Chuck Berry remains an influential figure and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music who first began performing in 1953. Cub Koda wrote, "Of all the early breakthrough rock & roll artists, none is more important to the development of the music than Chuck Berry. He is its greatest songwriter, the main shaper of its instrumental voice, one of its greatest guitarists, and one of its greatest performers." John Lennon was more succinct: "If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry'."
Berry was among the first musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on its opening in 1986. He received Kennedy Center Honors in 2000 in a "class" with Mikhail Baryshnikov, Plácido Domingo, Angela Lansbury, and Clint Eastwood. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Chuck Berry #5 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. He was also ranked 6th on Rolling Stone's Rolling Stone's 100 greatest guitarists of All Time.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included three of Chuck Berry's songs (Johnny B. Goode, Maybellene, Rock & Roll Music), of the 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll.
Chuck Berry held a special place, in terms of sound development, in the formation of, Mersey-Beat at Liverpool.
The finest exponent of Chuck Berry, guitar, sound at Liverpool during 1959 to 1963, was Vincent Tow/Ismail, who in turn passed on many of the learned skills to Lennon & McCartney, his friends and colleagues during that period--1959 to 1962/3.
Chuck Berry also influenced many of the great rock 'n' roll bands that we know today including The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.
Anthony Boy
Chuck Berry Lyrics
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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
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
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
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.