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, PlΓ‘cido 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.
Have Mercy Judge
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm being held by the State Patrol
I am charged with traffic of the forbidden
And I almost finished doing my parole
Now, I'm on my way back down town
Somebody help me, have mercy on my soul
I go to court tomorrow morning
Lord, I know he won't have no mercy on me
'Cause he told me not to come back no more
He'll send me away to some stoney mansion
In a lonely room and lock the door
Ow! Have mercy on my little Tulane
She's too alive to try to live alone
And I know her needs
And although she loves me
She's gonna try to make it
While the poor boy's gone
Somebody should tell her to live
And I'll understand it
And even love her more
When I come back home
Chuck Berry's song Have Mercy Judge is a poignant and introspective look at the consequences of wrongdoing and the pain it causes both the wrongdoer and their loved ones. The singer finds himself in a world of trouble, being held by the State Patrol and facing charges of trafficking forbidden items. He reveals that he has almost finished his parole, but now faces being sent back downtown to face judgment once again. He pleads for mercy, knowing that the judge who will preside over his case tomorrow morning will show him none, having already warned him not to come back. He fears being locked away in a "stoney mansion" and being left alone with his thoughts.
In the second verse, he shifts his focus to his loved one, Tulane. He acknowledges that she is too alive to try and live alone, and that although she loves him, she's going to try to make it while he's gone. He hopes that somebody will tell her to live her life and that he'll understand and love her more when he comes back. It's a powerful look at the damage done by breaking the law and the ripple effects it has on those we care about.
Line by Line Meaning
Have mercy, I'm in a world of trouble now
I'm in trouble with the law and desperately need help
I'm being held by the State Patrol
The State Patrol has arrested and detained me
I am charged with traffic of the forbidden
I've been charged with possessing something illegal
And I almost finished doing my parole
I'm close to completing my probation sentence
Now, I'm on my way back downtown
I'm headed to the city center or courthouse
Somebody help me, have mercy on my soul
I need someone to help me and show me compassion
I go to court tomorrow morning
My court date is set for tomorrow morning
And I got the same judge I had before
The same judge who previously convicted me will hear my case
Lord, I know he won't have no mercy on me
I expect the judge to be unsympathetic towards me
'Cause he told me not to come back no more
The judge warned me not to commit any more crimes
He'll send me away to some stoney mansion
I'll be sent to prison or jail
In a lonely room and lock the door
I'll be confined to a cell with no companionship
Ow! Have mercy on my little Tulane
I'm worried about my loved one, Tulane
She's too alive to try to live alone
Tulane is too young and vibrant to be alone
And I know her needs
I understand what Tulane requires
And although she loves me
Even though Tulane cares about me
She's gonna try to make it
She's going to try to manage on her own
While the poor boy's gone
While I'm not around to help
Somebody should tell her to live
Someone should encourage Tulane to enjoy life
And I'll understand it
I'll be okay with her living her life
And even love her more
My love for Tulane will only grow
When I come back home
When I return from my legal troubles
Lyrics Β© ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
Written by: CHUCK BERRY
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.