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.
In The Wee Wee Hours
Chuck Berry Lyrics
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That's when I think of you
In the wee, wee hours
That's when I think of you
You say, but yet I wonder
If your love was ever true
In a wee little room
In a wee little room
I sit alone and think of you
I wonder if you still remember
All the things we used to do
One little song
For a fading memory
One little song
For a fading memory
Of the one I really love
The only one for me
Chuck Berry’s song Wee Wee Hours, released in 1955, is about love and heartache. The lyrics describe a man alone in the early hours of the morning, thinking about the woman he loves. The repetition of “wee wee hours” suggests a sense of desperation and sadness, as the man is unable to sleep and consumed with thoughts of his lost love. He questions whether her feelings for him were ever genuine, adding to his feelings of hurt and doubt.
The lyrics also evoke a sense of nostalgia, as the man recalls the moments he shared with his significant other. He reminisces about their experiences, questioning if she remembers them as fondly as he does. The line “One little song for a fading memory” suggests that the man is trying to hold on to the memories of their love, but they are slowly slipping away.
Overall, Chuck Berry’s Wee Wee Hours is a poignant and bittersweet reflection on lost love, encapsulating the feelings of loneliness, heartbreak, and nostalgia that often accompany the end of a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
In the wee, wee hours
During the early morning hours, when the night is almost over
That's when I think of you
I remember you and think of our time together
You say, but yet I wonder
Although you claim to love me, I have some doubts
If your love was ever true
I wonder if you ever truly loved me
In a wee little room
I'm alone in a small, cramped room
I sit alone and think of you
I spend my time thinking about you and our past
I wonder if you still remember
I'm curious if you still think of me and our past together
All the things we used to do
I think about all the activities and experiences we shared
One little song
One simple melody
For a fading memory
As a tribute to a memory that is starting to fade
Of the one I really love
About the person that I truly love and care about
The only one for me
The unique and special individual that has captured my heart
Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
Written by: Chuck Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hirogebra
One of the best guitar solos ever.
Padraig Lyons
Totally agree.
Robert Dore
Totally agree. The second chorus is knicker wetting....
Jasper Rijswijk,van
Yes it is.... Clapton is always great when he needs to battle with a other guitarist or with the great Johnny Johnson.
Gary Hart
Absolutely, first time I heard it I didn’t believe it was Clapton !!
Vespasian
I agree, hits different
Robert Dore
Clapton's 2nd chorus is KILLER!
I'm so glad he gave in to Chuck and "took another one"
tricky dick
I don't think he would have played it so well had not Berry been staring at him. Anyway one of Clapton's finest hours. A pity Johnson's solo wasn't shot from above, instead of sidewise.
Robert Dore
I quite agree Bud, Eric can REALLY PLAY
Pablo Pérez
and sing