Mary Travers had criticized folk rock as “badly written,” a sentiment that contrasts with the song’s embrace of the genre.
Expert commentary includes Matthew Greenwald of AllMusic, who noted that the song “celebrates the simple joy of pop music at the time.” The track’s production, with its use of electric guitar volume swells and backing vocal effects, was innovative for the trio, reflecting their adaptation to the evolving music landscape. No major controversies surrounded the song, though its satirical edge sparked discussion among fans about whether it was a genuine tribute or a tongue-in-cheek critique. The song was covered by artists like Count Basie with The Mills Brothers (1968) and Caterina Valente (1968), and sampled by The Pennsylvania Players. Its inclusion in the trio’s live performances, such as at the 1967 Newport Folk Festival, highlighted its popularity.
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Lyric
I dig rock and roll music
And I love to get the chance to play
I figure it’s about the happiest sound goin’ down today
The message may not move me
Or mean a great deal to me
But hey, it feels so groovy to sayI dig the Mamas and the Papas at the trip Sunset Strip in L.A.
And they got a good thing goin’ when the words don’t get in the way, yeah
And when they’re really wailing
Michelle and Cass are sailin’
Hey, they really nail me to the wallDonovan, he gets into a kind of a trance, man
And his crystal images tell you ’bout a brighter day
And when they start to flowin’
The words start to glowin’
And all his freaky sounds really take you awayI dig rock and roll music
I could really get it on in that scene
I think the Beatles and the Stones got a groove that’s really mean
And when the rhythm’s rockin’
And the bass starts a-knockin’
Well, it makes you wanna get up and danceI dig rock and roll music
And I love to get the chance to play
I figure it’s about the happiest sound goin’ down today
The message may not move me
Or mean a great deal to me
But hey, it feels so groovy to say