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.
Drifting Blues
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a ship out on the sea.
Well I'm drifting and drifting,
Like a ship out on the sea.
Well I ain't got nobody
In this world to care for me.
If my baby would only take me back again
Well you know I ain't good for nothin' baby
Well I haven't got no friends.
I give you all of my money,
Tell me what more can I do.
I give you all my money,
Tell me what more can I do.
Well you just a good little girl
But you just won't be true.
Bye-bye baby, baby bye-bye bye-bye,
It's gonna be too late baby
I'll be so far away.
The lyrics of Chuck Berry's song Drifting Blues express the sense of being lost and alone, much like drifting aimlessly on the sea. The repetition of the phrase "I'm drifting and drifting" emphasizes this feeling of being lost and without direction. The reference to not having anyone to care for the singer reinforces the theme of loneliness. The singer desires to be with his baby once more, and he asks that she take him back. However, he also admits that he's not good for anything and that he hasn't got any friends, suggesting that he may have been responsible for the relationship's end.
The singer then states that he gave his baby all of his money, asking what more can he do. This suggests he has already done everything he could to win her back. However, he then accuses her of not being true, giving a possible reason for the breakup. The singer concludes by saying goodbye to his baby, realizing that it might be too late to reconcile, and he's left with no choice but to drift away into the distance, leaving his problems behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm drifting and drifting,
I am wandering aimlessly and without direction
Like a ship out on the sea.
Similar to a ship that is adrift on the ocean, I am lost and without a course.
Well I ain't got nobody
I don't have anyone in my life to support me or show that they care for me.
In this world to care for me.
I don't have anyone in the world who cares about me or is looking out for my well-being.
If my baby would only take me back again
If only my partner would forgive me and let me back into their life.
If my baby would only take me back again.
I am pleading with my partner to give me another chance and reconcile our relationship.
Well you know I ain't good for nothin' baby
I acknowledge that I have made mistakes and feel that I am unworthy of love or respect.
Well I haven't got no friends.
I don't have any friends or companions in my life to provide me with companionship or support.
I give you all of my money,
I have given you all of the financial support that I can and feel as though I have done everything that I can to make you happy.
Tell me what more can I do.
I am asking what else I could possibly do to make you stay with me and make our relationship work.
Well you just a good little girl
I see you as a good person who deserves happiness and love.
But you just won't be true.
Despite my efforts to win your love and attention, you haven't been faithful or trustworthy in our relationship.
Bye-bye baby, baby bye-bye bye-bye,
I am saying goodbye to my partner and the relationship we shared.
It's gonna be too late baby
When you realize what you've lost by leaving me, it will be too late to repair the damage done.
I'll be so far away.
By the time you come to your senses and realize your mistake, I will have moved on and be somewhere else.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRONISLAW KAPER, KIM GANNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrOldskoolmusiclvr62
A great song to learn on Guitar!
pghpookie
RIP Chuck Berry....the vocal group is the Dells....Johnnie Carter's high tenor is unmistakable....
fiftymerc sled
absolutely love this. Many moons ago . I had an lp with this one but it was a little slower and less backup . love that one too. Hot Damn.. this good stuff. ripple red
David Gunter
the King....of rock and roll
George Whitney
RIP, Chuck Berry! Oct. 18, 1926 - March 18, 2017
Suzanne Stack
excellent.
Małgorzata Ziółkowska
Very....... goooooood
Michael Sorrells
How many times I hear Chuck Berry song like Johnny be Good roll over Beethoven little Queen my Ding-a-Ling school day rest in peace a icon person
Adriana .Alves
uauuuuu
Morbid_tales
AC/DC brought me here