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.
St. Louis Blues
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hate to see that evening sun go down
'Cause the woman I'm loving, she has left this town
If I'm feeling tomorrow just like I feel today
If I'm feeling tomorrow just like I feel today
I'm gonna pack my bags and make a getaway
If you didn't have good looks, you wouldn't mean a thing
If it was not for powder and your super hair
Without the man who loves you, you wouldn't get nowhere nowhere
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
You know I love you, but you don't care for me
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
You know I love you, but you don't care for me
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
Chuck Berry's St. Louis Blues is a song about heartbreak, loss, and betrayal. The first two lines, "I hate to see that evening sun go down, 'Cause the woman I'm loving, she has left this town," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is heartbroken that the sun is setting because it reminds him of his lost love. He goes on to express his sadness over his unrequited love, singing "You know I love you, but you don't care for me."
The lyrics also touch on the theme of materialism and how it can be used as a means of impressing others. The line "St. Louis woman without your diamond ring, If you didn't have good looks, you wouldn't mean a thing" suggests that the woman in question is only valued for her looks and possessions. However, the singer recognizes that without him, the woman would still be nowhere.
The repetition of the line "I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be" emphasizes the depth of the singer's sadness and highlights the title of the song.
Overall, St. Louis Blues is a poignant commentary on love and society's superficial values.
Line by Line Meaning
I hate to see that evening sun go down
The singer dislikes it when the sun sets because it means that the woman he loves has left town, and he will have to spend the night without her.
'Cause the woman I'm loving, she has left this town
The reason the singer is unhappy when the sun sets is that his love interest has moved away from the city.
If I'm feeling tomorrow just like I feel today
The singer is uncertain about his future emotions, but if he feels the same way he does now, he will leave town.
I'm gonna pack my bags and make a getaway
The singer plans on leaving town if he continues to feel unhappy because his lover has already left.
St. Louis woman without your diamond ring
The singer doesn't care about his lover's possessions because he values her for who she is as a person, not for what she has.
If you didn't have good looks, you wouldn't mean a thing
The singer is attracted to his lover's beauty but acknowledges that it's not what makes her important to him.
If it wasn't for powder and your super hair
The singer acknowledges that his lover takes care of her appearance, but he finds her personality and character more attractive than her looks.
Without the man who loves you, you wouldn't get nowhere, nowhere
The singer believes that without him, his lover would not have the support and affection she needs to succeed in life.
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
The singer's emotions are very low, and he feels extremely sad and helpless.
You know I love you, but you don't care for me
The singer's lover is not reciprocating his feelings, even though he cares deeply for her.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, HANDY BROTHERS MUSIC CO.,INC., Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: William Christopher Handy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
K4T_KNIFE c;
I hate to see that evening sun go down
I hate to see that evening sun go down
'Cause the woman I'm loving, she has left this town
If I'm feeling tomorrow just like I feel today
If I'm feeling tomorrow just like I feel today
I'm gonna pack my bags and make a getaway
St. Louis woman without your diamond ring
If you didn't have good looks, you wouldn't mean a thing
If it was not for powder and your super hair
Without the man who loves you, you wouldn't get nowhere nowhere
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
You know I love you, but you don't care for me
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
You know I love you, but you don't care for me
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
ch473
Awesome, I never knew he did a version of Saint Louis Blues. It works so well as a blues song. Or jazz. Or...pretty much any style!
charles dahlin
His vocal is superb. The phrasing...
Jan Sewiło
Chuck jest super w każdym wykonie!!!
strangersound
"When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was comp chords behind a big band." - Chuck Berry
John Benn
I agree 100% Amazing sounds & so,so good.
Bob Werber
Jonnie Clyde Johnson on piano. Totally puts this track over the top. Not a hit but this might be my favorite Berry recording. He's got the Rolling Stones' rhythm sound completely nailed - before they even found it.
K4T_KNIFE c;
I hate to see that evening sun go down
I hate to see that evening sun go down
'Cause the woman I'm loving, she has left this town
If I'm feeling tomorrow just like I feel today
If I'm feeling tomorrow just like I feel today
I'm gonna pack my bags and make a getaway
St. Louis woman without your diamond ring
If you didn't have good looks, you wouldn't mean a thing
If it was not for powder and your super hair
Without the man who loves you, you wouldn't get nowhere nowhere
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
You know I love you, but you don't care for me
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
You know I love you, but you don't care for me
I got the St. Louis blues, blue as I can be
sara wilson
Chuck berry rock us like no one else
PDMF
A GUITAR TEACHER!!!...GRANDE MAESTRO!!!...
Cora Visser
This is real awesome very good work