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AC/DC — Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Album: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1259









Released: 1976
Length: 3:45
Plays (last 30 days): 0
If you're havin' trouble with the high school head
He's givin' you the blues
You wanna graduate but not in his bed
Here's what you gotta do
Pick up the phone, I'm always home
Call me any time
Just ring 36-24-36, hey
I lead a life of crime

Dirty deeds done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds done dirt cheap
(Dirty deeds and they're done dirt cheap)
(Dirty deeds and they're done dirt cheap)

You got problems in your life of love
You got a broken heart
He's double dealin' with your best friend
That's when the teardrops start, fella
Pick up the phone, I'm here alone
Or make a social call
Come right in, forget 'bout him
We'll have ourselves a ball, hey

Dirty deeds done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds done dirt cheap
(Dirty deeds and they're done dirt cheap) Oh
(Dirty deeds and they're done dirt cheap) Yeah

If you got a lady and you want her gone
But you ain't got the guts
She keeps naggin' at you night and day
Enough to drive you nuts
Pick up the phone, leave her alone
It's time you made a stand
For a fee, I'm happy to be
Your back door man, hey

Dirty deeds done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds done dirt cheap
(Dirty deeds and they're done dirt cheap) Yeah
(Dirty deeds and they're done dirt cheap)
(Dirty deeds and they're done dirt cheap)
(Dirty deeds and they're done dirt cheap)

Concrete shoes, cyanide, TNT
(Done dirt cheap)
Neck ties, contracts, high voltage
(Done dirt cheap)

Dirty deeds done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds
Done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds
Dirty deeds, dirty deeds
Done dirt cheap, yeah
Comments (147)add comment
More AC/DC always welcome Bill👍
1988, Freshman year in college.
I come back from class and my dead-head roommate is rockin' out to my AC/DC album, fist in the air, and belting out "Dirty deeds THUNDER CHEIF". 
He honestly thought those were the lyrics.
I love that guy. We're still friends.
  
 Droidac wrote:

Due to inflation, dirty deeds will no longer be done dirt cheap.  Sorry for any inconvenience.



how much now I wonder?
 Droidac wrote:

Due to inflation, dirty deeds will no longer be done dirt cheap.  Sorry for any inconvenience.



Relevant two years ago, even more relevant now!
Rush, The Jam, AC/DC (with Bon Scott!), all in a row. Beautiful.
I don't really care for AC/DC, but a lot of RP listeners seem to like them.  PS: I didn't hit the skip button, I listened to the entire song. ...that is what RP is about, ...diversity!   
My God what a great song.  
 icuski2 wrote:

You're taking it out of frame. It's being sung from point of view of a hit man. He'll do dirty deeds for hire on anyone, male or female- a male principal pressuring a girl to sleep w him to graduate, a boyfriend who is double dealing w his girls best friend, a wife who's been nagging her man to no end (will sneak in the back door & take her out). 

Don't try so hard to make it something it's not. 
 
The same could be said of your interpretation.   I can see either way, and still a 9.
 Relayer wrote:
Listening to this more closely thanks to the RP lyrics sheet, I find it funny that there is almost a gay reference in each of the 3 verses (even though Bon Scot was not gay). 

First verse mentions avoiding ending up in your male principal's bed: "You want to graduate but not in his bed"

2nd verse  mentions this "fella's" lover is a he:  "He's double dealin' with your best friend,  That's when the teardrops start, fella"

3rd verse: "I'm happy to be your back door man"

No idea why I picked up on it.  But it was good for a laugh, and hopefully it might offend those crazy right wing Christian conservatives. 
 
You're taking it out of frame. It's being sung from point of view of a hit man. He'll do dirty deeds for hire on anyone, male or female- a male principal pressuring a girl to sleep w him to graduate, a boyfriend who is double dealing w his girls best friend, a wife who's been nagging her man to no end (will sneak in the back door & silently take her out). 

Don't try so hard to make it something it's not. 
Crank up the volume,the bad boys are rockin😎🎸
 Droidac wrote:
Due to inflation, dirty deeds will no longer be done dirt cheap.  Sorry for any inconvenience.
 

bump
 Relayer wrote:
Listening to this more closely thanks to the RP lyrics sheet, I find it funny that there is almost a gay reference in each of the 3 verses (even though Bon Scot was not gay). 
 

Yeah I never took much notice of the lyrics, interesting and ambiguous. I speak ironically but no one was gay in 70s Australia.
Crank up that volume and let’s rock R.P listeners
Listening to this more closely thanks to the RP lyrics sheet, I find it funny that there is almost a gay reference in each of the 3 verses (even though Bon Scot was not gay). 

First verse mentions avoiding ending up in your male principal's bed: "You want to graduate but not in his bed"

2nd verse  mentions this "fella's" lover is a he:  "He's double dealin' with your best friend,  That's when the teardrops start, fella"

3rd verse: "I'm happy to be your back door man"

No idea why I picked up on it.  But it was good for a laugh, and hopefully it might offend those crazy right wing Christian conservatives. 
Well, that'll wake you up first thing in the morning!
Due to inflation, dirty deeds will no longer be done dirt cheap.  Sorry for any inconvenience.
Damn, now we're rocking!
 ziggytrix wrote:


That's not Weird Al BTW.  Seems like he gets credit/blame for all of  Bob Rivers' popular work. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
 
Crazy!  I should have known that considering I used to listen to the Bob Rivers' show and have met the guys (Spike, Joe and Bob) - thanks for the education.  I might even be more of a fan of the parody track now (in fact, Spike & The Impalers are a great cover band, and Spike sounds a lot like a cross between Brian and Bon) 

And good timing on me reading this, apparently Bob, Spike and Joe have been podcasting lately....one of the few things I've missed on FM and one of the reasons I completely stopped listening to FM was the damn format changes....thanks again for the heads up!  Long Live RP!!

Feels like RP is changing up the rotation a bit lately, and I like it!
 Try changing the lyrics to "Undesirable tasks carried out relatively inexpensively"
Go RP!  
 song2 wrote:
AC/DC from time to time - ... right direction and great :-)
 
I agree. I'm shocked by how many songs I hated in my teens and 20s that I now have on my Guilty Pleasures playlist in my 50s. 
AC/DC from time to time - ... right direction and great :-)
 icuski2 wrote:
Dirty Deeds in the Main Mix? And it's not even Friday! Love it! To 11! 
 

Today it's Friday! 
A nice surprise on a Good Friday! No offense to the esteemed Mr. Johnson, but I miss Bon. RIP Mr. Scott...
Thanks be to BON!

SG's and Gretch's!
 lizardking wrote:
It also spawned one of my fav Weird Al parodies (Dirty Deeds Done to Sheep) which includes the line "Electric Fences!....High Voltage!!" which is HI-larious!!
 

That's not Weird Al BTW.  Seems like he gets credit/blame for all of  Bob Rivers' popular work. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Dirty Deeds in the Main Mix? And it's not even Friday! Love it! To 11! 
Easy 10.
Oy. Oy. Oy. 
One of my favs by these Aussies, which I used as the ringtone for my lover (now wife!) b/c well....Dirty Deeds and all.

It also spawned one of my fav of Bob Rivers' Twisted Tunes (thanks Ziggy! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...) (Dirty Deeds Done to Sheep) which includes the line "Electric Fences!....High Voltage!!" which is HI-larious!!
Ah, the dulcet tones of the velvet-voiced Bon Scott!
Out of rotation for 11 years until 8 months ago or some such? 

If you like this kind of music (crotch rock, as someone here called it), this is pretty great. 
 CafeRacer wrote:
I gave this a very high rating. Not because it's all that outstanding or even one of my favorites. It's because THIS song , to me, best sums up this genre. It's iconic.
 
You know, CafeRacer?  That's an EXCELLENT explanation as to why you're giving this one a high rating.  A rating of 1 can be for many reasons (hate the song, you don't think it deserves the high rating that it's garnered already and you want to bring the average down, you've heard the song too much, many other reasons) but generally when one awards a song a 9 or 10 it's because the listener really likes the song or (s)he wants to impress other listeners with his / her music knowledge if the music was written / recorded prior to 1970 (jazz, classical, Motown, early rock and roll).  But you've added a social aspect to it.  Good job.  Now if you'll excuse me, Bill's playing an Al Green song and I must go rate it highly favorably.
Have to agree with more than a few that some people listening need their belts loosened and their shoelaces untied a bit here on RP. Some people blame AC/DC for that jerkweed bully of a kid on the bus that took their PB&J and pushed them in the mud puddle just before walking into school. Some people think that a group that doesn't care about 'auteur' status or isn't a 'roots' worshipper is simple-minded and a commercial waste-of-time. Hey, the Young brothers and Brian Johnson aren't Mozart or even Roy Orbison (maybe not even the Everly Brothers?) But this is rock 'n' roll and the biggest crime isn't not having a complex libretto - it is not rockin'! And AC/DC most definitely rocks. So forget about that school bus dillweed and forget about them being an older White Stripes and definitely forget about them hosting a telethon to raise cash for the economically impaired nations of sub-equatorial Africa. And forget also about this having changed anyone's mind .... but at least the AC/DC-phobes know they haven't changed my mind either. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him (or her) rock. - Riff P.S. Bon Scott still rules. Huh-huh!
Now "Let There Be Rock"? THAT song's a 10! Don't suppose we could hear that one, eh, Bill? That song rocks like few others. Blows the doors off most other efforts of that ilk.
jmk999 wrote:
Negative comments - it seems to me - are nothing more than statements intended to indicate superiour musical taste. There's certainly no reason to believe they'll have any effect on RP's playlist. So please, please keep 'em to yourself.
Ah, but they are--they're fun. Lighten up, man. Dis some band that you find even worse than AC/DC (me, I can't imagine such a thing--but I'll bet you can!).
daveesh wrote:
listen to all the music snobs around here! HEY! get the knot out of your knickers and have some fun. it's rock 'n roll, fer cryin out loud!
If it's snobbery to deplore shrieking idiocy passed off as singing, I'm guilty.
daveesh wrote:
listen to all the music snobs around here! HEY! get the knot out of your knickers and have some fun. it's rock 'n roll, fer cryin out loud!
Good for you...I couldn't agree more Acadaca in the morning's like a cold shower, there's too much snobbery in music, down home rock n' roll's just the ticket sometimes
ACDC gets me out of bed in the morning, try Radiohead and go back to sleep!
AC/DC is painful. AC/DC at 8:15 in the morning is excruciating.
listen to all the music snobs around here! HEY! get the knot out of your knickers and have some fun. it's rock 'n roll, fer cryin out loud!
Wow, it's like some bizzaro kiddie ride on musical extremes... Angelique Kidjo w/Joss Stone sing "Gimme Shleter", then Tom Jones w/Art of Noise sings "Kiss" ... now this... you could have skipped the first two!!!! I was reeling for a while, but I'm better now.... "DIRTY DEEDS"
Blah Blah Blah...crotch rock Blah Blah... Narrow minded views on a band that have influenced music for years, they aren't just any old heavy metal group, don't let the later years spoil the Bon Scott era, and if you only know the later stuff, get out there and buy "If you want blood"...expand your mind!
At least all these are lumped together. Like taking a bandaid off all at once. Get it over with! Joss Stone, Tom Jones, now AC/DC... Low ratings all 'round.
Hum, AC/DC \immediately after Tom Jones. Nice mix, dirty deeds are done dirt cheap.
I gave this a very high rating. Not because it's all that outstanding or even one of my favorites. It's because THIS song , to me, best sums up this genre. It's iconic.
As far as evaluating a song based on the ratings it gets here at RP, I think it's a little inaccurate. People are more apt to rate songs that they really like (and, to a lesser degree, dislike) and not ones that they feel only average about. So I think that skews the results quite a bit toward the positive. As for me, I hate AC/DC and give it a 2. If there is one thing I can't stand it's crotch-rock. I know people just like to "rock out", but I've NEVER had those primal urges crop up in my musical leanings. Sorry!
jpfueler wrote:
Oh yeah one of those high ratings is mine Cool Stuff
Oh yeah one of those high ratings is mine Cool Stuff
No matter if I agree with you or not...I stand tall and support you completely!! By the way, guess which way I lean!!!??!!! redeyespy wrote:
So the comments board should be filled with nothing but positive comments? People are not allowed to express displeasure for a track that doesn't appeal to them for whatever reason? Doesn't make a lick of sense. Do you also support the aerial spraying of Prozac? A comments board should exist for all remarks: good, bad, indifferent. Slanted to any one of those three exclusively, and you have boredom. As to whether or not listener remarks will have an effect on the playlist--is that really anyone's concern? I've always believed that this was a forum for pure commentary, for its own sake. I never expected it to be any sort of catalyst. I may be alone in that theory.
redeyespy wrote:
So the comments board should be filled with nothing but positive comments? People are not allowed to express displeasure for a track that doesn't appeal to them for whatever reason? Doesn't make a lick of sense. Do you also support the aerial spraying of Prozac? A comments board should exist for all remarks: good, bad, indifferent. Slanted to any one of those three exclusively, and you have boredom. As to whether or not listener remarks will have an effect on the playlist--is that really anyone's concern? I've always believed that this was a forum for pure commentary, for its own sake. I never expected it to be any sort of catalyst. I may be alone in that theory.
I guess the 72% of votes being in the 7+ range made him say what he did. Silly to complain about comments either way. Now, complaining about particular comments is fair game (~_^)
This song is what classic, circa 1980 rock and roll is all about. And that's both a good thing and a bad one.
I know! I was just thinking, "Man, I hate this song." Yet I thought it fondly, and it's not as if I don't know all the words by heart, though it has easily been 20 years since I heard it last.
See, this makes up for those last two terrible cover songs!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jmk999 wrote:
Negative comments - it seems to me - are nothing more than statements intended to indicate superiour musical taste. There's certainly no reason to believe they'll have any effect on RP's playlist. So please, please keep 'em to yourself.
So the comments board should be filled with nothing but positive comments? People are not allowed to express displeasure for a track that doesn't appeal to them for whatever reason? Doesn't make a lick of sense. Do you also support the aerial spraying of Prozac? A comments board should exist for all remarks: good, bad, indifferent. Slanted to any one of those three exclusively, and you have boredom. As to whether or not listener remarks will have an effect on the playlist--is that really anyone's concern? I've always believed that this was a forum for pure commentary, for its own sake. I never expected it to be any sort of catalyst. I may be alone in that theory.
Negative comments - it seems to me - are nothing more than statements intended to indicate superiour musical taste. There's certainly no reason to believe they'll have any effect on RP's playlist. So please, please keep 'em to yourself.
These comments (and the sheer volume of them) are entertaining enough without wondering how Joan Jett's cover would be received here.
When I follow Robert Johnson down to the crossroads to make my deal, Bon Scott's sinister feral growl is what I'm after. Highway to Hell indeed.
This song is what classic, circa 1980 rock and roll is all about. And that's both a good thing and a bad one.
Tonedeaf wrote:
Some folks just need to relax and enjoy a song for what it is...it doesn't have to be a work of art. It doesn't have to have deep, meaningful, or insightful comments.
No doubt. I use music like a drug...it makes me feel good!
drekar wrote:
One of the many benefits of having given up commercial radio a long time ago: I can enjoy AC/DC again!!!!
Exactly. I haven't listened to the ol' AM/FM in years, so I'm out of touch with the whole "overplayed" concept. Also, as much as I don't want to (thanks to an old coworker who played their greatest hits every day for 3 months) I can still get in the mood for this song. Anyhow, if you want to stop the madness, remember to go to savenetradio.org and keep pushing your reps for the Internet Radio Equality Act! I, for one, don't want SoundExchange getting ANY concessions that aren't HARD fought. Tell your rep the truth. If you're under 30, RIAA = Satan. A deal with them is a deal with the Beast. They eat that up, they're so desperate to figure out why the hell their poll numbers are so low.
what's the number for the back door man? (click here)
Is it over?
Lotta comments for one play of one tune. Mine is that any AC/DC is fine with me. 8.
SomeOldGuy wrote:
OK, who are you and what did you do with Bob?
hah! my thought exactly
hmph .. if I had heard this song on my car radio I might have changed stations .. but it just struck me as such a funny flashback of a song choice that I gave it an 8.
trekhead wrote:
That's THREE! Less than 5... In a row! Wha happa?
I guess your musical tastes suck. This rocks. 10 all the way.
Alafia wrote:
I can NOT believe this song is in the RP playlist.
Why? Doesn't it enrich RP's spectrum?
Bravo, Bill!
I was surprised.
I thought he said - dirty deeds and the guns are cheap
OK, who are you and what did you do with Bob?
trekhead wrote:
That's THREE! Less than 5... In a row! Wha happa?
For me this was a breath of fresh air after a lame and than an even lamer song
Fun! I wouldn't want to hear it every day or even once a week. But every now and again is great!
Somehow this is a lot more fun to hear on RP than it is for the 20th time in a single day on the commercial stations here!
Land_Shark wrote:
This song needs to be turned up so loud your hair vibrates. Rock hard!!!
Agree 100%
I can NOT believe this song is in the RP playlist.
That's THREE! Less than 5... In a row! Wha happa?
This song needs to be turned up so loud your hair vibrates. Rock hard!!!
Walrus_Gumbo wrote:
I always heard this as, "Thirty Thieves and the Thunder Chief"
I heard "Dirty thieves and the dunderdeep", which makes no sense at all, but I couldn't figure it out for the longest time.
I *so* agree with this post. orpheus wrote:
agree, I can hear this alot on any classic rock station. If you really wanna change things up, play some deep cuts by the Doors, JBrowne, BRaiit, PJam, even AC-DC ("girl's got a rhythm" comes to mind), just not the same radio bullshit!
Thank you RP, there is light at the end of this tunnel for this set.
How can you NOT like this song?!?
Nice one !
greatest band ever RIP Bon
Atta Boy, Bill!
ah, memories of junior high. I know all the words.
Hooray! A fun band to throw into a mix.
Incredable band live, if you like rock and roll. Saw them open for Black Sabbath at the Hordern Pavillion in Sydney in 1973, before AC/DC really made a big name for themselves on the international music scene. Angus came on stage alone, in a private school boater, blazer, tie and shorts. Plugged in and almost literally blew the room apart. The band then proceeded to totally gobsmack the crowd for the next 2 hours with their 'high voltage' rock and roll. Best Aussie act I ever saw, and I saw literally hundreds of performances. Sabbath, albeit at the height of their popularity following the release of 'Paranoid', never had a chance, the parochial Aussie crowd bayed for more Acca Dacca all night, much to Ozzie's chagrin! Only other performance I saw that would rate similar was Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, they were the first band to ever perform at the Sydney Opera House, another great night! Sorry for the self-indulgence............
Rock. ON.
Leatherpoker wrote:
Oh no....AC/DC
agree, I can hear this alot on any classic rock station. If you really wanna change things up, play some deep cuts by the Doors, JBrowne, BRaiit, PJam, even AC-DC ("girl's got a rhythm" comes to mind), just not the same radio bullshit!
I love the comments here. Some folks just need to relax and enjoy a song for what it is, head banging fun! It doesn't have to be a work of art. It doesn't have to have deep, meaningful, or insightful comments. Not that all that stuff isn't great at times, but it just isn't necessary for every single song to have a great song! AC/DC just rocks! The louder the better
heyjoe3577 wrote:
Weird Al has a version called "Dirty Deeds Done to Sheep"
Bob Rivers sounds nothing like Weird Al.
9:42 pm - AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap 9:39 pm - Tom Jones - Kiss (w/ Art of Noise) 9:35 pm - Angélique Kidjo - Gimme Shelter (w/ Joss Stone)
I missed it! Another great change-up for the List! I remember when this came out in the early 80s-it had apprently been banned in the U.S. when it was originally released in '76. So, I guess we won't be hearing "Big Balls", Bill?
Wow, 30 responses on a single play.. I have some friends in here!
neckties
heyjoe3577 wrote:
Weird Al has a version called "Dirty Deeds Done to Sheep" "Velvet Gloves, Electric Fences, High Voltage!!"
I always heard this as, "Thirty Thieves and the Thunder Chief"
If it's good enough for Beavis & Butthead . . .
Just came back to see I have missed this. There is hope
CanuckBeaker wrote:
I'd need to be drunk. Very very drunk. And stoned. And physically restrained to prevent me from killing the power to whatever equipment/individual was causing this noise to hurt my ears.
You know you love it!
Uncle_Fenester wrote:
Sometimes you just gotta go with what feels good!
Yeah!
Sometimes you just gotta go with what feels good!
Yeah!
ShockwaveRider wrote:
I have a theory that if you are ALWAYS in the mood for AC/DC there's something wrong with you and if you are NEVER in the mood for AC/DC there's something wrong with you. Today, I was in the mood for AC/DC.
You nailed that.
Lonestar wrote:
You just can't deny AC/DC Co-workers are peering into my office, nodding approval.
At least you have cool coworkers.
One of the many benefits of having given up commercial radio a long time ago: I can enjoy AC/DC again!!!!
victoryluna wrote:
MAKE IT STOP! This is a joke, right Bill?
Maybe you need some dirty deeds there Lassie...
Speaking of the RIAA....
Bill's not too old to rock!!!
Excellent work, Bill
You just can't deny AC/DC Co-workers are peering into my office, nodding approval.
ShockwaveRider wrote:
I have a theory that if you are ALWAYS in the mood for AC/DC there's something wrong with you and if you are NEVER in the mood for AC/DC there's something wrong with you. Today, I was in the mood for AC/DC.
Amen!
Is this some sort of weird radio edit?
Oh no....AC/DC
EB3 wrote:
Looks like this is the first playing of this.... I hope the last. I can get this stuff 24/7 on Q104.3 New York's Classic Rock, comin' atcha... There must be better AC/DC you could play...show something we don't usually see of them. It'll be over soon.
Haven't been listening to that. This is fun!
MAKE IT STOP! This is a joke, right Bill?