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.
One For My Baby
Chuck Berry Lyrics
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Except you and me
So set 'em' up Joe, I got a little story
I think you should know
We're drinking my friend, to the end
Of a brief episode
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
In the machine
I feel kind of bad, can't you make the music
Easy and sad
I could tell you a lot, but it's not
In a gentleman's code
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
You'd never know it, but buddy I'm a kind of poet
And I've got a lot of things I'd like to say
And if I'm gloomy, please listen to me
Till it's talked away
Well that's how it goes, and Joe I know your gettin'
Anxious to close
Thanks for the cheer
I hope you didn't mind
My bending your ear
But this torch that I found, It's gotta be drowned
Or it's gonna explode
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road
Chuck Berry’s “One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)” is a song that captures a melancholy and introspective moment. This is evident in the first verse, where Berry sets the scene of the empty bar, except for him and the bartender, Joe. He asks Joe to “set ‘em up” and says he has a story "I think you should know." He admits to feeling bad and hoping for "easy and sad" music. Berry then laments about having a lot of things he’d like to say, but they’re not in "a gentleman's code," indicating he wants to keep those thoughts to himself.
The song’s title comes from its chorus line, “Make it one for my baby and one more for the road." In the end, Berry thanks Joe for his company and hopes he hadn't been too intrusive. Berry says he must leave, and the torch that he found must be drowned, or it’s gonna explode. A metaphor for his heartbreak, which he does with a final drink.
Line by Line Meaning
It's quarter to three, there's no one in the place
It's late at night and the bar is empty except for the singer and a bartender called Joe
Except you and me
The only people present are the singer and the bartender
So set 'em' up Joe, I got a little story
The singer tells the bartender to pour them drinks and prepares to tell a story
I think you should know
The singer wants the bartender to hear his story
We're drinking my friend, to the end
They are drinking together to help the singer forget about his problems
Of a brief episode
The singer is referring to a particular moment or event that occurred
Make it one for my baby
The singer wants the bartender to pour him a drink
And one more for the road
The singer wants one last drink before he leaves
I know the routine, put another nickel
The singer is familiar with the jukebox and wants the bartender to put on another song
In the machine
The singer is referring to the jukebox
I feel kind of bad, can't you make the music
The singer is feeling sad and wants the bartender to play a song that matches his mood
Easy and sad
The singer wants to hear a slow and melancholy tune
I could tell you a lot, but it's not
The singer wants to reveal more about his problems, but he feels bound by social conventions
In a gentleman's code
The singer feels he can't be completely honest due to societal norms and expectations
You'd never know it, but buddy I'm a kind of poet
The singer is revealing something about himself that is not immediately apparent
And I've got a lot of things I'd like to say
The singer has a lot on his mind that he wants to express
And if I'm gloomy, please listen to me
The singer is feeling sad, and he wants someone to listen to him
Till it's talked away
Talking about his problems will help alleviate the singer's sadness
Well that's how it goes, and Joe I know your gettin'
The singer acknowledges that it's time to leave as the night draws to a close
Anxious to close
The bartender is probably looking forward to finishing work for the night
Thanks for the cheer
The singer is grateful for the bartender's company and conversation
I hope you didn't mind
The singer is concerned that he may have talked too much or been a burden
My bending your ear
The singer is referring to the act of talking someone's ear off
But this torch that I found, It's gotta be drowned
The singer has a problem or pain that he needs to let go of
Or it's gonna explode
If the singer doesn't let go of his problem, it will continue to cause him emotional distress and pain
Make it one for my baby
The singer wants one last drink before he leaves the bar
And one more for the road
The singer wants to enjoy one final drink as he prepares to leave and face his problems once again
Contributed by Lila S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.