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.
Sweet Little 16
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In Pittsburgh, P. A.
Deep in the heart of Texas
And 'round the Frisco Bay
All over St. Louis
Way down in New Orleans
All the Cats wanna dance with
Sweet Little Sixteen
Sweet Little Sixteen
She's just got to have
About half a million
Framed autographs
Her wallet's filled with pictures
She gets 'em one by one
Becomes so excited
Watch her look at her run
Oh mommy mommy
Please may I go
It's such a sight to see
Somebody steal the show
Oh daddy daddy
I beg of you
Whisper to mommy
It's all right with you
'Cause they'll be rockin on bandstand
In Philadelphia P.A.
Deep in the heart of Texas
And 'round the Frisco Bay
All over St. Louis
Way Down in New Orleans
All the Cats wanna dance with
Sweet Little Sixteen
'Cause they'll be rockin on bandstand
Philadelphia P.A.
Deep in the heart of Texas
And 'round the Frisco Bay
All over St. Louis
Way Down in New Orleans
All the Cats wanna dance with ooh
Sweet Little Sixteen
Sweet Little Sixteen
She's got the grown up blues
Tight dresses and lipstick
She's sportin' high heal shoes
Oh, but tomorrow morning
She'll have to chang her trend
And be sweet sixteen
And back in class again
But they'll be rockin' in Boston
In Pittsburgh, P. A.
Deep in the heart of Texas
And 'round the Frisco Bay
Way out in St. Louis
Way down in New Orleans
All the Cats wanna dance with
Sweet Little Sixteen
In "Sweet Little Sixteen," Chuck Berry captures the energy and excitement of the rock 'n' roll era. The lyrics describe how a teenage girl, Sweet Little Sixteen, becomes a sensation all across America, from Boston to New Orleans. Everywhere she goes, everyone wants to dance with her or get her autograph. The girl has grown up too fast, with tight dresses, lipstick, and high heels, but she still has to go to school and be "sweet sixteen."
The song has a playful, upbeat melody that puts listeners in a cheerful, dancing mood. It features Berry's signature guitar riffs, as well as his distinctive vocal style that mixes elements of blues, country, and R&B. The lyrics showcase Berry's clever wordplay and storytelling ability, as he paints a vivid picture of the rock 'n' roll scene in the 1950s.
Overall, "Sweet Little Sixteen" is a classic rock 'n' roll anthem that captures the spirit of the era. It celebrates youth, energy, and the joy of music, and continues to be a beloved song among music fans of all ages.
Line by Line Meaning
They're really rockin' Boston
Boston is all abuzz with the sound of rock and roll music
In Pittsburgh, P. A.
Even the people of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are getting in on the rockin' action
Deep in the heart of Texas
The great state of Texas is alive with rockin' tunes
And 'round the Frisco Bay
The San Francisco Bay area is full of people dancing to the latest hits
All over St. Louis
Rock and roll music is taking over St. Louis, Missouri
Way down in New Orleans
Even the folks in New Orleans, Louisiana can't resist the urge to dance
All the Cats wanna dance with
Sweet Little Sixteen
Everyone wants to dance with Sweet Little Sixteen - she's the life of the party
Sweet Little Sixteen
She's just got to have
About half a million
Framed autographs
Sweet Sixteen is a big fan of rock and roll - she has collected many autographs and treasures them greatly
Her wallet's filled with pictures
She gets 'em one by one
Becomes so excited
Watch her look at her run
Sweet Sixteen is so passionate about rock and roll that she collects pictures of her favorite musicians and becomes absolutely giddy with excitement when she gets them
Oh mommy mommy
Please may I go
It's such a sight to see
Somebody steal the show
Sweet Sixteen wants to go to a rock and roll concert so badly that she begs her mother for permission, just to see someone steal the show
Oh daddy daddy
I beg of you
Whisper to mommy
It's all right with you
Sweet Sixteen even asks her dad for help in convincing her mom to let her go to a concert
'Cause they'll be rockin on bandstand
In Philadelphia P.A.
The popular show Bandstand is featuring rock and roll music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
'Cause they'll be rockin on bandstand
Philadelphia P.A.
Once again, Sweet Sixteen is excited about a rock and roll concert airing on Bandstand in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sweet Little Sixteen
She's got the grown up blues
Tight dresses and lipstick
She's sportin' high heal shoes
Sweet Sixteen is growing up fast and embracing her newfound womanhood, with tight dresses, lipstick, and high heels
Oh, but tomorrow morning
She'll have to change her trend
And be sweet sixteen
And back in class again
Sweet Sixteen knows that she can't keep up her adult image forever and will have to go back to being a regular teenager eventually
But they'll be rockin' in Boston
In Pittsburgh, P. A.
Deep in the heart of Texas
And 'round the Frisco Bay
Way out in St. Louis
Way down in New Orleans
All the Cats wanna dance with
Sweet Little Sixteen
No matter where you go, everyone is dancing to the rock and roll beat of Sweet Little Sixteen
Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
Written by: Chuck Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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.