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.
Welcome Back Pretty Baby
Chuck Berry Lyrics
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How did your vacation go ?
You know I long to be with you
Because I really missed you so
You must have many things to tell me
But only one I yearn to know
Shall we dance, pretty baby
It's been a long hot summer
With no one to entertain
Ah, it's really boss to hold your hand, baby
Dance and talk with you again
Bye, bye for now
But I shall call you on the phone
I want to tell you how boss it was
To have been your chaperone
And if you choose me for your steady
Darling, you'll never walk alone
Chuck Berry's "Welcome Back Pretty Baby" is a charming declaration of love to a woman he's been separated from during summer vacation. The opening lines set a romantic tone by greeting his sweetheart and asking how her vacation went. He expresses his longing to be with her and how much he missed her. Berry allows his lyrics to reveal how eager he is to hear about the details of her vacation; he emphasizes his question by saying that he has only one thing he yearns to know.
Berry's sentiments and lyricism continue in the second verse. He asks his sweetheart if she still loves him and if they can dance together. He acknowledges their separation during the long summer, and that he had no one to entertain while she was gone. He notes how it was "really boss" to hold her hand again during the dance.
In the final verse of the song, Berry states that he loves her and that she will never walk alone if she chooses to be with him. He promises to call her on the phone and tells her he wants to be her chaperone again. Berry's lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia, and his love for the woman that he sings to is potent and unrelenting.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, pretty baby
Chuck Berry greets his lover with affection and longing.
How did your vacation go ?
Chuck Berry wants to know how his lover's trip was and shows interest in her life.
You know I long to be with you
Because I really missed you so
Chuck Berry tells his lover how much he missed her and implies his strong feelings towards her.
You must have many things to tell me
But only one I yearn to know
Chuck Berry acknowledges his lover's stories but emphasizes his desire to know if she still loves him.
Shall we dance, pretty baby
And does your love for me remain ?
Chuck Berry asks his lover to dance and explicitly asks if she still loves him, showing insecurity in their relationship.
It's been a long hot summer
With no one to entertain
Ah, it's really boss to hold your hand, baby
Dance and talk with you again
Chuck Berry describes how lonely and dull his summer was without his lover, but how happy he is to have her back in his company and feeling content holding her hand.
Bye, bye for now
But I shall call you on the phone
I want to tell you how boss it was
To have been your chaperone
Chuck Berry expresses his intention to call his lover later and expresses gratitude for having been trusted as her chaperone during their time apart.
And if you choose me for your steady
Darling, you'll never walk alone
Chuck Berry offers his loyalty to his lover and promises to always be by her side if she chooses to be with him.
Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
Written by: CHUCK BERRY
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.