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.
Broken Arrow
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(I ain’t never doing that again)
Met up with Geronimo’s enemy tribe
(I ain’t never doing that again)
There was a broken arrow here, a bloody arrow there
A head broken, back busted, bones broken, bloody bones
Met up with Geronimo’s enemy tribe
(I ain’t never doing that again).
Sent my lady downtown to shop
(I ain’t never doing that again)
She evidently didn’t know when to stop
(I ain’t never doing that again)
With a mink stole here and a chinchilla there
A here fur, there fur, fur where I don’t know
Sent my lady downtown to shop
(I ain’t never doing that again).
I bet all I had on a hearsay sure shot
(I ain’t never doing that again)
The horse started walking because the sun got hot
(I ain’t never doing that again)
I had a bill lying here and a bill lying there
A home bill, gas bill, all but a dollar bill
I bet all I had on a hearsay sure shot
(I ain’t never doing that again).
Chuck Berry's song Broken Arrow tells three separate stories of foolish decisions, each ending with the refrain "I ain't never doing that again." The first verse speaks of a Native American chief who made the mistake of engaging in battle with Geronimo's enemy tribe. The chief suffered a broken head, back, and bones, and he regrets the entire ordeal. The second verse talks about a woman who was sent to go shopping and went overboard with buying furs. The singer, presumably her husband, laments that he will never let her go shopping again after this experience. The third verse tells of a man who bet all his money on a horse race, only to lose it all when the horse stopped running due to the heat. He ends up with a pile of bills and only a single dollar bill left. The three stories all share the common theme of regret for foolish decisions.
One interesting fact about "Broken Arrow" is that it references the Native American practice of using a broken arrow as a symbol of peace. The presence of broken arrows in the song suggests that the attempts at peace in the first verse were futile. Another interesting fact is that the song was covered by Neil Young and played during his 1970-1971 solo tour. Young has cited Chuck Berry as one of his major influences. The song also appears in the Martin Scorsese-directed film "The Departed."
Another interesting fact is that the lyrics of "Broken Arrow" were inspired by a series of events in Chuck Berry's life. In 1960, he was sentenced to three years in prison for violating the Mann Act, which prohibits transporting a woman across state lines for immoral purposes. During his time in prison, Berry wrote to his wife to tell her that he regretted his actions and would never make the same mistake again. After his release, he had a string of legal troubles, including tax evasion and drug offenses. The experiences he had during this period likely inspired the lyrics of "Broken Arrow."
The chords for "Broken Arrow" are D, D, G, G, D, D, A7, A7, D, D.
Line by Line Meaning
Old Chief warrior on a mountain side
Reflecting on a time I was foolish and reckless
(I ain’t never doing that again)
I regret my past behavior and have learned from my mistakes
Met up with Geronimo’s enemy tribe
I got into a dangerous situation and put myself at risk
There was a broken arrow here, a bloody arrow there
There was evidence of a violent conflict before me
A head broken, back busted, bones broken, bloody bones
The aftermath of the violent conflict was gruesome and horrifying
Sent my lady downtown to shop
Trusting someone else with my belongings and finances
She evidently didn’t know when to stop
My trust was misplaced and she exceeded my expectations
With a mink stole here and a chinchilla there
She bought expensive and unnecessary items
A here fur, there fur, fur where I don’t know
The amount and type of fur she bought was excessive and confusing
I bet all I had on a hearsay sure shot
I risked everything on an uncertain outcome
The horse started walking because the sun got hot
I lost my bet due to unforeseen circumstances
I had a bill lying here and a bill lying there
I had bills to pay but didn't allocate my money responsibly
A home bill, gas bill, all but a dollar bill
I struggled to prioritize and manage my finances
Contributed by Juliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.