Maybellene
Chuck Berry Lyrics


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Maybellene, why can't you be true
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true
You've started back doin' the things you used to do

As I was motivatin' over the hill
I saw Mabellene in a Coup de Ville
A Cadillac arollin' on the open road
Nothin' will outrun my V8 Ford
The Cadillac doin' about ninety-five
She's bumper to bumper, rollin' side by side
Maybellene
Why can't you be true
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true
You've started back doin' the things you used to do

The Cadillac pulled up ahead of the Ford
The Ford got hot and wouldn't do no more
It then got cloudy and started to rain
I tooted my horn for a passin' lane
The rainwater blowin' all under my hood
I know that I was doin' my motor good
Maybellene
Why can't you be true
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true
You've started back doin' the things you used to do

Oh, Maybellene
Why can't you be true
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true
You've started back doin' the things you used to do

The motor cooled down the heat went down
And that's when I heard that highway sound
The Cadillac asittin' like a ton of lead
A hundred and ten half a mile aheadv The Cadillac lookin' like it's sittin' still
And I caught Mabellene at the top of the hill
Maybellene
Why can't you be true




Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true
You've started back doin' the things you used to do

Overall Meaning

Chuck Berry's song "Maybellene" tells the story of a man named Johnny who is driving his V8 Ford when he spots his girlfriend, Maybellene, in a brand new Cadillac. The song's upbeat tempo and infectious guitar riff capture the excitement of car culture in the 1950s. The lyrics convey Johnny's conflicting feelings of love and jealousy as he watches Maybellene drive by, realizing that she's been up to no good.


The lyrics of the song convey a sense of urgency and excitement, as Johnny tries to catch up to Maybellene on the open road. The Ford and the Cadillac are both racing along the highway, with the Ford trying to keep up with Maybellene. The song's chorus, "Maybellene, why can't you be true?" repeats several times throughout the song, as Johnny wonders why Maybellene is playing games with him.


Overall, "Maybellene" is a classic rock and roll song that captures the spirit of the era in which it was written. Its catchy melody and driving rhythm have influenced countless bands and musicians in the years since its release.


Line by Line Meaning

Maybellene, why can't you be true
Addressing Maybellene and wondering why she cannot be honest and trustworthy


Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true
Reiterating the same question of why Maybellene cannot be truthful


You've started back doin' the things you used to do
Observing that Maybellene has returned to her old ways and habits


As I was motivatin' over the hill
Describing the artist's movement over a hill with enthusiasm and determination


I saw Mabellene in a Coup de Ville
Spotting Maybellene in a luxurious car called Coup de Ville


A Cadillac arollin' on the open road
Noticing a Cadillac cruising on the road


Nothin' will outrun my V8 Ford
Asserting that nothing can surpass the speed and power of the singer's V8 Ford car


The Cadillac doin' about ninety-five
Observing that the Cadillac is going at a speed of roughly 95 miles per hour


She's bumper to bumper, rollin' side by side
Describing how close the cars are and how they are moving together


The Cadillac pulled up ahead of the Ford
The Cadillac moved ahead of the Ford car


The Ford got hot and wouldn't do no more
The Ford car overheated and was unable to continue running


It then got cloudy and started to rain
The weather conditions changed and it began to rain


I tooted my horn for a passin' lane
Using the car horn to signal a need for a passing lane


The rainwater blowin' all under my hood
The rainwater splashing underneath the hood of the car


I know that I was doin' my motor good
The singer believed that driving through the rain would actually benefit the car's engine


The motor cooled down the heat went down
The car engine temperature went down as it cooled off


And that's when I heard that highway sound
Hearing the sound of the highway while driving


The Cadillac asittin' like a ton of lead
Observing how slow the Cadillac car was moving


A hundred and ten half a mile ahead
The Cadillac was at a considerable distance ahead, about half a mile away


The Cadillac lookin' like it's sittin' still
Emphasizing how far ahead the Cadillac was and how slow it looked compared to the artist's car


And I caught Mabellene at the top of the hill
The artist managed to catch Maybellene at the top of a hill




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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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.

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