Let It Rock
Berry (Chuck) Lyrics
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Working on the railroad with the steel driving hammer
I gotta get some money to buy some brand new shoes
Tryin' to find somebody to take away these blues
"She don't love me" hear them singing in the sun
Payday's coming and my work is all done
Well, in the evening when the sun is sinking low
Sitting in a tee pee built right on the tracks
Rolling them bones until the foreman comes back
Pick up you belongings boys and scatter about
We've got an off-schedule train comin' two miles out
Everybody's scrambling, running around
Picking up their money, tearing the tee pee down
Foreman wants to panic, 'bout to go insane
Trying to get the workers out the way of the train
Engineer blows the whistle loud and long
Can't stop the train, have to let it roll on
The song "Let it Rock" by Chuck Berry starts with the singer laboring on a railroad in Mobile, Alabama. He is working with a steel driving hammer, trying to earn enough money to purchase some new shoes and escape his blues. The singer hears others singing a tune about lost love and is looking forward to getting paid. He then describes sitting in a teepee, rolling dice and engaging in other gambling activities until he hears a whistle that signifies an off-schedule train is approaching. The foreman is seeking to remove the workers from harm's way. The train arrives, and they let it roll on, signaling the end of another workday.
The song has several themes, including the working-class struggle, the blues, and danger. The opening verse sets the scene of the monotony of work, the desire to escape a miserable life and the hope that payday will provide a bit of relief. The second verse builds tension as the workers realize they must get out of the way of the imminent danger. This section adds a layer of suspense to the music that eventually culminates in the train's loud whistle. Berry's use of language helps introduce the listener to the setting's vernacular, the sounds, and the emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
In the heat of the day down in Mobile Alabama
During the hot weather in Mobile Alabama
Working on the railroad with the steel driving hammer
Working hard on the railroad with the steel hammer
I gotta get some money to buy some brand new shoes
I have to make some money to buy new shoes
Tryin' to find somebody to take away these blues
Trying to find someone to help me with my problems
"She don't love me" hear them singing in the sun
People are singing about being heartbroken in the sun
Payday's coming and my work is all done
Payday is approaching and my work is finished
Well, in the evening when the sun is sinking low
In the evening when the sun is setting
All day I been waiting for the whistle to blow
I have been waiting all day for the whistle to blow
Sitting in a tee pee built right on the tracks
Sitting in a small shelter built on the tracks
Rolling them bones until the foreman comes back
Playing dice until the foreman comes back
Pick up your belongings boys and scatter about
Pick up your things and leave quickly
We've got an off-schedule train comin' two miles out
There is an off-schedule train coming in two miles
Everybody's scrambling, running around
Everyone is rushing around
Picking up their money, tearing the tee pee down
Collecting their money and dismantling the shelter
Foreman wants to panic, 'bout to go insane
Foreman is on the verge of panicking
Trying to get the workers out the way of the train
Trying to move the workers out of the way of the train
Engineer blows the whistle loud and long
The engineer blows the whistle loudly and for a long time
Can't stop the train, have to let it roll on
Can't stop the train, must let it continue
Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
Written by: E Anderson, Chuck Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind