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 Talking About You
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I met her walkin' down a uptown street
She's so fine you know I wished she was mine
I get shook up every time we meet
I'm talkin' 'bout you
Nobody but you
Yeah, I do mean you
Let me tell you 'bout a girl I know
I tell ya now she looks so good
Got so much skills and such a beautiful will
She oughta be somewhere in Hollywood
I'm talkin' 'bout you
Nobody but you
Come on, give me a cue
So I can get a message to you
Let me tell you 'bout a girl I know
She's sittin' right here by my side
Lovely indeed that's why I asked if she
Promised someday she would be my bride
I'm talkin' 'bout you
I do mean you
Nobody but you
Come on, let me get a message through
In Chuck Berry's classic song "I'm Talking About You," the lyrics describe a girl that he met while walking down an uptown street. This girl is so fine that Berry wishes she was his, and he gets "shook up" every time they meet. He then goes on to describe her physical appearance and her talent, saying that she should be "somewhere in Hollywood."
As the song progresses, Berry reveals that the girl he's been talking about is sitting right beside him. He describes her as lovely and admits that he has asked her to marry him someday. The song is a love letter of sorts, with Berry trying to get a message to this girl, professing his love and adoration for her.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me tell you 'bout a girl I know
I want to talk about a girl I know
I met her walkin' down a uptown street
I met her walking on a fancy street
She's so fine you know I wished she was mine
I find her so attractive and wish she was my girlfriend
I get shook up every time we meet
I get nervous and excited when I see her
I'm talkin' 'bout you
I'm referring to you
Nobody but you
I'm talking about no one else but you
Yeah, I do mean you
Yes, I'm really talking about you
I'm just trying to get a message to you
I just want to communicate with you
Let me tell you 'bout a girl I know
I want to talk more about this girl I know
I tell ya now she looks so good
I'm telling you that she is really beautiful
Got so much skills and such a beautiful will
She has a lot of talent and a great personality to match
She oughta be somewhere in Hollywood
She has the potential to be a star
Come on, give me a cue
Please give me a sign or hint
So I can get a message to you
So I can find a way to communicate with you
Let me tell you 'bout a girl I know
I want to talk more about this girl I know
She's sittin' right here by my side
She's actually sitting next to me right now
Lovely indeed that's why I asked if she
She's really lovely and that's why I asked her if she
Promised someday she would be my bride
Promised to marry me someday
I do mean you
I really mean you
Come on, let me get a message through
Please let me find a way to communicate with you
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.