Johnny B. Goode
Bill Haley And The Comets Lyrics
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Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood,
Where lived a country boy name of Johnny B. Goode
He never ever learned to read or write so well,
But he could play the guitar like ringing a bell.
Go Go
Go Go
Johnny B. Goode
He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
And sit beneath the trees by the railroad track.
Oh, the engineers used to see him sitting in the shade,
Playing to the rhythm that the drivers made.
People passing by would stop and say
Oh my that little country boy could play
His mama told him someday he would be a man,
And he would be the leader of a big old band.
Many people coming from miles around
To hear him play his music when the sun go down
Maybe someday his name would be in lights
Saying Johnny B. Goode tonight.
The lyrics to "Johnny B. Goode" by Bill Haley and the Comets tell the story of a young man from Louisiana named Johnny B. Goode. Despite his lack of formal education, Johnny has an innate talent for playing the guitar. He lives in a log cabin in the woods, but he often ventures out to play his music by the railroad tracks. People passing by are astonished by his proficiency, and he seems destined for greatness.
Johnny's mother recognizes her son's potential and encourages him to pursue a career in music. She predicts that he will become a famous bandleader one day, and many people will come to hear him play. The chorus of the song urges Johnny to keep playing and to continue to improve his skills.
"Johnny B. Goode" is both a celebration of rock and roll music and a tribute to those who have a natural talent for it. The song tells the story of a young man who is able to overcome his lack of formal education and poverty to become a successful musician. It also acknowledges the role that the railroad played in the popularity of rock and roll, as it provided a means for people to travel from town to town in search of new music.
Line by Line Meaning
Way down Louisiana close to New Orleans,
Johnny B. Goode lived in Louisiana, not far from New Orleans.
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
Johnny's home was in the woods, surrounded by trees.
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood,
He lived in a simple log cabin, built from earth and wood.
Where lived a country boy name of Johnny B. Goode
Johnny B. Goode was the name of the country boy who lived in the cabin.
He never ever learned to read or write so well,
Although he wasn't very literate, he had musical talent.
But he could play the guitar like ringing a bell.
Johnny B. Goode was an excellent guitar player, with a unique style.
Go Go
An exclamation, urging Johnny on.
Go Johnny Go
An exclamation, urging Johnny on.
Go Go
An exclamation, urging Johnny on.
Johnny B. Goode
Johnny B. Goode's full name, repeated as a refrain.
He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Johnny would carry his guitar in a gunny sack to transport it.
And sit beneath the trees by the railroad track.
He would play his guitar beneath trees by the railroad track.
Oh, the engineers used to see him sitting in the shade,
Railroad engineers would see Johnny sitting in the shade, playing his guitar.
Playing to the rhythm that the drivers made.
He would play in time with the sounds of trains passing by.
People passing by would stop and say
People who passed by Johnny would stop and admire his musical talent.
Oh my that little country boy could play
People were impressed by his skills despite his humble background.
His mama told him someday he would be a man,
Johnny's mother told him he would grow up to be a man one day.
And he would be the leader of a big old band.
She also predicted he would lead a popular band one day.
Many people coming from miles around
People came from far away to hear him play.
To hear him play his music when the sun go down
They would gather in the evening to enjoy his music.
Maybe someday his name would be in lights
It was possible that Johnny's name could become famous one day.
Saying Johnny B. Goode tonight.
People might see his name in lights on a marquee, announcing his performance.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHUCK BERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind