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.
Misery
Chuck Berry Lyrics
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Listen to me, baby, try and understand
I'm in misery, I'm in misery
I'm all upset and I'm shook up as I can be
Ya say you were out shakin', doin' the Go Go Go
Sometimes I really wonder if you know
I'm in misery, I'm in misery
You make me think you've got something up your sleeve
You shake me up a little, then you up and leave me in
Misery, I'm in misery
I'm all upser and I'm shook up as I can be
Now, let me tell you something that I learned in school
You reap just what you sow, so, baby, someday you'll be in
Misery, you'll be in misery
You'll be all upser and shook up over losing me
Chuck Berry's song "Misery" is a sad and desperate love plea to a woman who seems to be playing games with the singer's heart. He recounts how he is in "misery" because of her actions and how all he wants is for her to understand his pain. He suspects that she is "out shakin', doin' the Go Go Go," which leads him to question whether she truly knows how he feels. The singer suggests that the woman is intentionally shaking him up and then leaving him in pain, which makes him feel all the more helpless and desperate.
The singer's lyricism is simple and straightforward, but it expresses a deep sense of sadness and loss. He understands that he is being used by the woman and warns her that she will eventually feel the same pain that he is now experiencing. The singer's use of repetition in the chorus makes it clear that he is truly in agony and desperately needs the woman's love and attention to heal his soul. The song is a timeless expression of the pain of unrequited love and the dangers of playing games with someone's heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Sit down her by me, baby, let me hold your hand
I want you to feel comforted by my presence, so come sit next to me and let me hold your hand
Listen to me, baby, try and understand
Please pay attention to what I have to say and try to comprehend my perspective
I'm in misery, I'm in misery
I am suffering and feeling intense emotional pain
I'm all upset and I'm shook up as I can be
I am extremely distressed and feeling very unsettled
Ya say you were out shakin', doin' the Go Go Go
You claim that you were out socializing and having fun
Sometimes I really wonder if you know
I can't help but doubt if you truly understand how your actions are affecting me
You make me think you've got something up your sleeve
Your behavior leads me to believe that you have ulterior motives or secrets
You shake me up a little, then you up and leave me in
You cause me to feel anxious or upset, and then you abruptly depart from my company
Misery, I'm in misery
I am truly suffering and struggling to cope
Now, let me tell you something that I learned in school
Allow me to impart some knowledge that I gained through education
You reap just what you sow, so, baby, someday you'll be in
Your current behavior will have future consequences, and one day you may experience the same emotional turmoil that I am enduring
Misery, you'll be in misery
You will suffer greatly and find yourself in a similar state of emotional distress
You'll be all upser and shook up over losing me
The thought of losing me will be overwhelming and cause you significant emotional turmoil
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.