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.
Johny B Good
Chuck Berry Lyrics
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Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
There stood a log cabin mad of earth and wood
Where lived a country boy name of johnny b. goode
He 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
The engineers would see him sittin' in the shade
Strummin' to the rhythm that the drivers made
People passing by would they would stop and say
Oh my but that little country boy can play
Go, go, go johnny go
Go, go johnny go
Go, go, go johnny go
Go, go, go johnny go
Go, go johnny b. goode
Well his mama told him some day you will be a man
You will be the leader of a big old band
Many people comin' from miles around
Just to hear you play your music till the sun go down
Maybe some day your name will be in lights
Sayin' johnny b. goode tonight
Go, go, go, go, go johnny go
Go, go johnny go
Go, go, go johnny go
Go, go johnny go
Go, go johnny b. goode
"Johnny B Good" by Chuck Berry is a song about a talented country boy from Louisiana named Johnny B. Goode. The song describes Johnny's cabin in the woods where he lived, and how he was unable to read or write well but could play the guitar exceptionally well. He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack and play it whilst sitting beneath a tree by the railroad tracks. His talent was so great that drivers who passed by would enjoy the rhythm and stop to listen to him play. His mother had told him that one day he would be a leader of a band, and people would come from miles around to listen to him play. The song ends with the hope that Johnny B Good's name would be in lights someday, saying "Johnny B. Goode tonight".
The song is a celebration of the raw talent possessed by Johnny B. Goode. It acknowledges the fact that despite his lack of education, Johnny B. Goode was gifted in music, and suggests that he didn't need to conform to societal norms to be successful. The song's emphasis on the importance of natural talent and the ability to play music demonstrates the power of music to break down social barriers and unite people from different walks of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Way down in louisiana close to new orleans
Johnny B. Good hails from Louisiana near New Orleans.
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
Johnny B. Good lived in a cabin deep in the woods surrounded by evergreen trees.
There stood a log cabin mad of earth and wood
The place where Johnny B. Good lived was a log house made of earth and wood.
Where lived a country boy name of johnny b. goode
Johnny B. Good was a country boy who resided in the log cabin.
He never ever learned to read or write so well
Although Johnny B. Good didn't have the best education, he was a talented musician.
But he could play a guitar just like a-ringin' a bell
He had a natural talent for playing the guitar and could play it beautifully just like the sound of a ringing bell.
Go, go, go johnny go
There is an enthusiastic cheering for Johnny to start playing his music.
He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Johnny used to carry his guitar with him in a bag made of gunny material.
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
He would sit under a tree near the railroad tracks to play his guitar.
The engineers would see him sittin' in the shade
The engineers driving the trains would see Johnny sitting in the shade playing his music.
Strummin' to the rhythm that the drivers made
Johnny would strum his guitar to the rhythm of the sounds made by the passing train.
People passing by would they would stop and say
People who passed him by would stop and admire his music.
Oh my but that little country boy can play
Everyone was amazed by Johnny's beautiful guitar playing despite him being from a small town.
Well his mama told him some day you will be a man
Johnny's mother spoke to him and predicted that he would grow up to be a successful musician.
You will be the leader of a big old band
She went ahead to prophecy that he would become the head of a famous musical group.
Many people comin' from miles around
People would travel from far places to come and see Johnny's music performances.
Just to hear you play your music till the sun go down
They would stay late into the night just to listen to Johnny's music till the sun goes down.
Maybe some day your name will be in lights
Perhaps one day Johnny's name would be up in shining lights on big stages and music award shows.
Sayin' johnny b. goode tonight
His name would be mentioned, and he would be celebrated as the guest artist performing that night.
Go, go, go, go, go johnny go
The song ends with a call for Johnny to continue entertaining his audience with his music.
Contributed by Ryan S. 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.