Anthony Boy
Chuck Berry Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Eight o'clock in the morning and I'm movin' on out to school
With an open book and a sleepy look, the teacher can't be fooled
I catch a pass in an early class, the teacher will never know
That I postponed my work at home watching the evening show

Hey, there! Anthony boy, why are you in such a rush?
The girl she wanna talk to you, look at him, he's a blush
Three o'clock in the afternoon completes a day of school
Before the thing can cease the ring he's in the vestibule

Betty and Barbara and Jeanie and Jane are yackity-yackin' with Joan
About some things that Anthony told her over the telephone
hey, there! Tony me boy, why are you in such a rush?
The girl she wanna talk to you, look at him, he's a blush

Hey, there! Anthony boy, why are you in such a rush?
The girl she wanna talk to you, look at him, how he blush
Betty told me the secret that I had told her not to tell
Now that you know she knows I know you know that all is well
Come come Tony, me boy, don't let 'em get in your hair
With a good education you may become a multi-millionaire





Hey, there! Anthony boy, why are you in such a rush?
The girl she wanna talk to you, look at him, he's a blush

Overall Meaning

Chuck Berry's song "Anthony Boy" tells the story of a young man named Anthony who is trying to balance his schoolwork with his social life. In the first verse, Anthony is on his way to school with a book in hand, but his tired look doesn't fool the teacher. He manages to catch a pass in class, but he knows the teacher will never know that he put off his work to watch TV the night before. The chorus then kicks in with classmates teasing him for blushing while talking to a girl.


The second verse continues with Anthony's day at school. He's in a rush to leave because he knows the girl he likes wants to talk to him. As he's in the vestibule, he overhears his female classmates gossiping about him and what he told the girl on the phone. The chorus repeats, with his friends teasing him about blushing when talking to the girl.


The last verse reveals that a girl named Betty betrayed Anthony's secret to the others. However, Tony is reassured that she won't tell anyone else because he knows she knows he knows. The song ends with a moral lesson from Tony's friend, telling him not to let these distractions get in the way of a good education that could lead him to become a multi-millionaire.


Overall, "Anthony Boy" is a relatable song about the struggles of being a young man and trying to balance school, friends, and romance. Chuck Berry's catchy guitar riffs and upbeat tempo make it a fun and nostalgic listen.


Line by Line Meaning

Eight o'clock in the morning and I'm movin' on out to school
I am leaving for school at 8 AM in the morning


With an open book and a sleepy look, the teacher can't be fooled
I may look sleepy, but I am carrying an open book to read in class


I catch a pass in an early class, the teacher will never know
I caught a passed ball in class, but the teacher didn't notice


That I postponed my work at home watching the evening show
I didn't complete my homework because I watched TV instead


Hey, there! Anthony boy, why are you in such a rush?
Someone is calling out to Anthony, asking why he is in a hurry


The girl she wanna talk to you, look at him, he's a blush
Anthony is blushing because a girl wants to talk to him


Three o'clock in the afternoon completes a day of school
School ends at 3 PM in the afternoon


Before the thing can cease the ring he's in the vestibule
Anthony is in the hallway before the school bell even stops ringing


Betty and Barbara and Jeanie and Jane are yackity-yackin' with Joan
A group of girls are talking loudly with each other


About some things that Anthony told her over the telephone
The girls are discussing something that Anthony talked about on the phone


Betty told me the secret that I had told her not to tell
Betty revealed a secret that Anthony had asked her to keep quiet


Now that you know she knows I know you know that all is well
Anthony knows that Betty revealed his secret, but everything is still fine


Come come Tony, me boy, don't let 'em get in your hair
Someone is encouraging Anthony to stay focused and not get distracted


With a good education you may become a multi-millionaire
Having a good education may lead to financial success in the future




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHUCK BERRY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

Jack


on Little Marie (Alternate)

Yes, oh yes, Long Distance, I'll accept the charge, I'll pay
Which love one is calling me, I did not hear you say.
Both are deep within my hearth, her Mom and my Marie

It so good to hear your voice from Memphis, Tennessee

Oh, you mean so much to me, more than you'll ever know,
Surely, you have not forgot how much I love you so
If you would remember, Dear, and sometimes talk to me
Maybe that would reunite our home in Tennessee.

Last time I saw you, just before I had to leave
You did not want to see me off and promised not to grieve,
My hearth was tore apart as I looked back at my Marie
And there the peace is still remain with you in Tennessee.

I guess I should stop talking, after all you placed the call
But anyway that I can help, you know I'll help you all


Then she spoke and asked me to come back and see Marie
And live together in our home in Memphis, Tennessee.