Bette Midler

Released: December 3, 1979

Songwriter: Gene Pistilli

Producer: Paul A. Rothchild

Drive me home silver eagle.
Drive me away from last night's news.
Empty beds, crowds of people.
Oh, come on, white girl, sing the blues.

Warm mister, hold me like you love me.
Why don't you make me
feel real good for free?
And if free don't mean for nothin',
let's just say this one's on me, yeah!

You know I sold my soul to rock 'n' roll.
I bought these devil chains.
My baby wants me home. Can't refuse him.
Sold my soul to rock 'n' roll.
It's time to take that train.
The one that goes from heaven
straight to Houston, ho.

Whoa, I need a short vacation,
Restin' in my baby's arms.
But the road goes on
forever, forever, forever.
It keeps on going,
but I'm gone, gone, gone.

Sold my soul to rock 'n' roll.
Bought these devil chains.
Whoa, baby wants me home. Can't refuse him.
I sold my soul to rock 'n' roll.
It's time to take that train.
The one that goes from heaven
straight to Houston, ho.

Did you like it?
Was it good?
Don't it make you want to cry-hi-hi?
Did you like it?
Oh! Am I good?
Is it worth another try-y-y?
AAAAAAA!!!!

Sold my soul to rock 'n' roll.
It's time to take that train.
The one that goes from heaven
straight to Houston, ho.
The one that goes from heaven
straight to Houston, ho.

Bette Midler is a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, comedienne and actress. Named in honor of Bette Davis, Midler’s career began performing off-broadway until she developed the stage persona The Divine Miss M while singing at the world-famous Continental Baths gay bathhouse. A pre-fame Barry Manilow, the venue’s in-house piano player, produced her Grammy-nominated debut album which scored three US top 40 singles including the Grammy-nominated “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”. Midler took home the Best New Artist Grammy that year, her first of three career wins.

Throughout the 1970s, Midler found further success with music, Broadway, television and film. The Rose, Midler’s 1979 acting debut, earned her both Oscar and Academy Award nominations, and its namesake song won her a Golden Globe and another Grammy – also giving Midler her first success overseas.

The early 1980s proved less successful for Midler with four under-performing singles and a box office flop with the film Jinxed. However, the second half of the decade would prove far more fruitful with a handful of very successful films including Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Ruthless People, Outrageous Fortune and Beaches, the latter featuring a chart-topping cover of “Wind Beneath My Wings” that won Midler her third Grammy and is considered one of the greatest songs in American film history.

more tracks from the album

The Rose - The Original Soundtrack Recording

From the album

The Rose - The Original Soundtrack Recording (1979)

Bette Midler popular songs

Sold My Soul to Rock ‘n’ RollBette Midler

Bette Midler

The Rose - The Original Soundtrack Recording