Reelin' And Rockin'
Chuck Berry Lyrics


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Sometimes I will then again I think I won't
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'
Rollin' till the break of dawn

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

Overall Meaning

Chuck Berry's song "Reelin' and Rockin'" is about the joy of dancing and having fun. The repeating lyrics of "Sometimes I will then again I think I won't, sometimes I do then again I think I don't" suggest the hesitation and uncertainty that comes with deciding whether or not to dance, particularly with someone else. However, as the song progresses, the singer becomes more and more confident in his decision to keep dancing, even as the night wears on.


The specific times mentioned in the song, such as 9:21 and 10:05, add to the feeling of being caught up in the moment and losing track of time. The singer and his dance partner are described as "reelin' and a rockin'" and "rolling till the break of dawn," emphasizing the physicality and energy of their dancing.


Overall, "Reelin' and Rockin'" is a celebration of youthful exuberance and the freedom of dancing. It captures the joy and excitement that comes from letting loose and having a good time.


Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes I will then again I think I won't
My desires change from moment to moment - I can't make up my mind


Sometimes I do then again I think I don't
Even when I initially decide to do something, I may change my mind and decide not to


Well I looked at my watch, it was 9:21
The singer is keeping track of the time


We was at a rock 'n' roll dance having nothin' but fun
The artist is enjoying himself at a dance


And we rolled, reelin' and a rockin'
The artist and their dancing partner are moving energetically to the music


Rollin' till the break of dawn
The dancing will continue nonstop until daylight


There's nothin' I would rather do than dance with you
The singer is deeply enjoying their partner's company


Every time I spinned she spinned with me
The artist and their partner are in perfect sync while dancing


I said, "Dance ballerina girl, go go go!
The artist is encouraging their partner to keep moving energetically to the music


Man, I didn't know if I was dead or alive
The artist is so caught up in the dancing that they are no longer aware of anything else


But I'm keep on dancing till I get my kicks
The singer is determined to keep dancing until they feel satisfied


I gotta get my kicks before it get too late
The artist isn't sure how much longer the fun will last, so they want to enjoy it while they can


I had to hold her hand, she's still holdin' mine
The singer feels a strong connection to their dancing partner


I was dancin' with a woman that was twice my size
The singer is surprised by their partner's appearance, but still enjoys dancing with them


The band leader said "We ain't playing no more"
The fun is over - the music has stopped


Well till the break of dawn
The dancing continued all night until morning




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@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

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