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.
Vaya Con Dios
Chuck Berry Lyrics
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En silencio el corazón dice y suspira:
Vaya con Dios mi vida
Vaya con Dios mi amor
Las campanas de la iglesia suenan tristes
Y parece que al sonar también te dicen:
Vaya con Dios mi vida
Vaya con Dios mi amor
En sueños siempre junto a ti junto estaré,
Mi voz escucharás dulce amor mío
Pensando como estarás
Volvernos siempre a ver
La alborada al despertar feliz te espera
Si en tu corazón yo voy, a donde quieras
Vaya con Dios mi vida, vaya con Dios mi amor...
The lyrics of Chuck Berry's song "Vaya Con Dios" talk about the pain that comes with separation from a loved one, and the hope that they will be reunited someday. This is made clear from the very outset, with the opening line "Si llegó el momento ya de separarnos" (If the moment has come for us to separate). The singer's heart is heavy, but it is at peace with the decision to part ways.
The singer tells their love to "Vaya con Dios" (Go with God) as they bid farewell. The church bells toll somberly in the background as if saying goodbye along with the singer. However, the singer's love is assured that they will never be truly apart. The promise to be together in their dreams and to always have a piece of each other's hearts is underscored when the singer says "Adonde vayas tú yo iré contigo" (Wherever you go, I'll go with you).
The last verse is particularly uplifting, promising a happy reunion at some point in time. The singer sings about a bright future, where they will be reunited with their love, and the dawn of a new day will be just as bright as the first. In summary, the song is a tribute to the power of love and the hope that never dies.
Line by Line Meaning
Si llegó el momento ya de separarnos
If the moment has arrived for us to part ways
En silencio el corazón dice y suspira:
Silently, the heart speaks and sighs:
Vaya con Dios mi vida
Go with God, my life
Vaya con Dios mi amor
Go with God, my love
Las campanas de la iglesia suenan tristes
The church bells ring with sadness
Y parece que al sonar también te dicen:
And it seems that as they ring, they also say to you:
Vaya con Dios mi vida
Go with God, my life
Vaya con Dios mi amor
Go with God, my love
Adonde vayas tú yo iré contigo
Wherever you go, I will go with you
En sueños siempre junto a ti junto estaré,
In dreams, I will always be with you
Mi voz escucharás dulce amor mío
You will hear my voice, sweet love of mine
Pensando como estarás
Thinking of how you are
Volvernos siempre a ver
To see each other again always
La alborada al despertar feliz te espera
The dawn awaits you happily when you wake up
Si en tu corazón yo voy, a donde quieras
If I am in your heart, wherever you want to go
Vaya con Dios mi vida, vaya con Dios mi amor...
Go with God, my life, go with God, my love...
Contributed by Nora F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.