The Beat Goes On
Cher/Sonny Bono Lyrics
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Drums keep pounding
A rhythm to the brain
La de da de de, la de da de da
Charleston was once the rage, uh huh
History has turned the page, uh huh
The mini skirts the current thing, uh huh
[Chorus]
The grocery store's the super mart, uh huh
Little girls still break their hearts, uh huh
And men still keep on marching off to war
Electrically they keep a baseball score
[Chorus]
Grandmas sit in chairs and reminisce
Boys keep chasing girls to get a kiss
The cars keep going faster all the time
Bums still cry, "Hey buddy,
Have you got a dime?"
[Chorus]
The lyrics to 'The Beat Goes On' by Cher/Sonny Bono depict the passage of time and how things keep changing while some things stay the same. The song talks about the constant rhythm of the world and how it continues on no matter what happens. The repeating chorus line, "the beat goes on," emphasizes this message of continuity. The drums in the song represent this rhythm and the line "a rhythm to the brain" shows how it affects our thoughts and perceptions.
The following verses describe how society has changed over time but still follows this beat - from the Charleston dance of the past to the current trend of mini skirts and teenyboppers. The second chorus refers to the effect of technology and modern trends like supermarkets and baseball scoreboards. The final verse talks about the simple pleasures of life - grandmas sitting and chatting, young boys chasing girls, cars getting faster, and the unfortunate reality of homelessness. However, despite all the changes, the beat and rhythm of life continue to go on.
Line by Line Meaning
The beat goes on, the beat goes on
Life moves on no matter what, the world keeps turning and things continue happening
Drums keep pounding
The sound of life, rhythm of living
A rhythm to the brain
Life is constant, everything happens in patterns
La de da de de, la de da de da
Life goes on, no matter what else we have to say about it
Charleston was once the rage, uh huh
Different times had different dances and trends
History has turned the page, uh huh
Trends and times change, what was popular in the past is not so anymore
The mini skirts the current thing, uh huh
Current popular trend is mini skirts
Teenybopper is our newborn king, uh huh
New generation coming up has their own identity and trends
The grocery store's the super mart, uh huh
Supermarkets have replaced the traditional grocery stores
Little girls still break their hearts, uh huh
Young girls still feel the same emotions and heartbreaks as they always have
And men still keep on marching off to war
Wars continue to happen, and men are still fighting them
Electrically they keep a baseball score
Technology has revolutionized the way we keep scores and watch sports
Grandmas sit in chairs and reminisce
Elderly people enjoy looking back at their memories and experiences
Boys keep chasing girls to get a kiss
Young love and flirtation remains a timeless tradition
The cars keep going faster all the time
Technology keeps improving, and cars become faster with time
Bums still cry, "Hey buddy, Have you got a dime?"
Poverty and homelessness remain an ongoing issue in society
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SONNY BONO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kiwi Max
I was just 14 years old when this record hit the big-time. I remember us all thinking how exotic Cher was with her dark, dark hair, high cheek bones, and sultry style. She still mesmerizes. And that deep contralto voice! I get chills!
Grumpy Old Man
That bass riff from Carol Kaye is unreal and made this song fly.
robert thacher
She was one of the best studio bass players in Hollywood then. She is all over Pet Sounds!
robert thacher
She was an active studio player at the time. She played on most of Pet Sound
Kathleen Kelley
Yes, from The Wrecking Crew.
robert thacher
Written by Sonny Bono, it is an iconic song that you hear all the time in commercials. Hit the charts in January 67 when I was a freshman in HS. Great organ work here! Super lyrics by Sonny!
Kathleen Kelley
Great bass work by Carol Kaye of The Wrecking Crew.
doug thompson
The best thing Sonny and Cher ever did, and I am not mocking what they did. They were far more a contribution to the whole 60s feel than people give them credit for. This song, to me, summed up the entire feel that was happening...that most of us couldn't really understand what this incredible energy was all about. This song rang out and said, "This is what's happening"! It was a form that people connected to. I remember people all happy when this song came out. All of a sudden the beatles and peace n love and psychedelia and mod and groovy all made sense. It was a vibe. Another song that did that was "Dancin in the streets" by Martha and the Vandelles. They were simple harmless groovy digestible yet hip songs.
Desertwind
Cher turned 77 today. Happy Birthday Cher! Oh how I wish I could step back in time. Sonny and Cher were magic together. He couldn't sing, but you never noticed. They both went on to great things, but never were they as good as they were together. And the beat goes on...
Kathleen Kelley
Since he wrote all the songs, it was easier to overlook how he sounded...