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 Things I Used To Do
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some I won't do no more
Things that I used to do
Some I won't do no more
Used to sit and hold your hand, baby
Begging you, not today
And I search always anything
Used to search all night for you baby
And I search always anything
Yeah, and I'm new alone again, darlin'
You was out somewhere with your other man
I'm gonna send you back to your mother, baby
Or I'm gonna back to my family too
I'm gonna send you back to your mother, baby
Or I'm gonna back to my family too
Nothing I ever do pleases you, darlin'
Or I just can't get along with you
Chuck Berry's song "The Things I Used To Do" is a classic blues track that delves into a theme of nostalgia and regret. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics as Berry sings, "Things that I used to do, some I won't do no more." With this, the singer is reflecting on past actions that he has taken and the impact they have had on his life. It's clear from the lyrics that these past choices have left the singer feeling pensive and possibly even a little bit remorseful.
The first verse of the song gives us an insight into the singer's past relationship. He sings about how he used to sit and hold his lover's hand, begging her to stay with him. It becomes quite apparent that the singer would do almost anything to keep this person in his life. However, despite his best efforts, his lover still leaves and goes off with another man. The second verse of the song continues the theme of searching for love and it seems that the singer always ends up alone again.
In the final part of the song, Berry sings about his frustration with his current relationship. He feels that nothing he does pleases his current partner and he just can't seem to get along with her. It's a potent message about relationships and how they can bring both joy and pain. Overall, the song is a perfect representation of traditional blues music, with its raw and honest lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Things that I used to do
Reflecting on past behaviors
Some I won't do no more
Some behaviors I have changed
Used to sit and hold your hand, baby
I used to be close with you
Begging you, not today
Asking for time or space
Used to search all night for you baby
Desperately seeking connection
And I search always anything
Going to great lengths
Yeah, and I'm new alone again, darlin'
Feeling abandoned
You was out somewhere with your other man
Betrayal of trust
I'm gonna send you back to your mother, baby
Threatening to end relationship
Or I'm gonna back to my family too
Ending relationship and returning to family for support
Nothing I ever do pleases you, darlin'
Feeling unappreciated or undervalued
Or I just can't get along with you
Struggling to communicate or connect with partner
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eddie Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
iamswitters
Great lesson! I'm definitely gonna learn this!
Kacey Quispe
Can you do the whole song please I really like this song and you are a great guitar teacher
ribbons of euphoria
I just found you through your BFG Brown Sugar intro. Looks like nice content around what I’m keen to learn. I’ve subscribed : )
John O RA
Great Song and Great Video! But maybe could also show us albert collins licks in the same song?
im annonymous
Half a century has past .....and people are still inspired by chuck berry.....to quote another ...if you could call rock n roll another name . It would be chuck berry
Rip
mbrownie22
Almost at 100k congratulations, thanks for the video
Failyr
I read this as “buck cherry” at first