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.
Jhonny B. Goode
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
Who never ever learned to read or write so well
But he could play a guitar just like a-ringin' a bell
Go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Johnny B. Goode
He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
Oh, the engineers would see him sitting in the shade
Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made
People passing by, they would stop and say
"Oh my that little country boy could play"
Go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Johnny B. Goode
His mother told him "Someday you will be a man
And you will be the leader of a big old band
Many people coming from miles around
To hear you play your music when the sun go down
Maybe someday your name will be in lights
Saying "Johnny B. Goode tonight"
Go go
Go Johnny go
Go go go Johnny go
Go go go Johnny go
Go go go Johnny go
Go
Johnny B. Goode
Chuck Berry and Bruce Springsteen's song Johnny B. Goode is an ode to a simple, hardworking country boy named Johnny B. Goode. The song describes Johnny living in a log cabin deep in Louisiana, and although he couldn't read or write, he had a unique talent for playing the guitar. Johnny used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack, sit beneath the tree by the railroad track, and play along with the rhythm of the train drivers. As people passed him by, they would stop and admire his talent, amazed by how someone so young could play so well.
Johnny's mother recognized her son's talent and told him that one day, he would lead a big band, and people from miles around would flock to see him play his music. Johnny's mother also believed that her son's name would someday be in lights, saying "Johnny B. Goode tonight." The song ends with a chorus urging Johnny to go go go, as if prompting him to pursue his musical dreams and become the icon he was destined to be.
Overall, the song highlights the talent, simplicity, and hard work ethic of Johnny B. Goode, who was destined to become a musical legend.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans
In the southern United States, specifically Louisiana, near the city of New Orleans, there is a story to be told.
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
The cabin in which Johnny grew up was in a rural area, surrounded by tall evergreen trees.
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
Johnny's home, like many homes in rural areas, was built using materials that were readily available - logs and dirt.
Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
Johnny, the young protagonist of this song, was a young boy living in the country.
Who never ever learned to read or write so well
Johnny may not have mastered reading and writing, but he had a talent that would serve him for a lifetime.
But he could play a guitar just like a-ringin' a bell
Johnny's musical gift was playing the guitar - an instrument that he played so well, it was a lot like the sound of bells ringing out.
Go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Johnny B. Goode
This is a chorus and a call to action to Johnny. The people listening to his music are hyping him up, pushing him to continue to play.
He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
When Johnny went out to play music, he'd bring a simple sack to hold his guitar, then would head out to a quiet spot by the train tracks to play.
Oh, the engineers would see him sitting in the shade
Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made
The railroad workers would notice Johnny sitting beneath the trees, strumming his guitar, matching the rhythm of the trains passing through.
People passing by, they would stop and say
"Oh my that little country boy could play"
As people walked past, they were drawn to Johnny's good music and couldn't help but stop to admire his skill.
His mother told him "Someday you will be a man
And you will be the leader of a big old band
Many people coming from miles around
To hear you play your music when the sun go down
Maybe someday your name will be in lights
Saying "Johnny B. Goode tonight"
Johnny's mother was proud of her son and believed that one day he would lead a popular and successful band. She envisioned large crowds coming to see him play his music, with his name up in lights for all to see.
Go go
Go Johnny go
Go go go Johnny go
Go go go Johnny go
Go go go Johnny go
Go
Johnny B. Goode
Another chorus to remind Johnny to keep playing, and to recognize his status and nickname as Johnny B. Goode - someone who is really good at what they do.
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT 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.