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.
I'm A Rocker
Chuck Berry Lyrics
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I may go down sometimes but I come back to rock'n'roller
We were out on the floor when they played number one,
We were rockin' and a rollin' and really havin' fun
I'm a rocker, yeah; I'm a roller,
I may go down sometimes but I come back to rock'n'roller
You know she claims she don't, but I know she do
I'm a rocker, yeah, I'm a roller
I may go down sometimes, but I come back to rock'n'roller
We were out on the floor when they played number three
Believe me, I was digging her and she was digging me
I'm a rocker, yeah, I'm a roller
I may go down sometimes, but I come back to rock'n'roller
We were out on the floor when they played number four
She done freak me out and I was ready to go
I'm a rocker, I'm a roller
I may go down sometimes, but I come back to rock'n'roller
We were out on the floor when they played number five
I was lit up like a green light on a one-way drive
I'm a rocker, I'm a roller
I may go down sometimes, but I come back to rock'n'roller
We were out on the floor when they played number six
I was stone getting firm like a cement mix
I'm a rocker, I'm a roller
I may go down sometimes, but I come back to rock'n'roller
We were out on the floor when they played number seven
We caught a taxicab and told him to take us to heaven
I'm a rocker, I'm a roller
I may go down sometimes, but I come back to rock'n'roller
We were out on the floor when they played number eight
She was right on time, and I wasn't a second late
I'm a rocker, I'm a roller
I may go down sometimes, but I come back to rock'n'roller
We were out on the floor when they played number ten
We had a coke, a cheeseburger, went and did it again.
I'm a rocker, I'm a roller
I may go down sometimes, but I come back to rock'n'roller
We was all freaked out when the band went down
And we all got together and went round and around
I'm a rocker, I'm a roller
I may go down sometimes but I come back
Rockin', rollin', rockin', rollin', rockin'
Rollin' and really havin' fun
I'm a rocker, I'm a roller
I may go down sometimes but I come back to rock'n'roller
Chuck Berry's "I'm A Rocker" is a song about the two sides of a rocker and a roller. He acknowledges that sometimes he feels like a rocker, and sometimes like a roller. When he's a rocker, he's out on the dance floor grooving to the tunes, having a good time, and living life to the fullest. Regardless of what he's feeling at any given moment, he knows that he always comes back to his roots as a rock and roller. Each verse describes a different song that he and his partner dance to, with each song being more enjoyable than the last. By the end of the night, they were so into the music that they lost track of time and danced until the band stopped playing.
The song is essentially about the joy of dancing and living life to the fullest. It's about getting lost in the music and enjoying the moment. There's no deeper meaning or hidden agenda, just a celebration of life, music, and dance.
Line by Line Meaning
You know sometimes I'm a rocker and sometimes I'm all a roller.
I have an unpredictable personality and can switch between being a rocker and a roller.
I may go down sometimes but I come back to rock'n'roller
I may suffer defeat or setbacks, but I always bounce back to being a rocker and roller.
We were out on the floor when they played number one
We were enjoying ourselves and dancing when they played the first song.
We were rockin' and a rollin' and really havin' fun
We were enthusiastically and energetically dancing and having a good time.
You know she claims she don't, but I know she do
She denies it, but I know that she enjoys rock and roll music.
Believe me, I was digging her and she was digging me
I was enjoying her company and she was enjoying mine.
She done freak me out and I was ready to go
She surprised me and made me excited, and I was ready to continue dancing.
I was lit up like a green light on a one-way drive
I was exhilarated and energized like a green light speeding down a one-way road.
I was stone getting firm like a cement mix
I was becoming increasingly solid and steadfast like a cement mixture.
We caught a taxicab and told him to take us to heaven
We were feeling so good that we asked the taxi driver to take us to a place of paradise.
She was right on time, and I wasn't a second late
She was punctual, and I arrived on time to meet her.
We had a coke, a cheeseburger, went and did it again
After having a drink and a meal, we resumed dancing and having fun.
We was all freaked out when the band went down
We were all disappointed and upset when the band stopped playing music.
And we all got together and went round and around
We continued to dance and have fun together, despite the band stopping.
Rockin', rollin', rockin', rollin', rockin', Rollin' and really havin' fun
We were actively engaged in both rock and roll dancing and having a great time.
Lyrics © 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.