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.
You Are My Sunshine
Chuck Berry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you
Please, don't take my sunshine away.
Just the other night, it happened again, as I was tryin' to get to sleeping
I thought I heard you called my name, I thought I saw you looking down at my ….
I woke up screaming : 'I was a nation, keep me from dreaming
Oh you are my sunshine, my beautiful sunshine
You keep me feel so happy, you keep me feel happy when my skies are gray
Ah you'll never know, darling, you'll never know how much I love you
Please, don't take, take my sunshine, take it away.
Baby, now you know you told me, yes you did, that you really really love me
That there'll never be no one, nobody ever come between
And you never left me put me down ………………. love another
…………………………………….. end of my dreams.
Ah but you're still my sunshine, my beautiful sunshine
Ah you make me happy, you make me happy when my skies are gray, yeah
Ah you'll never know, darling, you'll never know how much I really love you
Ah come you take, come you take my sunshine away.
Chuck Berry's song You Are My Sunshine is a love song that expresses the deep love and affection the singer has for the person who is his sunshine. The first stanza acknowledges the positivity this person brings to his life, making him happy even when the skies are gray. He expresses his love for this person, and pleads with them not to take his sunshine away. The second stanza is a bit more complex, discussing a dream the singer had of this person visiting him. He wakes up screaming and crying, indicating the depth of his emotions. The third stanza reflects back on a previous conversation where this person told the singer how much they loved him and that there would never be anyone else. The singer expresses his desire for this person to never leave him or love anyone else. He finishes by expressing his love again and begging them not to take his sunshine away.
The overall tone of the song is quite emotive, with the singer expressing strong feelings of love and dependence. He seeks assurance that his sunshine won't be taken away from him and seems to be very protective of this person. Interestingly, the song is based on an earlier song with the same title that was written in the 1930s. This original song was more upbeat, and the version that Berry sings is a slower, more emotional rendition.
Line by Line Meaning
You are my sunshine, my beautiful sunshine
You are the light in my life and bring happiness to my world.
You make me happy when skies are gray
Even when things are tough, you have the power to bring joy into my life.
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you
I cannot express in words how deeply I care for you.
Please, don't take my sunshine away.
Without you, my life would feel incomplete and empty.
Just the other night, it happened again, as I was tryin' to get to sleeping
I found myself thinking of you late at night when trying to fall asleep.
I thought I heard you called my name, I thought I saw you looking down at my ….
As I drifted off, my mind conjured up visions of you and the comfort you bring.
I woke up screaming : 'I was a nation, keep me from dreaming
I had an overwhelming feeling of loss and dread without you in my life even in my dreams.
Oh you are my sunshine, my beautiful sunshine
You are the one who brings light into my life and my world.
Ah you'll never know, darling, you'll never know how much I love you
I can never express in words the full extent of my affection for you.
Please, don't take, take my sunshine, take it away.
I fear losing you and what that would mean for my happiness.
Baby, now you know you told me, yes you did, that you really really love me
You have expressed your love for me in words on many occasions.
That there'll never be no one, nobody ever come between
You promised your love and loyalty and that nothing would ever come between us.
And you never left me put me down …… love another
You have never hurt me by leaving or choosing someone else over me.
Ah but you're still my sunshine, my beautiful sunshine
You continue to be the person who brightens up my days and brings me joy.
Ah come you take, come you take my sunshine away.
I fear you may leave, taking away the happiness and light you bring to my life.
Contributed by Colton M. 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.