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.
Reelin' & Rockin'
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes I will then again I think I won't
Sometimes I do then again I think I don't
Well I looked at my watch, it was 9:21
We was at a rock 'n' roll dance having nothin' but fun
And we rolled, reelin' and a rockin'
We was reelin' and a rockin'
Well I looked at my watch, it was 9:32
There's nothin' I would rather do than dance with you
And we rolled, reelin' and a rockin'
We was reelin' and a rockin'
Well till the break of dawn
Well I looked at my watch, it was 9:43
And every time I spinned she spinned with me
And we reelin', reelin' and a rockin'
We was reelin' and a rockin'
Rollin' till the break of dawn
Well I looked at my watch, it was 9:54
I said, " Dance ballerina girl, go go go!
And we rolled, reelin' and a rockin'
We was reelin' and a rockin'
Rollin' till the break of dawn
Well I looked at my watch, it was 10:05
Man, I didn't know if I was dead or alive
And I was rollin', reelin' and a rockin'
We was reelin' and a rockin'
Rollin' till the break of dawn
Well I looked at my watch, it was 10:26
But I'm keep on dancing till I get my kicks
And we reeled, reelin' and a rockin'
We was reelin' and a rockin'
Rollin' till the break of dawn
Well I looked at my watch, it was 10:28
I gotta get my kicks before it get too late
And we was reelin', reelin' and a rockin'
We was reelin' and a rockin'
Rollin' till the break of dawn
Well I looked at my watch, it was 10:29
I had to hold her hand, she's still holdin' mine
And we reeled, reelin' and a rockin'
We was reelin' and a rockin'
Rollin' till the break of dawn
Well I looked at my watch and to my surprise
I was dancin' with a woman that was twice my size
I was reelin', reelin' and a rockin'
I was reelin' and a rockin'
Rollin' till the break of dawn
Well I looked at my watch and it was time to go
The band leader said " We ain't playing no more"
And we reelin', reelin' and a rockin'
We was reelin' and a rockin'
Well till the break of dawn
Chuck Berry’s "Reelin' and Rockin'" is a song about a night of dancing and having fun with a girl. The song alternates between Berry's indecision about whether or not to dance with the girl and descriptions of the different times throughout the night. The repetitive structure of the lyrics mirrors the rhythm and groove of the music. Berry's vocals are energetic and playful, and the song is known for its catchy guitar riff and driving beat.
The song was recorded in 1958 and released the following year on Berry's album "One Dozen Berrys." It became a hit for Berry and helped solidify his status as a pioneer of rock and roll. The lyrics are simple but effective in capturing the excitement and carefree spirit of a night of dancing. The use of time stamps throughout the song adds a sense of urgency and frenetic energy, as the characters in the song dance until the break of dawn.
Overall, "Reelin' and Rockin'" embodies the joyful and sometimes reckless spirit of early rock and roll, as well as Chuck Berry's signature sound and style.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I will then again I think I won't
I am unsure if I want to do something or not, my mind changes frequently.
Sometimes I do then again I think I don't
My actions are inconsistent with my thoughts, I often change my mind about what I want to do.
Well I looked at my watch, it was 9:21
I checked the time and it was early in the night.
We was at a rock 'n' roll dance having nothin' but fun
We were enjoying ourselves at a dance club and listening to rock music.
And we rolled, reelin' and a rockin'
We were dancing with lots of energy and enthusiasm.
Rollin' till the break of dawn
We danced all night long and didn't stop until sunrise.
There's nothin' I would rather do than dance with you
I am really enjoying dancing with my partner and I don't want to do anything else.
Well till the break of dawn
We continued to dance with energy and enthusiasm until the sun came up.
And every time I spinned she spinned with me
My partner and I had great chemistry while dancing and we always moved well together.
Well I looked at my watch, it was 9:54
Time had passed quickly and it was getting late in the night.
"Dance ballerina girl, go go go!
I encouraged my partner to keep dancing and showing off her moves.
Man, I didn't know if I was dead or alive
I was so caught up in dancing and having fun that I lost track of everything else.
But I'm keep on dancing till I get my kicks
I am determined to keep dancing and enjoying myself until I have had enough.
I gotta get my kicks before it get too late
I want to keep dancing and having fun while I still have the energy to do so.
I had to hold her hand, she's still holdin' mine
My partner and I had a strong connection and we continued to hold hands while dancing.
I was dancin' with a woman that was twice my size
I was surprised to find myself dancing with a woman who was much larger than me.
The band leader said " We ain't playing no more"
The music had stopped and it was time to end the night.
Well till the break of dawn
We continued to dance with energy and enthusiasm until the sun came up.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stevec5576
Who still listened to this great music ? I do & love it & Im 79 yrs . Old.
@carolacheson4392
Me too and I'm 83!
@katerinastavska7284
I’m 32, obsessed with Chuck Berry, and I’m not even native English speaker
@annebarlow4244
Yup, I'm 81, there's nothing like it !
@MJ.71
Chuck Berry invented Rock n Roll, nobody else could make the guitar almost talk. The ultimate showman
@midnightrider7648
Chuck is one of the architects rock & roll but let's not forget about Little Richard.
@MJ.71
@@midnightrider7648 Bo Diddly also
@user-ic9mo7bn3z
Yes yes ❤❤❤🎉🎉RAa
@ctbadcop15
Stevie Ray Vaughn was the best guitar played that ever lived!
@MJ.71
@@ctbadcop15 Absolute nonsense, yeah he was good but not Chuck Berry good