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.
Confessin' the Blues
Chuck Berry Lyrics
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With my heart in my hand
I put it to you mama
Hoping that you'll understand
Oh, baby
Mama, please don't dog me 'round
Yeah I, I would rather love you, babyThan anyone else I know in town
This is my confession, Mama
And it's sung by all your song
It proves that I'm in heaven, Mama
When you hold me in your arms
Well, baby
Can I have you for myself
Yeah, if I can't have you, baby
I don't want nobody else
Well, baby
Don't you want a man like me
Well, baby
Don't you want a man like me
Yeah, think about your future, baby
Forget about your used to be
In this song, Chuck Berry is confessing his love to a woman, hoping that she will reciprocate his feelings. He stands before her with his heart in his hand, symbolizing vulnerability and sincerity. He pleads with her to not mistreat him, as he would rather love her than anyone else in town. He sings this as a confession, which is being sung by all of her songs. He feels like he is in heaven when she holds him in her arms, proving how deeply he cares for her.
Berry believes that he deserves to have her all to himself, and does not want anyone else to have her. He asks her if she wants a man like him, hoping that she sees the value in having him as her partner. He encourages her to think about her future, and forget about her past relationships. Overall, this song is a classic representation of a man laying his emotions out on the line, expressing his love, and hoping for a positive outcome.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby here I stand before you
I am standing here in front of you, confessing my feelings.
With my heart in my hand
I am offering you my love with sincerity.
I put it to you mama
I am expressing my love to you, my dearest mother.
Hoping that you'll understand
I am praying that you will see my love and accept it.
Oh, baby
My darling, please listen to me.
Mama, please don't dog me 'round
Mother, don't treat me badly or unfairly.
Yeah I, I would rather love you, baby
My love for you is greater than any other person in this town.
Than anyone else I know in town
There is no one else in this town that I love more than you.
This is my confession, Mama
I am confessing my honest feelings to you, mother.
And it's sung by all your song
All my emotions are expressed in this song, mother.
It proves that I'm in heaven, Mama
I am in complete bliss when you hold me in your arms.
When you hold me in your arms
Being embraced in your arms is the most comforting and loving feeling.
Well, baby
My love, let me ask you something.
Can I have you for myself
May I be the only man in your life?
Yeah, if I can't have you, baby
If I cannot be with you, then I do not want another soul.
I don't want nobody else
There is no one else I desire or love but you.
Don't you want a man like me
May I be the kind of man you want and need?
Yeah, think about your future, baby
Consider what we can have together, and how our future can be beautiful and bright.
Forget about your used to be
Ignore your past and focus on tomorrow with me.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: WALTER JACOBS
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.