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.
Together
Chuck Berry Lyrics
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But what could I do?
I couldn't stand and stare
Or come and talk to you
And it is always fair
To formally be introduced?
To you especially
To come an talk to you
Because you were alone
I hope I didn't intrude
Observing you had shown
That you were so lonely and blue
*Nothing beats a failure like a try
There's a great reward
Someone will surely hail you
If you try
But you must try hard
And if I hadn't tried
I wonder where I'd be
If I upon relied
On fate you meeting me
But because I tried
Together we'll always be
(*Repeat)
Oh darling
Together we'll always be
The lyrics of Chuck Berry's song "Together" speaks about taking a chance on love and how it is always better to try than to not try at all. The song begins by the singer saying that he has been observing someone from afar, but he couldn't muster the courage to walk up to them and speak to them. He then questions whether it would be fair to approach them without an introduction. The singer then decides to take matters into his own hands and go up to the person he's been observing. He hopes he's not intruding on their space, but in observing them, he sees that they're lonely and sad.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of trying, encouraging people to not be afraid of taking chances in life. The singer acknowledges that they could have missed out on something great if they hadn't taken the initiative to approach the person they were interested in. The song ends with the assurance that they will always be together.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw you over there
I noticed your presence from a distance
But what could I do?
I was unable to do anything about it
I couldn't stand and stare
I didn't want to look at you indefinitely
Or come and talk to you
I didn't have the courage to approach you directly
And it is always fair
It is reasonable and polite
To formally be introduced?
To have someone introduce us properly?
To you especially
Especially to someone like you
I took it on my own
I decided to take matters into my own hands
To come an talk to you
And approach you to start a conversation
Because you were alone
Since you seemed lonely and solitary
I hope I didn't intrude
I hope I wasn't being too forward or interrupting your solitude
Observing you had shown
I noticed from your demeanor
That you were so lonely and blue
That you seemed isolated and unhappy
Nothing beats a failure like a try
Attempting something is always better than not trying at all
There's a great reward
The potential outcome is very satisfying
Someone will surely hail you
Someone will undoubtedly appreciate your effort
If you try
As long as you make the effort
But you must try hard
But it's important to try with sincerity and determination
And if I hadn't tried
If I had not taken the initiative
I wonder where I'd be
I would be curious about what my circumstances would be now
If I upon relied
If I had depended solely
On fate you meeting me
On the chance of us encountering each other
But because I tried
But because I made an earnest effort
Together we'll always be
We will always be together
Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
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.