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.
Memphis Tennessee
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Help me find the party trying to get in touch with me
She could not leave her number, but I know who placed the call
'Cause my uncle took the message and he wrote it on the wall
Help me, information, get in touch with my Marie
She's the only one who'd phone me here from Memphis Tennessee
Her home is on the south side, high up on a ridge
Help me, information, more than that I cannot add
Only that I miss her and all the fun we had
But we were pulled apart because her mom did not agree
And tore apart our happy home in Memphis, Tennessee
Last time I saw Marie she's waving me goodbye
With hurry home drops on her cheek that trickled from her eye
Marie is only six years old, information please
Try to put me through to her in Memphis, Tennessee
The lyrics to Chuck Berry's song "Memphis Tennessee" tell a story of a man desperately trying to reconnect with Marie, his lost love from Tennessee. The song starts with the singer requesting long-distance information to help him connect with the party trying to get in touch with him. He mentions that although the caller was unable to leave her number, he knows who placed the call as his uncle took the message and wrote it on the wall.
The second verse reveals that the singer is trying to reach Marie, his only connection to Memphis Tennessee. He describes her home as sitting on the south side, high up on a ridge near the Mississippi Bridge. He asks for information beyond getting in touch with Marie but admits that all he can say is that he misses her and the fun they had together. The final verse tells us that Marie is only six years old and the two were pulled apart by her mother's disapproval, which caused them to tear apart their happy home in Memphis Tennessee. The singer ends his plea for help with a request to be put through to Marie.
Chuck Berry's "Memphis Tennessee" was a significant hit and has been covered by numerous artists. The song's backstory was based on a real-life incident. Chuck Berry received a letter from a fan looking to purchase a Gibson guitar that cost $22.50. The letter was signed, "Love and kisses, your dearest darling, Marie." The letter inspired Berry to write "Memphis Tennessee."
Line by Line Meaning
Long distance information, give me Memphis Tennessee
Asking for help in reaching someone in Memphis, Tennessee
Help me find the party trying to get in touch with me
Asking for assistance in finding someone trying to contact him
She could not leave her number, but I know who placed the call
Person received a call, but the caller did not leave their number
'Cause my uncle took the message and he wrote it on the wall
The message was written down by his uncle on the wall
Help me, information, get in touch with my Marie
Asking for assistance in contacting someone named Marie
She's the only one who'd phone me here from Memphis Tennessee
Marie is the only person who would call him from Memphis, Tennessee
Her home is on the south side, high up on a ridge
Marie's home is located on the south side of Memphis on an elevated area
Just a half a mile from the Mississippi Bridge
Her home is just 0.5 miles away from the Mississippi Bridge
Help me, information, more than that I cannot add
Requesting more assistance, but unable to give further details
Only that I miss her and all the fun we had
Expressing that the person misses Marie and the memories they shared
But we were pulled apart because her mom did not agree
Their relationship ended because Marie's mother did not approve
And tore apart our happy home in Memphis Tennessee
Marie's mother caused a rift in their relationship and home life in Memphis
Last time I saw Marie she's waving me good bye
The last time they saw each other, Marie waved goodbye
With hurry home drops on her cheek that trickled from her eye
Marie had tears in her eyes and wanted him to come home soon
Marie is only six years old, information please
Marie is a young child, requesting information on how to reach her
Try to put me through to her in Memphis Tennessee
Trying to connect with Marie in Memphis, Tennessee
Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
Written by: Chuck Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scouser on the Wirral
Written by Chuck Berry and recorded on 26 September 1958 and released in June 1959.
Covers:
Jan & Dean (Jul 1963)
The Beatles (10 Jul 1963)
Dave Berry (Sep 1963)
Paul Rich (Oct 1963)
Wally Shoop & the zombies (1963)
The Hollies (Jan 1964)
Elvis Presley first recorded Memphis Tennessee on 27 May 1963, but his Master was recorded on 12 January 1964 and released on his Elvis For Everyone Album released on 19 July 1965.
Vince Taylor (Feb 1964)
King Curtis (Apr 1964)
Matadorerne (May 1964)
The Animals (Sep 1964)
Pat Boone (Sep 1964)
Jerry Lee Lewis (Oct 1964)
Del Shannon (Nov 1964)
Johnny Rivers (1964)
Tom Jones (May 1965)
Arthur Name
"...with hurry home drops on her cheek..." One of, if not THE best line in a song, ever. Not only is Chuck Berry a guitar genius, he is a true American poet.
phil allard
@John Srinivasan well. they were doing different things. No need to compare two geniuses.
Rob Johnson
Was singing it in a local bar last night and said exactly the same. What sort of genius comes up with such a beautiful line? Amazing
philip norris
@Sludge Not necessarily; nowhere in the lyrics does it specify what their relationship is.
Dan Evans
You are so right. xxxxxxxx
David Mellish
@da324 not quite,Dylan has written over 500 songs,so not exactly thousands but I get your point
Ciaran Scanlon
This song is waaay ahead of its time. That melody sounds like Lennon. You still hear Chuck's influences hanging around in music today
DeadmanDave
Chuck and John performed this together at a show, but Yoko ruined it with her disruptive vocalizing.
Der Ufen
Ok, late comment, but: Elvis Costello's Tokyo Storm Warning
Nate Calhoun
@Leo Arevalo nyaaaaaaaaaaa