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.
Hoochie Coochie Man
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You got a boy-child comin', gonna be a son-of-a-gun
Gonna make these pretty women, jump and shout
And the world will only know, a-what it's all about
Y'know I'm here
Everybody knows I'm here
And I'm the hoochie-coochie man
On the seventh hour, of the seventh day,
On the seventh month, the seventh doctor said:
"He's born for good luck, and I know you see;
Got seven hundred dollars, and don't you mess with me
Y'know I'm here
Everybody knows I'm here
And I'm the hoochie-coochie man
Everybody knows I'm here
Gypsy woman told my momma
Said "Ooh, what a boy,
He gonna make so many women,
Jump and shout for joy"
Y'know I'm here
Everybody knows I'm here
And I'm the hoochie-coochie man
Everybody knows I'm here
Gypsy woman told my momma, before I was born
You got a boy-child comin', gonna be a son-of-a-gun
Gonna make these pretty women, jump and shout
And the world will only know, a-what it's all about
Y'know I'm here
Everybody knows I'm here
And I'm the hoochie-coochie man
Everybody knows I'm here
I got a black cat bone, I got a mojo too
I got John the Conqueror, I'm gonna mess with you
I'm gonna make you, pretty girl, lead me by the hand
Then the world will know, the Hoochie-Coochie Man
The song "Hoochie Coochie Man" by Chuck Berry is a blues classic and tells the story of a man who was prophesied to be a force to reckon with before he was born. The song begins with the man's mother being told by a gypsy woman that she was going to give birth to a boy-child who would go on to achieve great success and make "these pretty women jump and shout". The prophesy says that the world will only know of him and what he's all about. It's then revealed that the man is, in fact, the hoochie coochie man, a name that has become synonymous with a skilled practitioner of African-American vernacular dance. The man asserts his presence and reputation, letting everyone know that he's the real deal and that his power is undeniable.
The song continues with a reference to numerology, as the seventh hour, day, and month of the year are spoken of as being auspicious. The seventh doctor tells the boy's mother that he's born for good luck, and he backs up the words with a $700 sum, daring anyone to try and mess with him. The remainder of the verses serves to validate the prophesy that the gypsy woman made by highlighting the man's possession of powerful charms. He has black cat bones, a mojo hand, and John the Conqueror at his disposal, which are all potent symbols in African-American folk magic. He can make women follow him, and he revels in the fact that he's the hoochie coochie man.
Line by Line Meaning
Gypsy woman told my momma, before I was born
Before I was even born, a fortune teller informed my mother
You got a boy-child comin', gonna be a son-of-a-gun
The psychic predicted that my mother would give birth to a boy who would cause quite a stir
Gonna make these pretty women, jump and shout
I have an irresistible quality that will make women dance and cheer
And the world will only know, a-what it's all about
People will recognize and appreciate the special talent and excitement I bring to the world
Y'know I'm here
I am present and impossible to ignore
Everybody knows I'm here
I am famous and recognizable to all
And I'm the hoochie-coochie man
I am the master of seduction and entertainment
On the seventh hour, of the seventh day,
My fortunate birth on a particular date and time
On the seventh month, the seventh doctor said:
Even the doctor recognized that I was born under auspicious circumstances
"He's born for good luck, and I know you see;
The doctor felt that my birth signaled a lucky future
Got seven hundred dollars, and don't you mess with me
I am confident and financially secure, so others should not underestimate me
Said "Ooh, what a boy,
The fortune teller was impressed by the potential of my future endeavors
He gonna make so many women,
My charming ways will attract many female admirers
Jump and shout for joy"
These women will enjoy being around me so much that they will dance and cheer
I got a black cat bone, I got a mojo too
I possess powerful objects that give me an advantage over others
I got John the Conqueror, I'm gonna mess with you
With my magical items, I can assert my dominance over others
I'm gonna make you, pretty girl, lead me by the hand
Using my skills of persuasion, I will convince attractive women to do my bidding
Then the world will know, the Hoochie-Coochie Man
Once I achieve fame and recognition, everyone will acknowledge me as the ultimate entertainer and seducer
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Willie Dixon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tomhankins7500
I played bass for Chuck for awhile in 1966 when I was 17. A great memory that I'll forever will cherish. l'm still out on the blues circuit, and I always do this song. Long live Chuck Berry.
@susanmckee3802
I grew up in a time when a lot of this took place and you know that called Elvis Presley the king of rock and roll I suppose he is with his beautiful voice but when it comes to lock and roll I believe Chuck Berry with the first man that made love to his guitar rock and rollers know what I'm talking about the guitar with his first love rest in peace Chuck Berry
@terjeschei2064
Take care old man.. He is good. I am 65 As times goes bye...
@cammer68oliver2
How cool to know! Thanks for sharing! These were the days of REAL MUSIC... and especially from the black community. This rap shit today can’t hold a candle to this old rock n roll.
@owencooke5461
Wow as an 18 year old I can only imagine how great that would be
@marcsteeman8773
Tom Hankins , great music, great story that you play bass for Chuck. Great moments
@1biggrandpa
Saw him in 1960, after the concert he pulled out of the parking lot in a big black limo. He had the driver stop when he saw us autograph hounds, and rolled his tinted window down about 2 inches. I asked, cause I couldn't see him."Are you Chuck Berry?" He quickly replied....." Mornin, noon, and night!" Then he gave me and others his autograph. Whenever I hear him make that guitar of his ring like a bell I think of that night. Rock n Roll will never die!
@TheDman216
I don't think most guitar players of today realize how great of a player Chuck Berry is..The grandfather of The Rock Sound..Gibson Es355 and a fender all tube amp..
@pierpaolopierpa8276
TheDman216 not only rock but very good blues man
@walkawayjoe
He's just as much a legend as Muddy Waters. Chuck probably had the most influence on young guitar players. A lot of great rock and roll bands from 60's to the 90's and he lived to see it all . Chuck had his Gibson buried in there with him when passed. Played like he was born with it maybe he was