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.
Let's Boogie
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girl, I'm gonna give you a little kiss
You're gonna feel my hands all around you
Not a finger will you miss
After I turn you on, baby
I'm gonna blow your mind with some of this
Squeezed in that mauved dress you showed me
With that foxy frame you're flaunting
It ain't no way it won't fit you right
We're going to a rock and roll revival
You know we're sure 'nuff gonna boogie tonight
They'd be playing them old and golden goodies
Used to blow my mind when I was a child
Back when I'd got my head together
I wouldn't walk a block, but I'd dance a mile
Girl, you better be in good shape tonight
'Cause we sure e'nuff gonna ball awhile
It's been a long, long time
Since I let me backbone bend
Oh, for them same sweet memories
When we didn't have nothing but time to spend
We'd boogie and ball all Saturday mornin'
Right back that night and ball again
The lyrics to Chuck Berry's song Let's Boogie are playful and flirtatious, with a clear focus on dancing and physical attraction. The opening lines set the tone for the song, as Berry invites a girl over and promises a kiss and to make her feel his hands all around her. He then goes on to describe her outfit, commenting on how well it fits her and setting the scene for the rock and roll revival they will be attending.
The second verse of the song is nostalgic, with Berry reminiscing about the old and golden goodies that used to blow his mind when he was a child. He contrasts this with his current state, where he needs the girl he is with to be in good shape because they are going to ball for a while. The final verse continues this theme of nostalgia, as Berry reflects on the same sweet memories of boogieing and balling that he had when he didn't have anything but time to spend. Overall, the lyrics to Let's Boogie are fun and upbeat, celebrating the joy and freedom of dancing and physical connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on over here, baby
Chuck Berry invites a girl to join him closely
Girl, I'm gonna give you a little kiss
He's implying a seductive action
You're gonna feel my hands all around you
He's implying a sensuous act
Not a finger will you miss
He promises to caress her whole body
After I turn you on, baby
He implies he'll seduce her first
I'm gonna blow your mind with some of this
He's going to make her experience life's pleasures
Squeezed in that mauve dress you showed me
He compliments his girl's dress
Child, that hemline's out of sight
He finds her style fashionable
With that foxy frame you're flaunting
He admires her figure
It ain't no way it won't fit you right
He finds her dress perfectly fitting
We're going to a rock and roll revival
He's taking her to a music concert
You know we're sure 'nuff gonna boogie tonight
He's planning to dance and have a great time
They'd be playing them old and golden goodies
Golden hits of the past are being played
Used to blow my mind when I was a child
He recalls enjoying these songs in his youth
Back when I'd got my head together
He remembers being young and carefree
I wouldn't walk a block, but I'd dance a mile
He exaggerates his love for dancing
Girl, you better be in good shape tonight
He teases her to be ready for a night of dancing
'Cause we sure e'nuff gonna ball awhile
He's implying they'll dance and have a physical intimacy
It's been a long, long time
It's been ages since he last enjoyed himself
Since I let me backbone bend
He's saying it's been that long since he last danced
Oh, for them same sweet memories
He misses the memories of the past
When we didn't have nothing but time to spend
He recalls when they were young and free
We'd boogie and ball all Saturday mornin'
He remembers dancing with her all morning long
Right back that night and ball again
He's excited to dance and spend the night with her again
Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. 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.