My Ding A Ling
Chuck Berry Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

We got to do our alma matter, we must do our alma matter

When I was a little bitty boy
My grandmother bought me a cute little toy
Silver bells hanging on a string
She told me it was my ding-a-ling-a-ling, oh

My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling, I want you to play with my ding-a-ling!
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling, I want you to play with my ding-a-ling!
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

Hmm, and then mama took me to grammar school
But I stopped off in the vestibule
Every time that bell would ring
Catch me playing with my ding-a-ling-a-ling, oh

My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling, I want you to play with my ding-a-ling!
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling, I want you to play with my ding-a-ling!

Oh, that is beautiful
You know what I heard, I heard
I heard two girls over here singing in harmony, that's all right, honey
This is a free country, live like you wanna live, baby!
Yeah, ain't nobody gonna knock it, doll, mm-mm
Yeah, freedom
Yes sir, there's one guy right over here singin' "mine" too, that's all right, brother!
Yes sir, you got a right, baby, ain't nobody gonna bother you, tell you

Once I was climbing the garden wall
I slipped and had a terrible fall
I fell so hard I heard bells ring
But held on to my ding-a-ling-a-ling

My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling, I want you to play with my ding-a-ling!
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling, I want you to play with my ding-a-ling!

Hmm, you know that's future parliament out there singin'?
Oh yeah! (yeah!)

Hmm, once I was swimming 'cross turtle creek
Man, them snappers all around my feet
Sure was hard swimming 'cross that thing
With both hands holding my ding-a-ling

Oh, my ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling, I want you to play with my ding-a-ling!
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling, I want you to play with my ding-a-ling!

That's so beautiful
I think it's a beautiful little song, really I do
And guess what, everybody's still not singing
There's a few right down front here that's not singing
We're gonna dedicate this verse to those who will not sing, yes sir

Hmm, this here song it ain't so sad
The cutest little song you ever had
Those of you who will not sing
You must be playing with your own ding-a-ling

My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling, I want you to play with my ding-a-ling!
My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling, I want you to play with my ding-a-ling!

Oh, your own, ding-a-ling, your own ding-a-ling, we saw you playing with your ding-a-ling
Oh, my ding-a-ling, everybody sing, I want to play with my, everybody





My ding-a-ling, oh, my, ding-a-ling
Slow down, I want to play, everybody, with my ding-a-ling!

Overall Meaning

“My Ding a Ling” is a humorous and incredibly catchy song by the legendary musician Chuck Berry. The song opens with the statement, “we got to do our alma matter, we must do our alma matter,” which highlights the song’s playfulness and sets the tone for the lighthearted nature of its lyrics. The rest of the song tells the story of a young boy who is given a toy by his grandmother that he affectionately calls his “ding-a-ling.” The song goes on to describe various situations in which the boy is caught playing with his toy, including at school and even while swimming in a creek. The chorus repeats the phrase “I want you to play with my ding-a-ling,” which is both amusing and suggestive.


At first glance, the lyrics to “My Ding a Ling” may seem silly and unimportant, but upon closer analysis, there are a few different interpretations that can be made. One interpretation is that the song is simply meant to be a fun and playful tune that entertains listeners with its catchy melody and humorous lyrics. However, some music critics have suggested that the song is actually a commentary on the sexual repression of society at the time it was written. By using a toy as a metaphor for sexual desire, Berry may have been making a statement about the ways in which people were taught to suppress their natural instincts.


Line by Line Meaning

When I was a little bitty boy
As a child, a toy was given to me by my grandmother.


My grandmother bought me a cute little toy
The toy was a bell on a string which was deemed cute.


Silver bells hanging on a string
The toy's bells were made of silver and hung on a string.


She told me it was my ding-a-ling-a-ling, oh
The toy was called a Ding-a-ling-a-ling by my grandmother.


My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling, I want you to play with my ding-a-ling!
I want someone to play with my toy bell, I call it my Ding-a-ling.


Hmm, and then mama took me to grammar school
My mother took me to school when I was a child.


But I stopped off in the vestibule
I stopped in the entryway of the school.


Every time that bell would ring
Whenever the school bell rang.


Catch me playing with my ding-a-ling-a-ling, oh
I was caught playing with my toy bell when I was supposed to be in school.


Oh, that is beautiful
Someone comments on the beauty of the song.


You know what I heard, I heard
I overheard a conversation.


I heard two girls over here singing in harmony, that's all right, honey
Two girls were heard singing in harmony and it was considered to be fine.


This is a free country, live like you wanna live, baby!
It's a free country, so people should live the way they want to live.


Yeah, ain't nobody gonna knock it, doll, mm-mm
No one is going to judge or criticize someone else's lifestyle.


Once I was climbing the garden wall
I used to climb the garden wall once.


I slipped and had a terrible fall
I fell badly and got injured.


I fell so hard I heard bells ring
I fell so hard that I heard bells ringing.


But held on to my ding-a-ling-a-ling
I held onto my toy bell despite getting injured.


Hmm, you know that's future parliament out there singin'?
The artist notices who is singing and notes it could be future politicians.


Hmm, once I was swimming 'cross turtle creek
The artist mentions a time when they were swimming in a creek.


Man, them snappers all around my feet
There were snapping turtles all around the artist's feet while swimming.


Sure was hard swimming 'cross that thing
It was difficult to swim across the creek.


With both hands holding my ding-a-ling
Despite the difficulty, the artist held onto their toy bell with both hands.


That's so beautiful
Someone again comments on the beauty of the song.


I think it's a beautiful little song, really I do
The artist believes this is a truly beautiful song.


And guess what, everybody's still not singing
The artist notices not everyone is singing along.


There's a few right down front here that's not singing
The artist specifically notices that some people close by are not singing.


We're gonna dedicate this verse to those who will not sing, yes sir
The coming verse will be dedicated to those who are not singing along.


Hmm, this here song it ain't so sad
The artist comments that the song isn't a sad one.


The cutest little song you ever had
The artist believes this is the cutest little song ever written.


Those of you who will not sing
The artist addresses those who are not singing along.


You must be playing with your own ding-a-ling
The artist implies that those who are not singing must be preoccupied with something else, like playing with their own toys.


Oh, your own, ding-a-ling, your own ding-a-ling, we saw you playing with your ding-a-ling
The artist further implies that those who are not singing are preoccupied with their own toy bells.


Slow down, I want to play, everybody, with my ding-a-ling!
The artist is encouraging everyone to join in and play along with their own toy bells.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

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.

More Versions