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.
Maybellene
Chuck Berry Lyrics
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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
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
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
VamossART
The Rock 'n Roll LIVE R.I.P. Chuck Berry
Boxman
Wait when how and why are you here?
Damon John
Perfect thank you.
Olena Kolokolova
@Damon John ❤
Brawl Rain
@Olena Kolokolova oh maa gooood
Sherrie Lovette
@Boxman a
Hugo Vallenas
A true classic! I imagine young kids John Lennon, Eric Clapton and Keith Richards going' wild hearing this for the first time!
Opera Man
the true King of Rock n roll. everybody from the beach boys, the Beatles, Stones, Hendrix, Clapton... everybody knows that Chuck was the real King of Rock n roll. everybody learned from Chuck, including me.
Ram
others call elvis king, thats fine for me, chuck is pioneer and father anyways :)
bunchlead
Little Richard too