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.
Back in The U.S.A.
Chuck Berry Lyrics
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We touched ground on an international runway
Jet propelled back home, from over the seas to the U.S.A.
New York, Los Angeles, oh, how I yearned for you
Detroit, Chicago, Chattanooga, Baton Rouge
Let alone just to be at my home back in ol' St. Lou
From the coast of California to the shores of Delaware Bay
You can bet your life I did, till I got back to the U.S.A.
Looking hard for a drive in, searching for a corner cafe
Where hamburgers sizzle on an open grill night and day
Yeah, and a jukebox jumping with records like in the U.S.A.
Well, I'm so glad I'm livin' in the U.S.A.
Yes, I'm so glad I'm livin' in the U.S.A.
Anything you want, we got right here in the U.S.A.
Chuck Berry's song Back in the USA is an upbeat celebration of American culture and life. The chorus, "Well, I'm so glad I'm livin' in the U.S.A./Yes, I'm so glad I'm livin' in the U.S.A./Anything you want, we got right here in the U.S.A.," expresses the sentiment of the song, that there's no place like home. Berry highlights some of America's great cities, from New York to Los Angeles, as well as smaller towns, like Chattanooga and Baton Rouge. The song is a testament to the American dream and the idea that you can find anything you need in the U.S.A, from the iconic drive-in to the corner café.
The verses of the song describe the singer's journey back home to America. The first verse references an international runway, implying that the singer has just arrived from a foreign country. The second verse mentions the singer's longing for cities he missed while he was away, such as New York and Los Angeles. He also mentions smaller towns, like Chattanooga and Baton Rouge, as well as his hometown of St. Louis. In the final verse, the singer is searching for classic American attractions, like drive-ins and diners, that he missed while he was away.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh well, oh well, I feel so good today
I am feeling absolutely ecstatic today
We touched ground on an international runway
The plane landed on a runway that's used by international flights
Jet propelled back home, from over the seas to the U.S.A.
The plane's engines thrust it back towards the US, across the ocean
New York, Los Angeles, oh, how I yearned for you
I longed to be in these cities so much
Detroit, Chicago, Chattanooga, Baton Rouge
As well as these other cities
Let alone just to be at my home back in ol' St. Lou
Not to mention just being back in St. Louis, my original home
Did I miss the skyscrapers, did I miss the long freeway?
Did I ever miss those tall buildings and those endless highways?
From the coast of California to the shores of Delaware Bay
From the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean
You can bet your life I did, till I got back to the U.S.A.
I absolutely did, until I finally made it back to America
Looking hard for a drive in, searching for a corner cafe
I'm on the hunt for a classic American drive-in or a corner cafe
Where hamburgers sizzle on an open grill night and day
Where they are always cooking hamburgers on an open grill, 24/7
Yeah, and a jukebox jumping with records like in the U.S.A.
And there are jukeboxes playing great music, just like in the USA
Well, I'm so glad I'm livin' in the U.S.A.
I'm thrilled to be living in America
Yes, I'm so glad I'm livin' in the U.S.A.
Yes, I'm really happy to be living here
Anything you want, we got right here in the U.S.A.
Anything you could want is available right here in the United States
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
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.