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.
Louis To Frisco
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As flighty as a Bumble Bee
I'm here today and gone tomorrow
Foot loose child and fancy free
I'm absolutely independent
Nothin' at all is gonna worry me
I believe I was born to travel
You come to know some way-out people
To say the least, I dig the most
Who live and love across both borders
Trip, East and West from coast to coast
I only have one cradle to rock now
I'm gonna rock it everywhere I go
From St. Louis to San Francisco
Ah! From Canada to Mexico
I'm gonna let my cradle rock now
'Till it just won't rock no more
Chuck Berry's song Louis To Frisco is all about being free, independent and craving adventure on the open road. The singer claims to be as free as a bird and flighty as a bumblebee, suggesting an unburdened wanderlust. He emphasizes that his movement from place to place is unhindered and that he is not worried about a thing. This is true freedom from the daily stresses and anxieties of life.
He declares a belief that he was born to travel and that the open road is going to bring him readily into contact with eccentric types of people, people that most might not meet on a daily basis. One thing is for sure the singer prefers to be in motion, crossing both borders and traveling from coast to coast. Then he asserts his final sentiment, that he only has one cradle to rock and that he is going to rock it everywhere he goes. From St Louis to San Francisco, Canada to Mexico he is going to "let his cradle rock now" until it just won't rock no more. This line can be interpreted to mean that the singer will rock his cradle, or himself, or he will continue to rock the world until he is no more.
The lyrics embody the classic story of the wanderer, someone who is free-spirited, curious, and independent. The singer does not feel inclined to settle down, build a home or create a stable life; instead, he prefers to keep moving because life is an adventure. This song echoes Berry's most prominent themes of freedom, wanderlust and the American road. Additionally, this song is a part of Berry's Louie Louie album, which was released in 1972.
Interesting facts about the song Louis to Frisco by Chuck Berry are:
Line by Line Meaning
I'm as free as a bird now
I feel unrestricted and unbound by anything.
As flighty as a Bumble Bee
I am carefree and move from place to place with ease.
I'm here today and gone tomorrow
I live in the moment and am not tied to any specific plans or obligations.
Foot loose child and fancy free
I am energetic and uninhibited, enjoying life without being attached to anyone or anything.
I'm absolutely independent
I rely only on myself and make my own decisions.
Nothin' at all is gonna worry me
I am free from concern or anxiety about the future.
I believe I was born to travel
I have a calling to explore and see the world.
The open road is gonna bring me close
Traveling to new places will help me connect with people and learn about different cultures.
You come to know some way-out people
Meeting unconventional and interesting individuals is a common experience while traveling.
To say the least, I dig the most
I find these unique individuals the most fascinating.
Who live and love across both borders
These individuals come from diverse backgrounds and love without boundaries.
Trip, East and West from coast to coast
I travel across the country, both east and west, and experience life from different perspectives.
I only have one cradle to rock now
I only have one life to live.
I'm gonna rock it everywhere I go
I will make the most of every moment and experience life to the fullest.
From St. Louis to San Francisco
I travel from one end of the country to the other.
Ah! From Canada to Mexico
I also travel from one country to another.
I'm gonna let my cradle rock now
I will embrace life and live it to the fullest.
'Till it just won't rock no more
I will continue living my life this way until my time on this earth comes to an end.
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.