Talkin' About My Buddy
Chuck Berry Lyrics


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My friend finally made a record and took to the road and played guitar
He met this girl from Pennsylvania stuck by his side in love and war
Fearful and fussy, but so faithful, poor and devoted, real and true
She's not the type to be forsaken and I see much of her in you

While on a gig up in Toronto during a pause between his show
He met this foxy German stallion who understood him head to toe
She played it smart and learned his weakness and made him confess and yield into
Her lustful whims became his fancy and I would fear the same from you

Then in the swank suburbs of Houston off in a mansion built of stone
Escorted by this wealthy widow into her lounge and left alone
Her maid announced that she was waiting for him to come and rendezvous
Where he bestowed a long relation one like I hope to have with you

Then on the sands right off the ocean just as the sun sank in the sea
So did my buddy slow and easy into a freak of fancy-free
It was a group in automation getting together two by two
Where people live and love one another, people who live like me and you

Then on the beach in warm Miami there was a teacher far from school
Taught him the way to please a woman, made him concede the Golden Rule
He learned to do it unto others as he used to just have them do
So they began to come together as I will try to do with you

And there was one who was a virgin, never been touched by anyone
She was as pure as any angel, in fact she's called to be a nun
But it was all because my buddy just couldn't spoil a girl so true
And so he left her as he found her, like I may have to do with you

The girl he's got now, he's never left her, she was the first I thought he'd shun
Until I saw my buddy's eyes, when she came forth and bore his son
Since then he's known no other woman, I think his ramblin' days are through
They built a home up in the country, a life I'd love to build with you

Although you've never known my buddy and I am sure he don't know you
But you know the life he's living and all of the changes he's been through




Sweetheart, I'm talking about my buddy 'cause I don't want to wind up blue
I could be happy with you only 'cause I see all of them in you

Overall Meaning

In Chuck Berry's song Talkin' About My Buddy, the singer speaks about his friend who has made a record, taken to the road, played guitar, and met several women along the way. The singer describes how his friend met a girl from Pennsylvania who was faithful, loyal, and devoted despite her fearfulness and fussiness. He then goes on to say that his friend met a German woman who understood him completely and made him confess to her, followed by a wealthy widow who seduced him in her mansion. Next, his friend had a sexual experience in a group in automation where people live and love one another. In Miami, he learned how to please a woman from a teacher who was far from school. Lastly, he encountered a virgin who wanted to become a nun but his friend left her untarnished. The singer then assures his lover that he could see all these qualities in her, and he could be happy with her only.


The song depicts a variety of women who enter the singer's life and bring about significant changes. Each woman is unique in her way and impacts the singer both positively and negatively. The singer's concern about his friend's dating life reflects his fear of loneliness and his need for companionship. The song also explores themes of love, sex, loyalty, and personal growth.


Line by Line Meaning

My friend finally made a record and took to the road and played guitar
My friend achieved success as a musician.


He met this girl from Pennsylvania stuck by his side in love and war
He fell in love with a loyal and devoted girl from Pennsylvania.


Fearful and fussy, but so faithful, poor and devoted, real and true
She was loyal and devoted, despite being nervous and impoverished.


She's not the type to be forsaken and I see much of her in you
You share the same loyalty and devotion as my friend's girl.


While on a gig up in Toronto during a pause between his show
During a show break in Toronto, he met another woman.


He met this foxy German stallion who understood him head to toe
He fell for a seductive German woman who knew how to please him.


She played it smart and learned his weakness and made him confess and yield into
She used her wiles to make him submit to her desires.


Her lustful whims became his fancy and I would fear the same from you
I worry that you could also succumb to such temptations.


Then in the swank suburbs of Houston off in a mansion built of stone
He was taken to a luxurious mansion in Houston.


Escorted by this wealthy widow into her lounge and left alone
He was left alone in a lounge with a rich widow.


Her maid announced that she was waiting for him to come and rendezvous
The maid told him the widow was waiting for him to join her.


Where he bestowed a long relation one like I hope to have with you
He had a long affair with the widow, which I hope to avoid with you.


Then on the sands right off the ocean just as the sun sank in the sea
He had a sexual encounter on the beach at sunset.


So did my buddy slow and easy into a freak of fancy-free
He indulged in carefree sexual experiences.


It was a group in automation getting together two by two
He joined other couples in sexual activities.


Where people live and love one another, people who live like me and you
There were others like us who lived and loved in a similar way.


Then on the beach in warm Miami there was a teacher far from school
He met a woman in Miami who taught him how to please a woman.


Taught him the way to please a woman, made him concede the Golden Rule
She taught him to treat others how he would like to be treated.


He learned to do it unto others as he used to just have them do
He learned to treat his sexual partners with respect and consideration.


So they began to come together as I will try to do with you
He had more fulfilling sexual experiences when he treated his partners well.


And there was one who was a virgin, never been touched by anyone
He met a virgin who had never been with a man before.


She was as pure as any angel, in fact she's called to be a nun
She was chaste and even intended to become a nun.


But it was all because my buddy just couldn't spoil a girl so true
He was respectful of her purity and didn't want to take advantage of her.


And so he left her as he found her, like I may have to do with you
He left her untouched, just as he found her.


The girl he's got now, he's never left her, she was the first I thought he'd shun
He is now in a committed relationship with a woman he never expected to be with.


Until I saw my buddy's eyes, when she came forth and bore his son
He fell in love with her after she had their child.


Since then he's known no other woman, I think his ramblin' days are through
He is now faithful to her and no longer indulges in carefree sexual encounters.


They built a home up in the country, a life I'd love to build with you
He and his partner have built a life together in the countryside.


Although you've never known my buddy and I am sure he don't know you
You may not know my friend, and he may not know you.


But you know the life he's living and all of the changes he's been through
You know about his experiences and the changes he has undergone.


Sweetheart, I'm talking about my buddy 'cause I don't want to wind up blue
I'm telling you this because I don't want to be hurt.


I could be happy with you only 'cause I see all of them in you
I could be happy with you because you share the same loyalty and devotion as my friend's girl.




Contributed by Adrian A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Monstah Jones

Thanks for posting this mate, never thought i'd hear this again..

andrew schroeppel

Thanks for posting! Such a good chuck berry song

MrSerbilly

@andrew schroeppel Thank you for the nice comment, Andrew!

jan edvinsson

The lyrics..." the story " :
My friend finally made a record and took to the road and played guitar
He met this girl from Pennsylvania stuck by his side in love and war
Fearful and fussy, but so faithful, poor and devoted, real and true
She's not the type to be forsaken and I see much of her in you
While on a gig up in Toronto during a pause between his show
He met this foxy German stallion who understood him head to toe
She played it smart and learned his weakness and made him confess and yield into
Her lustful whims became his fancy and I would fear the same from you
Then in the swank suburbs of Houston off in a mansion built of stone
Escorted by this wealthy widow into her lounge and left alone
Her maid announced that she was waiting for him to come and rendezvous
Where he bestowed a long relation one like I hope to have with you
Then on the sands right off the ocean just as the sun sank in the sea
So did my buddy slow and easy into a freak of fancy-free
It was a group in automation getting together two by two
Where people live and love one another, people who live like me and you
Then on the beach in warm Miami there was a teacher far from school
Taught him the way to please a woman, made him concede the Golden Rule
He learned to do it unto others as he used to just have them do
So they began to come together as I will try to do with you
And there was one who was a virgin, never been touched by anyone
She was as pure as any angel, in fact she's called to be a nun
But it was all because my buddy just couldn't spoil a girl so true
And so he left her as he found her, like I may have to do with you
The girl he's got now, he's never left her, she was the first I thought he'd shun
Until I saw my buddy's eyes, when she came forth and bore his son
Since then he's known no other woman, I think his rambling days are through
They built a home up in the country, a life I'd love to build with you
Although you've never known my buddy and I am sure he don't know you
But you know the life he's living and all of the changes he's been through
Sweetheart, I'm talking about my buddy because I don't want to wind up blue
I could be happy with you only because I see all of them in you

MrSerbilly

Thanks for the lyrics, jan.

n00se

My buddy finally made a record and took to the road and played guitar
He met this girl from Pennsylvania stuck by his side in love and war
Fearful and fussy, but so faithful, poor and devoted, real and true
She's not the type to be forsaken and I see much of her in you

While on a gig up in Toronto during a pause between his show
He met this foxy German stallion who understood him head to toe
She played it smart and learned his weakness and made him confess and yield into
Her lustful whims became his fancy and I would fear the same from you

Then in the swank suburbs of Houston off in a mansion built of stone
Escorted by this wealthy widow into her lounge and left alone
Her maid announced that she was waiting for him to come and rendezvous
Where he bestowed a long relation one like I hope to have with you

Then on the sands right off the ocean just as the sun sank in the sea
So did my buddy slow and easy into a freak of fancy-free
It was a group in automation getting together two by two
Where people live and love one another, people who live like me and you

Then on the beach in warm Miami there was a teacher far from school
Taught him the way to please a woman, made him concede the Golden Rule
He learned to do it unto others as he used to just have them do
So they began to come together as I will try to do with you

And there was one who was a virgin, never been touched by anyone
She was as pure as any angel, in fact she's called to be a nun
But it was all because my buddy just couldn't spoil a girl so true
And so he left her as he found her, like I may have to do with you

The girl he's got now, he's never left her, she was the first I thought he'd shun
Until I saw my buddy's eyes, when she came forth and bore his son
Since then he's known no other woman, I think his ramblin' days are through
They built a home up in the country, a life I'd love to build with you

Although you've never known my buddy and I am sure he don't know you
But you know the life he's living and all of the changes he's been through
Sweetheart, I'm talking about my buddy 'cause I don't want to wind up blue
I could be happy with you only 'cause I see all of them in you

Valeri Pedro

Elephant Memory is the backing group. Original recording on LP "BIO"

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