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.
The Girl From Central High
Chuck Berry Lyrics
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The little girl from Central that all the boys acclaim,
The way she sings and dances, she's gonna build a name.
She turns down romances, but then who could blame,
The little girl from Central, she's got her heart on fame.
The little girl's a scholar and a beauty too,
She's got a world of talent, knows just what to do,
The little girl from Central, a tweedle dee dee doo.
The little girl's creative, a repertoire that rings,
And Hollywood is waiting, to see the way she swings.
She'll be graduating, goin' on to higher things,
The little girl from Central is gonna take on wings.
The little girl's a scholar and a beauty too,
The sweet ways about her will take effect on you.
She's got a world of talent, knows just what to do,
The little girl from Central, a tweedle dee dee doo.
Chuck Berry's song The Girl from Central High is about a young girl who is talented and hardworking, with her sights set on fame and fortune. The song describes her as a scholar and a beauty with a world of talent. She is also very creative and has a repertoire that rings in her school. Despite her potential suitors, she is focused on her ambitions and determined to achieve them. Chuck Berry's lyrics indicate that the little girl's hard work and dedication are going to pay off, as Hollywood is waiting for her to show them the way she swings. She is set to graduate and move on to bigger things, eager to take on the world and make a name for herself.
What is striking about this song is the way it celebrates the aspirations of a young woman. In the era when it was written, the dominant narrative was that women were not generally expected to achieve much beyond marriage and motherhood. The little girl from Central High represents a defiance of those expectations, as she is focused on her own dreams and passions, rather than conforming to societal norms.
Overall, The Girl from Central High is a tribute to hardworking young women with big dreams. It is a celebration of individuality, talent, and ambition, and a reminder that anyone can achieve great things with determination and hard work.
Line by Line Meaning
The little girl from Central that all the boys acclaim,
Chuck is talking about a popular girl from Central High who catches the attention of all the boys.
The way she sings and dances, she's gonna build a name.
Chuck points out that the girl has some amazing talents and has the potential to become famous.
She turns down romances, but then who could blame,
Despite being popular with boys, the girl shows no interest in any romantic relationships. Chuck rationalizes and says it's understandable.
The little girl from Central, she's got her heart on fame.
Chuck reveals that the girl's ultimate goal is to become famous.
The little girl's a scholar and a beauty too,
Chuck emphasizes that the girl isn't just popular, but also intelligent and beautiful.
The sweet ways about her will take effect on you.
Chuck highlights the girl's charming and sweet personality, which can influence people easily.
She's got a world of talent, knows just what to do,
Chuck acknowledges the girl's talents and skills and her ability to use them effectively.
The little girl from Central, a tweedle dee dee doo.
Chuck uses this phrase to refer to the girl's musical talents or skills.
The little girl's creative, a repertoire that rings,
Chuck points out that the girl is creative and has a collection of skills that are impressive.
And Hollywood is waiting, to see the way she swings.
Chuck hints that the girl's talents are so impressive that even Hollywood is eager to see her skills.
She'll be graduating, goin' on to higher things,
Chuck asserts that the girl has big dreams and will move on to better things after high school.
The little girl from Central is gonna take on wings.
Chuck implies that the girl's future is bright and she's going to soar high in life.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CHUCK BERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Abrams
Pure Chuck. The Worlds Greatest Rock and Roller.
jirkasigy
Hello! I'm glad that you liked it :-) Yes, I'm czech. ;-)
Małgorzata Ziółkowska
Good song, Chuck, Rest In Pace
Bob Reuter
this is the first time i'm hearing this but i grew up four blocks from Central High School in north St. Louis City which is what he's singing about. It's where Chuck grew up too
Daniel Alejandro Alarcón Coya
Me gustó
Niels Rozeboom
thanks for sharing!
TheProGamerHW
My Chuck Berry favorite. BTW, are you Czech?
nexttothemoon1
Sounds a lot like Sweet Little Sixteen.
Mickey Johnson
Same melody....
TheProGamerHW
Me too!