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 Sixteen
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In Pittsburgh, PA
Deep in the heart of Texas
And 'round the 'Frisco Bay
All over St. Louis
And 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
Famed autographs
Her wallet filled with pictures
She gets 'em one by one
Becomes so excited
Watch her, look at her run, boy
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, PA
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, PA
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 heel shoes
Oh, but tomorrow morning
She'll have to change her trend
And be sweet sixteen
And back in class again
But they'll be rockin' in Boston
Pittsburgh, PA
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
Chuck Berry's song Sweet Little Sixteen is a classic rock and roll tune about a teenage girl who travels around the country, causing a stir wherever she goes. The opening verse describes the frenzy that Sweet Little Sixteen causes in various cities across the United States, from Boston to New Orleans. The chorus emphasizes the universal appeal that the girl has to men, as "all the cats" want to dance with her. Throughout the song, Sweet Little Sixteen is portrayed as a young woman who is growing up quickly but doesn't quite understand or appreciate the attention she's receiving. She longs to go to different places and be a part of the rock and roll scene, but also wants to be accepted by her parents and return to her life as a high school student.
The song also touches on the idea of the teenage rebellion that was prevalent at the time. Sweet Little Sixteen is described as wearing tight dresses, lipstick, and high heels, which were seen as slightly scandalous back then. She also collects autographs from famous musicians, which shows her passion for the music that her parents might not understand. The lyrics continue this theme by portraying Sweet Little Sixteen as a teenager who wants to live life on her own terms but is ultimately still tied to the expectations of her parents and society.
Overall, Sweet Little Sixteen is a fun and upbeat song that captures the youthful energy of the 1950s rock and roll scene. It's an interesting snapshot of the era and the way that teenagers were rebelling against the social norms of the time.
Line by Line Meaning
They're really rockin' Boston
Boston is really lively and the atmosphere is full of energy
In Pittsburgh, PA
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the same thing is happening
Deep in the heart of Texas
In the state of Texas, there is a lot of enthusiasm and liveliness
And 'round the 'Frisco Bay
There is a lot of liveliness and dancing around the San Francisco Bay
All over St. Louis
The city of St. Louis is buzzing with excitement and caters to the interests of everyone
And down in New Orleans
New Orleans is filled with a lively and vibrant vibe
All the cats wanna dance with
Everybody wants to dance with
Sweet Little Sixteen
This is a catchy nickname given to the young girl the song is about
She's just got to have
She is very focused and passionate about collecting autographs
About half a million
She has a really huge collection of autographs
Famed autographs
She is interested in collecting autographs of famous people
Her wallet filled with pictures
Her wallet is full of pictures that add to her collection
She gets 'em one by one
She takes her time to add to her collection by getting autographs one by one
Becomes so excited
She becomes very enthusiastic as her collection grows
Watch her, look at her run, boy
Watch her as she runs around excitedly as she adds to her collection
Oh, mommy, mommy
She is requesting permission from her mother
Please, may I go?
She is requesting permission to go to a certain event or place
It's such a sight to see
She knows that the experience will be amazing and she really wants to go
Somebody steal the show
She wants to be the center of attention
Oh, daddy, daddy
She is now requesting permission from her father
I beg of you
She is pleading with her father to agree
Whisper to mommy
Her father is asking her mother for approval
It's all right with you
He is reassuring her mother that it is safe for his daughter to go
'Cause they'll be rockin' on Bandstand
There will be a lively atmosphere and a lot of dancing at the Bandstand event
She's got the grown-up blues
She is getting older and more mature, which brings along some difficulties
Tight dresses and lipstick
As she matures, she is now dressing appropriately and wearing lipstick
She's sportin' high heel shoes
She is now wearing high heels like an adult
Oh, but tomorrow morning
The next day
She'll have to change her trend
She will have to go back to her usual style and trends
And be sweet sixteen
She will be the age of sixteen, which is a big milestone for young girls
And back in class again
She will be back in school with her classmates again
Way out in St. Louis
Even in far off St. Louis, there is a lot of excitement and dancing
They'll be rockin' in Boston
In Boston, people will be rocking and having a good time
All the cats wanna dance with, ooh
Everyone wants to dance with her
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, 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.