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, PlΓ‘cido 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.
Nadine (Is It You
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought I spied my future bride a-walking up the street,
I shouted to the driver "Hey conductor, you must"
"Slow down, I think I see her, please let me off this bus."
Nadine, honey is that you?
Oh, Nadine. Honey, is that you?
Seems like every time I catch you Darling you got something else to do.
I saw her on the corner when she turned and doubled back
And started walkin' toward a coffee colored Cadillac
I was pushin' through the crowd tryin' to get to where she's at
And I was campaign shouting like a southern diplomat
Nadine, honey is that you?
Oh, Nadine.
Honey, is that you?
Seems like every time I catch you Darling you're up to somethin' new.
Downtown searching for her, looking all around.
Saw her gettin' in a yellow cab a-heading uptown.
I caught a loaded taxi, paid up everybody's tab.
Slipped a twenty dollar bill, an' told him "Catch that yellow cab."
Nadine, honey is that you?
Oh, Nadine.
Honey, is that you?
Seems like every time I catch you Darling you're up to somethin' new.
She moves around like a wayward summer breeze,
Go, driver, go. Go on, catch her for me, please.
Moving through the traffic like a mounted cavalier.
Leaning out the taxi window tryin' to make her hear.
[Chorus]
The song "Nadine (Is It You)" by Chuck Berry tells the story of a man who spots a woman he believes to be his future bride while riding on a city bus. He frantically tries to pursue her as she walks away and eventually spots her again getting into a yellow taxi heading uptown. The man then gives chase in another taxi and leans out the window to try and get her attention.
The lyrics have a playful and somewhat comedic tone, as the man seems to always just miss the woman and her constantly being up to something new. The repetition of the chorus adds to the humor, as the man keeps asking if it's her every time he catches a glimpse of her.
Line by Line Meaning
As I got on a city bus and found a vacant seat,
Boarded an unoccupied bus seat and spotted a potential lover walking nearby.
I thought I spied my future bride a-walking up the street,
Observed a woman who could be his soulmate strolling by.
I shouted to the driver "Hey conductor, you must" "Slow down, I think I see her, please let me off this bus."
Hollered to the bus operator to halt, as he thought he'd seen his future partner, and exited the vehicle.
I saw her on the corner when she turned and doubled back
He noticed her again when she reversed direction on the intersection.
And started walkin' toward a coffee colored Cadillac
She progressed towards a brown-colored luxury car.
I was pushin' through the crowd tryin' to get to where she's at
Pushing himself through the throng to where she was heading.
And I was campaign shouting like a southern diplomat
Hollering for her attention like a political representative to win her heart.
"Seems like every time I catch you Darling you're up to somethin' new."
Despite having an eye on her each time on the lookout, she's always unpredictable.
Saw her gettin' in a yellow cab a-heading uptown.
Sighted her entering a taxi heading northwards.
I caught a loaded taxi, paid up everybody's tab.
Hailed a full taxi and covered everyone's bill.
Slipped a twenty dollar bill, an' told him "Catch that yellow cab."
Gave a twenty dollar bill to the cabbie and urged him to pursue the yellow taxi.
Moving through the traffic like a mounted cavalier.
Weaving through the cars like a well-trained horseman.
Leaning out the taxi window tryin' to make her hear.
Plunged his head out the cab window to attract her attention.
Nadine, honey is that you?
Addressing the woman he's pursuing by her name.
Oh, Nadine.
Repeating the lady's name again, emphasizing his interest.
"Seems like every time I catch you Darling you got something else to do."
Suggesting that she always seems to be otherwise engaged every time he tries to win her attention.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management
Written by: Chuck Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ihdeneshoulders2138
LYRICS:
βͺ Nadine βͺ
As I got on a city bus and found a vacant seat,
I thought I saw my future bride walkin? up the street,
I shouted to the driver "hey conductor, you must slow down.
I think I see her please let me off this bus"
Nadine, honey is that you?
Oh, Nadine. Honey, is that you?
Seems like every time I see you darling you got something
else to do.
(Alternate verse: Seems like every time I catch up with you,
you're up to
something new)
I saw her from the corner when she turned and doubled back
And started walkin toward a coffee colored Cadillac
I was pushin through the crowd to get to where she's at
And I was campaign shouting like a southern diplomat.
Downtown searching for her, looking all around,
Saw her getting in a yellow cab heading up town.
I caught a loaded taxi, paid up everybody's tab.
With a twenty-dollar bill, told him "catch that yellow cab."
She moves around like a wayward summer breeze,
Go, driver, go, go, catch her pretty please.
Moving through the traffuc like a mounted cavalier
Leaning out the taxi window trying to make her hear.
@user-ip9yu7lp1q
As I got on a city bus and found a vacant seat,
I thought I saw my future bride walkin' up the street,
I shouted to the driver, "Hey conductor, you must slow down.
I think I see her, please let me off the bus."
Nadine, honey, is that you?
Oh, Nadine, honey, is that you?
Seem like every time I see you,
Darlin' you got somethin' else to do.
I saw her from the corner when she turned and doubled back,
And started walkin toward a coffee-colored cadillac.
I was pushin' through the crowd tryin' to get to where she's at,
And I was campaign-shoutin' like a southern diplomat.
Nadine, honey, is that you?
Oh, Nadine, honey, where are you?
Seems like every time I catch up witcha,
You're up to somethin' new.
Downtown searchin' for her, lookin' all around.
Saw her gettin' in a yellow cab, headin' uptown.
I caught a loaded taxi, paid up everybody's tab.
Flipped a twenty-dollar bill an' told him, "Catch that yellow cab."
She moves around like a wayward summer breeze.
"Go, driver, go, go'on, catch her for me please."
Movin' thru the traffic like a mounted cavalier.
Leanin' out the taxi window tryin' to make her hear.
Nadine, honey, is that you?
Oh, Nadine, honey, is that you?
Seem like every time I see you,
Darlin' you up to somethin' new.
@tomy.1846
R.I.P Chuck! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the amazing music. This one ALWAYS gets me in a happy mood. It's so infectious. You shaped rock music as your guitar laid down the cornerstone. You had it all, showmanship, lyrics, and a guitar that lit up the world. Your music will live on and on.
@skudlugs
very well said !
@besserman1
@@shauncollins7266 very well said π
@nadinebopp5437
This song came out in my senior year of HS. Everyone I knew quoted the lyrics to me since my name was Nadine, a very obscure name. Thanks Chuck, you immortalized me in your music..
@skudlugs
Honey is that you?
@navaasarch6353
My dear Mama, may she rest in peace, named me NADINE... π₯°
@dancingtrout6719
perfect story
@Cracktaculus
ΒΆerfect rock and roll formula #23: Write a hit song, name it after a woman, instant groupies in every state!!
@struky104
Your name was Nadine? Is not anymore? π€
@Nobjan
I just LOVE this song! Puts a smile on my face every time I hear it.