The top 10 classic rock songs about amusement parks come from a roster of rockers who perfectly captured the essence of what makes these entertainment venues so great. For the most part, amusement parks provide all the thrills people seek, whether it be in the form of an adrenaline rush or as a perfect place to go as a happy hangout. The roller coaster is probably the biggest attraction to amusement parks. Usually, this is the “it” ride that draws in crowds wanting to jump on a ride that gets the blood pumping and the heart racing. Other favorites include carousels, Ferris wheels, and a collection of midway attractions and games. As songs, amusement parks and some of its highlights are sometimes referenced as an actual place while others use them as metaphors.
10 Classic Rock Songs About Amusement Parks
#10 – Ferris Wheel (by Donovan)
Scottish-based Donovan Leitch began his recording career in 1964 as a musician who specialized in folk, jazz, pop, and psychedelic rock. His rise to worldwide fame began in 1965 after appearing live on a popular UK-based series, Ready Steady Go! While Donovan’s “Ferris Wheel” may not stand out as a big hit, this singer-songwriter was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 and then the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014. Between 1965 and 1969, he scored some of his biggest hits, such as “Sunshine Superman,” “Mellow Yellow,” “Hurdy Gurdy Man,” and “Atlantis.”
“Ferris Wheel” was a song about an experience he had while riding this popular amusement park ride with a girl whose hair got stuck. The only way for her to escape this experience was to have it cut off.
# 9 – The Roller Coaster Song (by The Lilac Time)
Founded in 1986 by Nick and Stephen Duffy, The Lilac Time was a UK-based alternative folk-rock band that got its name from a line used in a Nick Drake song, “River Man.” Fans of Duran Duran may recognize Stephen Duffy as one of the founders of what became one of the most popular rock groups around the world during the 1980s. However, he left the lineup to embark on a solo career just before the Fab Five rose to fame.
For Stephen Duffy as a songwriter, “The Roller Coaster Song” described the experience of riding one of the most thrilling rides an amusement park has to offer. This upbeat track is just as speedy and fun as coasting the tracks with such an adrenaline rush. Duffy doesn’t hold back the love affair he has with roller coasters.
This song and The Lilac Time’s second studio album, Paradise Circus, were released in 1989. The reissue in 2006 featured bonus tracks that were originally intended for what was supposed to be a double album. Overall, the album was designed to be festive and upbeat. “The Roller Coaster Song,” its title track, and “Twilight Beer Hall” make an ideal combination of songs for that festive amusement park spirit.
#8 – Helter Skelter (by The Beatles)
“Helter Skelter” was a popular rock song released in 1968 by The Beatles that described a wild slide belonging to an amusement park. Written by Paul McCartney, the Fab Four wanted to create its White Album with a heavier rock sound. In 1976, this was released on the B-side of a record that had “Got to Get You into My Life” as part of a promotion by Capitol Records and its compilation album, Rock ‘n’ Roll Music.
The idea was for “Helter Skelter” to come across as one of the loudest and wildest Beatles songs yet as the group became inspired after hearing the Who’s Pete Townshend sing the 1967 hit single, “I Can See for Miles.” The Helter Skelter ride in the UK is a spiraling slide that winds around a tall tower. This is also a familiar term to describe chaos.
“Helter Skelter” was also metaphorical, describing the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. For McCartney, this was also his idea of letting the music critics know his songwriting talent wasn’t just limited to ballads. Since the original release, recording artists such as Motley Crue have covered versions of “Helter Skelter” as they seem to enjoy the musical ride of this song themselves.
# 7 – Cedar Point ’76 (by the Dirtbombs)
“Cedar Point ’76” was about a themed amusement park situated in Sandusky, Ohio. This was a favorite hangout for the Dirtbombs’ lead singer, Mick Collins. Sharing a piece of his past, he revealed his unsuccessful attempt to woo a girl to play pinball with him at the park, as his mother refused to give him any money to pay for it. Instead of being able to play pinball with the thirteen-year-old teen, Collins watched her ride off on the Corkscrew roller coaster that was just introduced to the park in 1976.
This was a 2000 release the Dirtbombs released to the B-side of a record while the White Stripes had “Hand Springs” on the A-side. Two thousand copies of this record were made in a pinball fanzine known as Multiball. Over time, “Cedar Point ’76” was featured on the compilation album If You Don’t Already Have a Look. It was a 2005 release by the record label In the Red. Although this song didn’t appear on any official music charts, it’s a great trip down memory lane for amusement park goers who may have shared similar experiences as Collins did.
# 6 – Big Dipper (by Jethro Tull)
“Big Dipper” was a song that came from Jethro Tull’s ninth studio album, Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young to Die! This was a 1976 release that served as Tull’s final concept album, as it featured the fictional character Ray Lomas. Unlike Tull’s previous albums of the 1970s, this one didn’t achieve gold status with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). However, it still had some great tunes, including “Big Dipper.”
The focus of the tracklist featuring Lomas was an aging rocker who realized the ever-changing music industry trends made it challenging for recording artists to keep up and stay relevant with their fans. Ian Anderson’s penmanship to this song featured a group of young men who visited Britain’s Blackpool Pleasure Beach and its top attraction, the Big Dipper. Throughout the course of the song, Jethro Tull shared a date-like experience of the amusement park that would serve as a starting point to finish his date with a love interest on a positive note.
#5 – Theme Park (by The Tubes)
In 1983, The Tubes released its sixth studio album, Outside Inside. Produced by David Foster, this was the record that released the group’s biggest hit, “She’s a Beauty.” However, it also featured a song called “Theme Park.” The lyrics for “She’s a Beauty” referenced a feature attraction, which was further illustrated in the music video. Another hit was “The Monkey Time,” and this was a favorite song for theme parks to play.
As for “Theme Park,” this upbeat song covered the highlights of why amusement parks are such a popular attraction for thrillseekers and adrenaline junkies. The majority of amusement parks are run with a specific theme in mind but usually share similar rides that have established themselves as all-time favorites. The infamous Tilt-a-Whirl would be such a ride; one of the featured attractions The Tubes sing about as “Theme Park” wonderfully covers the very essence of what amusement parks are about.
#4 – Palisades Park (by Freddy Cannon)
The 1962 hit single, “Palisades Park,” became a number three hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 for Freddy Cannon, and for good reason. With an organ performance that sounded like a calliope, this song written by Chuck Barris focused on one amusement park in particular. At the time, this New Jersey-based amusement park was among the most popular, and it was located across the George Washington Bridge on the Jersey side along the Palisades Parkway. Since 1898, Palisades Park had been a top draw for families and thrillseekers from all over to pay a visit. I lived in the Bronx in the 1960s and always went there as a kid. It was heaven!
During the mid-twentieth century, teenagers flocked to the park to take advantage of all its fun features. Unfortunately, Palisades Park closed its doors for good on September 12, 1971. The popularity of “Palisades Park” served as great cover tunes for the Beach Boys, the Ramones, and Bruce Springsteen. There was also a 1980 version by Cannon titled “Kennywood Park,” where it was the same song, but the lyrics were altered to accommodate the ad campaign that was shot for it.
The title behind “Palisades Park” came to Barris while he was in Manhattan and spotted this popular hangout sitting on top of New Jersey’s Palisades Cliff. He had already written a song about an amusement park but needed to come up with a total, so “Palisades Park” was it. This became a tribute to the popular Palisades Amusement Park, and it was loaded with sound effects as Cannon sang about its collection of rides and attractions. This Swan Records release was originally placed on the B-side of a record with “June, July, and August” on the A-side. A DJ in Flint, Michigan, wound up playing “Palisades Park,” and it became Freddy Cannon’s biggest hit. It also peaked as high as number fifteen on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart.
#3 – Amusement Parks U.S.A. (by the Beach Boys)
Written by Mike Love and Brian Wilson, “Amusement Parks U.S.A.” was a song that came from the Beach Boys’ 1965 album Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!). The lead vocalist was Love, who described spending entire days at an amusement park as his favorite hangout. One of the highlights behind this fun classic was Hal Blaine’s drumming performance, which sounded like a carnival barker. Among the parks mentioned in the song were two popular California-based sites, Disneyland and Pacific Ocean Park.
There were also references made to two New Jersey-based parks, Palisades Park and Steel Pier. Also mentioned were Chicago’s Riverview Park, Cleveland’s Euclid Beach Park, and Salisbury Park in Massachusetts. Among these popular amusement parks, only Disneyland and Atlantic City’s Steel Pier stood the test of time, while the rest of the sites mentioned in “Amusement Parks U.S.A.” closed their doors within a few short years after this song was released. While this may not stand out as a bonafide Beach Boys hit, it’s still a great classic rock tune of a happier era where it was perfectly okay to shelve the troubles of the world in order to have some innocent fun.
#2 – Lakeside Park (by Rush)
Released in 1975 with the album Caress of Steel, “Lakeside Park” was a song that paid tribute to an amusement park that sat on the southern shore of Canada’s Lake Ontario. Performed by Rush, Geddy Lee’s vocal performance highlighted the songwriting talent of lyricist Neil Peart. This was a classic trip down memory lane as the masters of progressive rock shared the experience of a fireworks display that took place on May 24th’s Victoria Day while visiting St. Catharines, Ontario. Lakeside Park still stands at its Port Dalhousie as it overlooks the wreckage sites of the USS Hamilton and the USS Scourge.
These two vessels fought during the War of 1812 and remain popular historical and tourist attractions to this day. For Peart, his experience as a former Lakeside Park employee played a big role in a song that revealed bits of his past and the popular attraction. While working there one summer, he ran a midway game but was fired when his job performance didn’t meet the park management’s standards. Despite this, the fondness of Port Dalhousie’s top attraction inspired Peart to write a great song about it. In 2020, in memory of Neil Peart and his legacy, the city of St. Catharines announced a pavilion at Lakeside Park would be named after him.
#1 – 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) (by Bruce Springsteen)
Bruce Springsteen’s “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)” was a wonderful ballad that shared bittersweet memories of the past as the thrill of carnival-style living began to take a backseat to the somber reality of innocent youth giving way to seasoned adults who’ve experienced so much. Springsteen shared an experience of the Jersey boardwalk’s Asbury Park that included an old girlfriend as the two shared hopes and dreams of escaping their hometown for bigger and better things. In the lyrics, the Tilt-A-Whirl was referenced as a ride Bruce Springsteen was stuck on that wouldn’t stop spinning, and it seemed as if he had no way to escape from it.
In the song, the celebration of America’s Independence Day sets off its fireworks display in what should be a festive occasion, but it serves as a reality check that time doesn’t stand still for anyone, not even Springsteen. “4th of July, Asbury Park” was released in 1974 from the album The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle. At the time, it was a German release only and a great little song describing the Jersey Shore’s boardwalk culture.
At one point, the title of Springsteen’s song was switched to “Sandy (4th of July, Asbury Park)” and was performed as such by the Hollies in 1975. This came at a time when Springsteen’s popularity grew even further after the release of Born to Run in 1975. Springsteen’s album was released in August, a few months after the Hollies released its cover version to “Sandy.”
The Hollies were able to score a minor hit at number eight-five on the US Billboard Hot 100, but it’s Springsteen’s original that remains on top as the overall favorite. Additional recording artists who covered their own version of Springsteen’s ballad were Air Supply and Ben E. King. In 2009, Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls released their version that was endorsed by Springsteen himself, as the lineup featured Jason Federici. His father, Danny Federici, was a member of the original E Street Band as its keyboardist and accordion player. It was the accordion that added that special flair that made Springsteen’s ballad the wonderful gem that it is.
Feature Photo: HarshLight from San Jose, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
10 Classic Rock Songs About Amusement Parks article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
Classicrockhistory.com claims ownership of all its original content and Intellectual property under United States Copyright laws and those of all other foreign countries. No one person, business, or organization is allowed to re-publish any of our original content anywhere on the web or in print without our permission. All photos used are either public domain Creative Commons photos or licensed officially from Shutterstock under license with ClassicRockHistory.com. All photo credits have been placed at the end of the article. Album Cover Photos are affiliate links and the property of Amazon and are stored on the Amazon server. Any theft of our content will be met with swift legal action against the infringing websites.
![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
