Rollerball is one of the most unusual songs in the Hunter catalog and it has not been released in a studio version but only recorded live. It was first released as part of the Strings Attached song list in 2002 and there are two other live releases from 2004. It is apocylyptic in tone after the corporate wars and even a woman with a PhD is not immune since there are too many people who are now victims of progress. Everything of value on the earth is gone. Hunter's target in this song is corporate greed such as that represented by Margaret Thatcher though the music business is not immune to greed either and it is a total mess. The song comes from a James Caan line `before the corporate wars' in the 1975 science fiction sports film of the same name. The song would not be out of place on Rant.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
Rollerball is a 1975 science fiction sports film directed and produced by Norman Jewison.[7] It stars James Caan, John Houseman, Maud Adams, John Beck, Moses Gunn and Ralph Richardson. The screenplay, written by William Harrison,[8] adapted his own short story "Roller Ball Murder", which had first appeared in the September 1973 issue of Esquire.[9]
Rollerball
(Ian Hunter)
Just another day
When everything goes wrong
You know that feeling you get
When you're done
My best years are behind me
My future is in doubt
They keep on putting those fences up
Trying to keep me out
Trying to keep me out
I heard the rumors
I hope they're not true
There ain't no depths
That they wouldn't sink to
I've been told, after the corporate wars
Everybody's obsolete
'Cause there ain't no more
No there ain't no more
Rollerball
Rollerball
Rollerball
She's a good woman
But she's easily led
They led her up the garden path
Right out of her head
She's an academic
She's got trophies on the wall
She's got her P.H.D. in hypocrisy
She can't help herself
She's gonna do well
They took away music
They took away art
They took away everything
That was close to her heart
I've been told, after the corporate wars
Everybody's obsolete
'Cause there ain't no more
No there ain't no more
Rollerball
Rollerball
Rollerball
Too many people
Too many people
Too many people
Too many people
Just another loser
Washed up on the sand
Just another winner
With blood on his hands
Just another victim
At the alter of success
Just another victim of
Progress
Progress
Progress
Progress
They cut down the forest
They polluted the sea
They messed up the ozone
Now they're looking for me
I've been told, after the corporate wars
Everybody's obsolete
'Cause there ain't no more
No there ain't no more
Rollerball
Rollerball
Rollerball
You heard it here first
You heard it here first
You heard it here first
You heard it here firstRollerball is another new song, a medium-paced rocker that shows Ian is showing no sign of losing his touch.
| Rollerball (live 29/30th January 2002) | 5:27 | Unreleased in studio form. This live version (recorded Sentrum Scene, Oslo Norway) was issued on Strings Attached. |
| Rollerball (live 28th May 2004) | 5:30 | This live version (recorded The Astoria, London England) was released on The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nuthin' But The Truth. Not on the box set. |
| Rollerball (live 12th June 2004) | 5:19 | This live version (recorded at the Bikini, Barcelona, Spain) was released on Bag Of Tricks (Vol 2) (box set only). |
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