Let It Rock
Chuck Berry Lyrics


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In the heat of the day down in Mobile Alabama
Working on the railroad with the steel driving hammer
I gotta get some money to buy some brand new shoes
Tryin' to find somebody to take away these blues
"She don't love me" hear them singing in the sun
Payday's coming and my work is all done

Well, in the evening when the sun is sinking low
All day I been waiting for the whistle to blow
Sitting in a tee pee built right on the tracks
Rolling them bones until the foreman comes back
Pick up you belongings boys and scatter about
We've got an off-schedule train comin' two miles out

Everybody's scrambling, running around
Picking up their money, tearing the tee pee down
Foreman wants to panic, 'bout to go insane
Trying to get the workers out the way of the train




Engineer blows the whistle loud and long
Can't stop the train, have to let it roll on

Overall Meaning

Chuck Berry's Let It Rock is a narrative of a man working on the railroad in Mobile Alabama to earn some money, in order to purchase a brand new pair of shoes and cure his blues. He overhears people singing "She don't love me" in the sun, informing him of the frustration of not being loved by someone, and as his work comes to an end, payday is approaching. In the evening, he anxiously waits for the whistle to blow, sitting by a teepee he built right on the tracks. His companions are passing the time by gambling until they're interrupted by an off-schedule train approaching two miles away. Everyone picks up their belongings and scatters about as the foreman is screaming, running insane, attempting to get the workers out the way of the train. However, the engineer of the train blows the whistle, and the workers have no option but to let it roll on.


This song has several themes, but the most important one is the existence of unpredictability in life. The man in the song is trying to earn a wage through relentless work to purchase new shoes so that he can find someone to take away his problems. Everything appears to be according to schedule until an unexpected train arrives, and chaos ensues. It's a representation of the way fate can disrupt our plans, leaving little control in our hands. Additionally, the lyrics about gambling in the teepee hint at dangerous behavior, such as impatience, which can also lead to life-altering results.


Line by Line Meaning

In the heat of the day down in Mobile Alabama
In the sweltering heat of the day down in Mobile, Alabama


Working on the railroad with the steel driving hammer
Laboring on the railroad with a heavy hammer used to lay steel tracks


I gotta get some money to buy some brand new shoes
I need to earn some cash to purchase fashionable new footwear


Tryin' to find somebody to take away these blues
Attempting to discover someone to alleviate my melancholy feelings


"She don't love me" hear them singing in the sun
Listening to singers lament unrequited love in the bright sunlight


Payday's coming and my work is all done
My hard work is almost over and I will soon be compensated


Well, in the evening when the sun is sinking low
Later, in the evening as the sun begins to set


All day I been waiting for the whistle to blow
All day I have been anticipating the whistle signaling the end of the workday


Sitting in a tee pee built right on the tracks
Sitting in a tent built on the tracks themselves


Rolling them bones until the foreman comes back
Rolling dice until the overseer of the workers returns


Pick up you belongings boys and scatter about
Collect your possessions and disperse, boys


We've got an off-schedule train comin' two miles out
An unexpected train is approaching from two miles away


Everybody's scrambling, running around
Everyone is in a frenzy, hastening themselves to move


Picking up their money, tearing the tee pee down
Gathering their wages and dismantling the tent


Foreman wants to panic, 'bout to go insane
The supervisor is distressed and nearing a mental breakdown


Trying to get the workers out the way of the train
Attempting to move the laborers out of the train's path


Engineer blows the whistle loud and long
The train conductor blasts a powerful and prolonged whistle


Can't stop the train, have to let it roll on
They cannot halt the train's momentum and must let it continue




Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
Written by: E Anderson, Chuck Berry

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

비정한세상

[Verse 1]In the heat of the day
Down In mobile Alabama
Working on the railroad
With the steel-driving hammer
I gotta make some money
To buy some brand new shoes
Tryin' to find somebody
To take away these blues
"She don't love me"
Hear them singing in the sun
Payday's coming when my work is all done

[Verse 2]
Later in the evening when the sun is sinking low
All day I been waiting for the whistle to blow
Sitting in a teepee built right on the tracks
Rolling them bones until the foreman comes back
Pick up your belongings boys and scatter about
We've got an off-schedule train comin' two miles out

[Verse 3]Everybody's scrambling n' 'jumping around
Picking up their money
Tearing the teepee down
Foreman wants to panic
'Bout to go insane
Trying to get the workers out the way of the train
Engineer blows the whistle long and long
Can't stop the train
You have to let it roll on



Deniz ATALAY

In the heat of the day
Down In mobile Alabama
Working on the railroad
With the steel-driving hammer
I gotta make some money
To buy some brand new shoes
Tryin' to find somebody
To take away these blues
"She don't love me"
Hear them singing in the sun
Payday's coming when my work is all done

Later in the evening when the sun is sinking low
All day I been waiting for the whistle to blow
Sitting in a teepee built right on the tracks
Rolling them bones until the foreman comes back
Pick up your belongings boys and scatter about
We've got an off-schedule train comin' two miles out

Everybody's scrambling n' 'jumping around
Picking up their money
Tearing the teepee down
Foreman wants to panic
'Bout to go insane
Trying to get the workers out the way of the train
Engineer blows the whistle long and long
Can't stop the train
You have to let it roll on



All comments from YouTube:

paul

Chuck Berry the ultimate rock performer. He wrote them, sang them, played them - and duck-walked across the stage to them! Chuck - you stand alone; the greatest rock'nroll poet.

Monkey Man

Yep. It all pretty much started with him. Doesnt get the credit he deserves imho.

Farmer George

Yes Yes!

MundM95

@Monkey Man ❤️

Don Frameli

Thank goodness

D to The Main

Know this song from the sopranos, without a doubt the greatest television show ever. Chuck Berry is a legend

TheRealZazaExpert

Paulie <3

Mic mic

Rock n Roll never dies

MundM95

Stimmt.

BackToTheBlues

My favourite of Chuck's, and in my opinion one of his best.

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