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 Still Got The Blues
Chuck Berry Lyrics
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If I had what he has, my blues would be gone
But, I got the blues, nothin' but the blues for you
I could have been happy with fortune and fame
I had everythin' that a poor man could name
But, I still have the blues, nothin' but the blues for you
Someone who'd even give me peace of mind
Talkin' the unknown outta my head
I just can't remember a thing that I said
Give me chance and take me back
And you'll see a change in the way I act
'Cause I got the blues, nothin' but the blues for you
Searchin' all over thinkin' I'd find
Someone who'd even give me peace of mind
Talkin' the unknown outta my head
I just can't remember a thing that I said
Give me chance and take me back
And you'll see a change in the way I act
And I won't have the blues, no, no blues for you
The lyrics to Chuck Berry's "I Still Got The Blues" communicate the struggle of a man who recognizes that his heartbreak has not been cured by material success. The song begins with a rhetorical question, a nod to the ubiquity of the blues in the American music tradition. The singer then remarks that if he had what someone else possessed, his feelings of loss and loneliness would disappear. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and he continues to be plagued by the "blues, nothin' but the blues".
The second stanza offers further context for the singer's melancholy state, as he acknowledges that he has achieved financial success but still feels empty. The third stanza touches on the desperation that comes with heartbreak, as the singer searches for something or someone to fill the void. In the final lines of the verse, he acknowledges his attempts to will away feelings he can't ignore, though the details of these efforts remain hazy.
The chorus of the song is a plea for forgiveness and understanding, as the singer asks for a second chance to prove he can change. He promises that without the relationship that has caused him so much pain, he "won't have the blues, no, no blues for you".
Overall, the song is a reflection on the impact of heartbreak and the extent to which it can poison even the most outwardly successful lives. Through its straightforward lyrics and straightforward message, "I Still Got The Blues" captures a common experience with honesty and empathy.
Line by Line Meaning
How many times have you heard this song
This song has been played repeatedly, indicating that the feeling of the blues has been experienced by many.
If I had what he has, my blues would be gone
The singer thinks that possessing what someone else has would alleviate their sorrow, but this is not a cure for the blues.
But, I got the blues, nothin' but the blues for you
Despite the singer's desire for a solution, they still have the blues and feel it solely for their significant other.
I could have been happy with fortune and fame
The artist could have been satisfied with material wealth and not experienced the blues, but this was not the case.
I had everythin' that a poor man could name
Even though the artist was poor, they had all that they desired, yet the blues still remained.
Searchin' all over thinkin' I'd find
The singer is on a quest for a way to rid themselves of the blues and is looking everywhere for answers.
Someone who'd even give me peace of mind
The singer seeks someone who can provide them with mental tranquility and reduce their stress and anxiety.
Talkin' the unknown outta my head
The artist is attempting to eliminate uncertainty from their thoughts and gain clarity about the situation causing their blues.
I just can't remember a thing that I said
The artist is so consumed by their distress that they cannot even recall what they have already tried to do to alleviate their blues.
Give me chance and take me back
The artist wants a second chance to reinstate their relationship with their significant other and is willing to change for them.
And you'll see a change in the way I act
If the singer is given another opportunity, they promise to display altered behavior and not cause their significant other any more sadness or grief.
'Cause I got the blues, nothin' but the blues for you
Despite wanting another chance, the artist still has the blues for their significant other and is hoping to overcome it.
Contributed by Lincoln V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.