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.
Chuck Berry Dialog 1
Chuck Berry Lyrics
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They ain't said I broke no rule.
I ain't never been in Dutch.
I don't browse around too much
Don't bother me, leave me alone
Anyway I'm almost grown
Got myself a little job
I'm gonna buy me a little car,
Drive my girl in the park
Got my eye on a little girl.
Ah, she's really out of this world.
When I take her to the dance,
She's got to talk about romance.
You know I'm still livin' in town.
But I done married and settled down.
Now I really have a ball
So I don't browse around at all
In Chuck Berry's song "Chuck Berry Dialog 1," the singer discusses how he is doing well in school and has not broken any rules or gotten into trouble. He does not spend his time aimlessly browsing around and has a part-time job. He plans to use his earnings to buy a car and take his girlfriend out to the park. The singer also speaks about a particular girl whom he likes and hopes to take to a dance, where they can talk about romance. However, the singer states that he has settled down and is no longer interested in browsing around town.
The song highlights the experiences of a young man who is coming of age and trying to figure out his place in the world. He is ambitious and has goals of buying a car and spending time with his girlfriend. However, he also understands the importance of responsibilities and settling down, which is why he has married and is no longer interested in "browsing around." The song speaks to the challenges of navigating adolescence and making decisions based on both personal desires and societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah 'n' I'm doin' all right in school.
I'm doing well in school.
They ain't said I broke no rule.
I haven't broken any rules.
I ain't never been in Dutch.
I've never been in trouble.
I don't browse around too much
I don't wander aimlessly.
Don't bother me, leave me alone
I'd prefer not to be bothered.
Anyway I'm almost grown
I'm almost an adult.
I don't run around with no mob.
I don't hang out with a group of people.
Got myself a little job
I have a small job.
I'm gonna buy me a little car,
I'm saving up to buy a car.
Drive my girl in the park
I want to take my girlfriend for a ride in the park.
Got my eye on a little girl.
I have my sights set on a girl I'm interested in.
Ah, she's really out of this world.
She's amazing.
When I take her to the dance,
When I go to a dance with her,
She's got to talk about romance.
I want her to talk about romantic things.
You know I'm still livin' in town.
I still live in this town.
But I done married and settled down.
But I've gotten married and settled down.
Now I really have a ball
Now I'm really happy.
So I don't browse around at all
So I don't wander aimlessly anymore.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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.