Tulane
Chuck Berry Lyrics


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Tulane and Johnny opened a novelty shop,
Back under the counter, was the cream of the crop,
Ev’rything was clickin, and the business was good,
‘Till one day, lo and behold an officer stood.
Johnny jumped the counter but he stumbled and fell,
But Tulane made it over Johnny fell as he yelled,

Chorus:
Go head on, Tulane, he can’t catch up with you.
Go Tulane, he ain’t man enough for you.
Go Tulane, use all the speed you got.
Go Tulane, you know you need a lot.
Go Tulane, he’s laggin behind.
Go ‘head on, Tulane.

Go by your father’s house and tell him business is slow
And see if he will loan us something, soon as he hits the dough.
Put the cat out in the hall and rumple up the room
Go by Doctor Keller’s, tell him you swallowed some perfume
Tell him we need him quick, ’cuz he may have to testify
That you been sick all day and that’s a perfect alibi

Chorus:

Go,let Daddy drive in case you run into the Man
Back by the shop and get the stuff and hide it in the van.
Go back by your father’s, get the money for the bail.
And bring it down and bail me out this rotten, funky jail.
We gotta get a lawyer in the clique of politics
Somebody who can win the thing or get the thing fixed.





Chorus:
Go ‘head on, Tulane.

Overall Meaning

Chuck Berry's song Tulane tells the story of two partners in crime, Tulane and Johnny, who run a successful novelty shop selling items that they keep hidden and out of sight. This all changes when suddenly an officer shows up, causing Johnny to jump the counter but stumble and be captured while Tulane manages to escape.


The remainder of the song speaks on Tulane's attempts to evade the law and get their hands on the money needed to bail Johnny out of jail. Tulane employs various tactics to achieve this, including asking wealthy family members for loans and coming up with a solid alibi with the help of a trusted doctor. In the final lines of the song, the pair discuss the need for a politically-connected lawyer who can help them win their case and get out of trouble.


Overall, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of two individuals desperately attempting to navigate the legal system and stay out of jail. It also hints at the idea that perhaps they are not completely equipped to deal with the situation at hand, as they seem to be doing everything in their power to avoid getting caught rather than tackling their legal issues head-on.


Line by Line Meaning

Tulane and Johnny opened a novelty shop,
Tulane and Johnny started a store that sold unique items.


Back under the counter, was the cream of the crop,
The best items were hidden under the counter.


Everything was clickin, and the business was good,
The business was doing well and they were making money.


'Till one day, lo and behold an officer stood.
Until one day, a police officer came to their shop.


Johnny jumped the counter but he stumbled and fell,
Johnny tried to run away but he fell down.


But Tulane made it over Johnny fell as he yelled,
Tulane successfully ran away while Johnny was still on the ground.


Chorus: Go head on, Tulane, he can't catch up with you. Go Tulane, he ain't man enough for you. Go Tulane, use all the speed you got. Go Tulane, you know you need a lot. Go Tulane, he's lagging behind. Go 'head on, Tulane.
The chorus encourages Tulane to keep running away because the police officer chasing him can't keep up.


Go by your father's house and tell him business is slow
Tulane is advised to go to his father's house and tell him that their business is not doing well.


And see if he will loan us something, soon as he hits the dough.
Tulane wants his father to lend him money as soon as he gets paid.


Put the cat out in the hall and rumple up the room
They plan to make it look like something happened at their place while Tulane was away.


Go by Doctor Keller's, tell him you swallowed some perfume
Tulane is supposed to go to Doctor Keller's and pretend that they swallowed something they shouldn't have.


Tell him we need him quick, 'cuz he may have to testify
They need Doctor Keller to help them with an alibi and testify in court if necessary.


That you been sick all day and that's a perfect alibi
Doctor Keller is supposed to say that Tulane has been sick all day and that's why they were away from the store during the incident.


Chorus: Go,let Daddy drive in case you run into the Man Back by the shop and get the stuff and hide it in the van. Go back by your father's, get the money for the bail. And bring it down and bail me out this rotten, funky jail. We gotta get a lawyer in the clique of politics Somebody who can win the thing or get the thing fixed.
In this verse, Tulane is given instructions on how to get the stolen items, money for bail, and a good lawyer to help get them out of jail.


Chorus: Go 'head on, Tulane.
The chorus repeats, encouraging Tulane to continue to take action and get themselves out of their situation.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
Written by: CHUCK BERRY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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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.

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