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.
Big Boys
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wanted to do things the big boys do
Wherever they went you knew they wouldn't let me go
And I got suspicious and I wanted to know
I was bright in school but my future looked dim
'Cause the big boys wouldn't let me party with them
Yes, yes
Yes, yes
And you know why
Yes, yes
I knew when and what
Yes, yes
No ifs, ands, or buts
I was looking for joy
Yes, yes, yes, yes
When I was little bitty boy
All of the big girls with their to
And I asked them what's happening, nobody knew
But when I found out where, what, when, and why
I didn't let a single week pass by
Till the school dance when I first met you
And I learned to party like the big boys do
Yes, yes
I didn't cry
Yes, yes
And you know why
Yes, yes
I knew when and what
Yes, yes
No ifs, ands, or buts
I was looking for joy
Yes, yes, yes, yes
When I was little bitty boy
If I would have known what makes a world go 'round
I would have known what goes up must come down
If you love me like I love you, Mademoiselle Javejimbollywood
The girls want to stay and the boys want to play
So let's a-rock and roll till the break of day
Yes, yes
I didn't cry
Yes, yes
And you know why
Yes, yes
I knew when and what
Yes, yes
No ifs, ands, or buts
I was looking for joy
Yes, yes, yes, yes
When I was little bitty boy
Chuck Berry's song "Big Boys" is about a little boy who yearns to be included in the activities and adventures of the "big boys", who demonstrate their coolness by throwing parties and spending time with the attractive "big girls". The song is nostalgic in tone, with the singer looking back on his youthful desires to join the social scene and party with his idols. As the song progresses, the singer becomes more confident in his ability to seek out and find the fun he has been searching for. He enjoys partying until the break of dawn with Mademoiselle Javejimbollywood, and is proud that he never cried or gave up on his dreams.
The song's lyrics reflect a common theme in rock and roll music, which is the desire to rebel against authority and embrace a carefree, reckless lifestyle. The singer is frustrated by his inability to hang out with the cool kids, and he is determined to find a way to be included in their activities. The song also captures the optimism and excitement of youth, as the singer eagerly anticipates the fun and adventure that await him.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was just a little boy like you
As a child, I wanted to be like the older kids
I wanted to do things the big boys do
I wanted to experience the same things as the older boys
Wherever they went you knew they wouldn't let me go
The older boys never allowed me to join in on their activities
And I got suspicious and I wanted to know
I became curious and eager to find out why I was being excluded
I was bright in school but my future looked dim
Despite being smart in school, my lack of social skills made my future seem bleak
'Cause the big boys wouldn't let me party with them
My inability to hang out with the older boys made me feel left out
Yes, yes
I didn't cry
Yes, yes
And you know why
Yes, yes
I knew when and what
Yes, yes
No ifs, ands, or buts
I was looking for joy
Yes, yes, yes, yes
When I was little bitty boy
Despite feeling excluded and left out, I remained strong and optimistic, always seeking happiness and fun
All of the big girls with their to
I noticed that the older girls had become more mature and attractive
And I asked them what's happening, nobody knew
I looked to the older girls for answers, but they were just as clueless as I was
But when I found out where, what, when, and why
After some investigation, I finally figured out the details and reasons for why I was being excluded
I didn't let a single week pass by
I was determined to not let any more time go by before experiencing what the older boys were doing
Till the school dance when I first met you
Finally, at a school dance, I met someone who would show me how to party like the big boys do
If I would have known what makes a world go 'round
I would have known what goes up must come down
Reflecting back, if I had known the secrets of the world, I would have realized that everything eventually comes full circle
If you love me like I love you, Mademoiselle Javejimbollywood
Addressing a specific person, I express my love and hope for reciprocal emotions
The girls want to stay and the boys want to play
Girls and boys have different priorities, with girls often wanting to remain calm and collected, while boys like to engage in more exciting activities
So let's a-rock and roll till the break of day
Proposing a night of partying and fun until the sun comes up
Writer(s): Chuck Berry
Contributed by Matthew E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Experienced Eddie
When I was just a little boy like you
I wanted to do things the big boys do
Wherever they went you knew they wouldn't let me go
And I got suspicious and I wanted to know
I was bright in school but my future looked dim
'Cause the big boys wouldn't let me party with them
[Chorus]
Yes, yes
I didn't cry
Yes, yes
And you know why
Yes, yes
I knew when and what
Yes, yes
No ifs, ands, or buts
I was looking for joy
Yes, yes, yes, yes
When I was little bitty boy
[Verse 2]
All of the big girls with their to
When I ask 'em what's happening, nobody knew
But when I found out where, what, when, and why
I didn't let a single week pass by
Till the school dance when I first met you
And I learned to party like the big boys do
[Chorus]
Yes, yes
I didn't cry
Yes, yes
And you know why
Yes, yes
I knew when and what
Yes, yes
No ifs, ands, or buts
I was looking for joy
Yes, yes, yes, yes
When I was little bitty boy
[Verse 3]
If I would have known what makes a world go 'round
I would have known what goes up must come down
If you love me like I love you
Mademoiselle, je vous aime, voulez-vous?
The girls want to stay and the boys want to play
So let's a-rock and roll till the break of day
[Chorus]
Yes, yes
I didn't cry
Yes, yes
And you know why
Yes, yes
I knew when and what
Yes, yes
No ifs, ands, or buts
I was looking for joy
Yes, yes, yes, yes
When I was little bitty boy
xAmericanIdiotLuvrx
Chuck Berry has transcended to a level beyond anyone else.
Not only was he immortalized by having Johnny B Goode put in space, but now he is releasing songs from the dead.
Amazing.
oof !
Well he did actually record this but he died before he finished the whole album
Marysol_Gomez
This song kicks ass! Rest in peace Chuck Berry, the TRUE King of Rock n Roll.
StuDicious
He went out letting us know that he could still write some darn catchy songs when he felt like it!
Robert Basye
What a great gift Chuck Berry left us! Rock on!
Tom Fitton
This is brilliant. So excited that Chuck has a new album coming, but so sad it'll be the last 😭
Ambar Sherman
How he made it ? Its like a kind of ghost singer?
My son Crump has every injury
@Ambar Sherman he made the songs some time before he died and then the album was released by his family
Vincent S
Great song.
R.I.P. Chuck Berry
88Rocker
Once again Chuck Berry has blown me away!! Excellent, this is what rock and roll is. RIP Charles Edward Anderson Berry