It is argued that rock lyrics, alternatively seen as poetry, are a source of instructional material for students of English as a Second Language (ESL), offering an opportunity for literary analysis that is highly motivating, relevant to students' lives, a potential bridge to more serious literature, and a readily-available source of authentic reading and listening material. The content can be viewed in two ways: (1) literature in the form of rock music (poems set to music or lyrics that are new versions of previous literary works), or (2) rock lyrics as poems in their own right. It is proposed that interpreting rock lyrics in class can be a significant opportunity to exchange views, discover how much members of the class community have in common, and learn how others view the world. A brief bibliography is included. (MSE)