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.
La Jaunda
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down in Tijuana
La senorita come to me
She say "Mi nombre es La Jaunda"
I asked her would she care to dance
She looked at me and said "Como esta?"
I say "Hablo solo en Ingles
Y no comprendo Espanol"
I don't understand Espanol
For a moment I took a notion
Then I went into a dancing motion
She nodded her head
"Yo mucho gusto" she said
And she danced with more devotion
When her cheek came close to mine
I could hear her softly whisper
She said "Habla solo la langua de Ingles
Y no comprenda Espanol"
I speak only the language of English
I don't understand Espanol
She placed her hand before my heart
And she whispered "Yo te amora"
With half - closed eyes
She raised her lips
And she said "Besame ahora"
She hold me close and she squeeze me tight
And she whispered " Yo quiero ahora"
I say "Hablo solo la langua de Ingles
No comprendo Espanol"
I speak only the language of English
I don't understand Espanol
The song "La Jaunda" by Chuck Berry is a tale of a man who meets a girl named La Jaunda in Tijuana, Mexico. They communicate through language barriers as the singer can only speak English while La Jaunda speaks Spanish. Regardless, they find a way to dance together, and as the dance continues, they start to grow closer. Eventually, La Jaunda professes her love to the singer, but he cannot understand her words, so he tells her once again that he only speaks English.
The song is a commentary on the cultural differences and communication barriers that can come between people from different countries. Despite their language differences, the singer and La Jaunda still managed to find common ground through dancing and physical touch. The song also highlights the fear of the unknown and how people can be hesitant to engage with those who they perceive as different.
Line by Line Meaning
In Baya California
I was in Baja California, Mexico.
Down in Tijuana
Specifically, I was in the town of Tijuana.
La senorita come to me
A woman approached me.
She say "Mi nombre es La Jaunda"
She introduced herself as La Jaunda.
I asked her would she care to dance
I asked her if she wanted to dance with me.
She looked at me and said "Como esta?"
She asked me how I was doing.
I say "Hablo solo en Ingles
Y no comprendo Espanol"
I told her that I only spoke English and did not understand Spanish.
For a moment I took a notion
I briefly had a thought.
Then I went into a dancing motion
I began to dance.
She nodded her head
La Jaunda nodded in agreement.
"Yo mucho gusto" she said
She said "Nice to meet you".
And she danced with more devotion
La Jaunda danced passionately with me.
When her cheek came close to mine
As we were dancing closely,
I could hear her softly whisper
I heard her whisper softly.
She said "Habla solo la langua de Ingles
Y no comprenda Espanol"
She reiterated that she speaks only English and does not understand Spanish.
She placed her hand before my heart
La Jaunda placed her hand on my chest.
And she whispered "Yo te amora"
She whispered "I love you" to me.
With half - closed eyes
Her eyes were partially closed.
She raised her lips
She lifted her lips.
And she said "Besame ahora"
She said "Kiss me now".
She hold me close and she squeeze me tight
She hugged me tightly.
And she whispered " Yo quiero ahora"
She whispered "I want you now".
I say "Hablo solo la langua de Ingles
No comprendo Espanol"
I reiterated that I only spoke English and did not understand Spanish.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CHUCK BERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Diana Caballero Bolívar
Linda, preciosa tonada. <3
C Reinhardt
RIP. Chuck Berry we still listen to the Godfather of rock and roll.
Nathan Sears
Muy hermosa.
Jerry Risinger
The man is a genius
kellog dovahkiin
Iv been learning spanish recently and i finally understand what she is saying
Tony Freeman
He's always had that Latin flair
Mckinley Lowman
The only Chuck Berry number that I skipped fast. Y eso que hablo español.
Mike Mohn
Some great voice here, I think.
egojosepio
Curioso tema...
Stewart Bryson
Interesting because I have not much acoustic work from him. Nice song for the summer time with a margarita