Johnny B. Goode
Chuck Berry & Bruce Springsteen Lyrics


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Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
Who never ever learned to read or write so well
But he could play a guitar just like a-ringin' a bell

Go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Johnny B. Goode

He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
Oh, the engineers would see him sitting in the shade
Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made
People passing by, they would stop and say
"Oh my that little country boy could play"

Go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Johnny B. Goode

His mother told him "Someday you will be a man
And you will be the leader of a big old band
Many people coming from miles around
To hear you play your music when the sun go down
Maybe someday your name will be in lights
Saying "Johnny B. Goode tonight"

Go go
Go Johnny go
Go go go Johnny go
Go go go Johnny go
Go go go Johnny go




Go
Johnny B. Goode

Overall Meaning

Chuck Berry and Bruce Springsteen's song Johnny B. Goode is an ode to a simple, hardworking country boy named Johnny B. Goode. The song describes Johnny living in a log cabin deep in Louisiana, and although he couldn't read or write, he had a unique talent for playing the guitar. Johnny used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack, sit beneath the tree by the railroad track, and play along with the rhythm of the train drivers. As people passed him by, they would stop and admire his talent, amazed by how someone so young could play so well.


Johnny's mother recognized her son's talent and told him that one day, he would lead a big band, and people from miles around would flock to see him play his music. Johnny's mother also believed that her son's name would someday be in lights, saying "Johnny B. Goode tonight." The song ends with a chorus urging Johnny to go go go, as if prompting him to pursue his musical dreams and become the icon he was destined to be.


Overall, the song highlights the talent, simplicity, and hard work ethic of Johnny B. Goode, who was destined to become a musical legend.


Line by Line Meaning

Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans
In the southern United States, specifically Louisiana, near the city of New Orleans, there is a story to be told.


Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
The cabin in which Johnny grew up was in a rural area, surrounded by tall evergreen trees.


There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
Johnny's home, like many homes in rural areas, was built using materials that were readily available - logs and dirt.


Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
Johnny, the young protagonist of this song, was a young boy living in the country.


Who never ever learned to read or write so well
Johnny may not have mastered reading and writing, but he had a talent that would serve him for a lifetime.


But he could play a guitar just like a-ringin' a bell
Johnny's musical gift was playing the guitar - an instrument that he played so well, it was a lot like the sound of bells ringing out.


Go go Go Johnny go go Go Johnny go go Go Johnny go go Go Johnny go go Johnny B. Goode
This is a chorus and a call to action to Johnny. The people listening to his music are hyping him up, pushing him to continue to play.


He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
When Johnny went out to play music, he'd bring a simple sack to hold his guitar, then would head out to a quiet spot by the train tracks to play.


Oh, the engineers would see him sitting in the shade Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made
The railroad workers would notice Johnny sitting beneath the trees, strumming his guitar, matching the rhythm of the trains passing through.


People passing by, they would stop and say "Oh my that little country boy could play"
As people walked past, they were drawn to Johnny's good music and couldn't help but stop to admire his skill.


His mother told him "Someday you will be a man And you will be the leader of a big old band Many people coming from miles around To hear you play your music when the sun go down Maybe someday your name will be in lights Saying "Johnny B. Goode tonight"
Johnny's mother was proud of her son and believed that one day he would lead a popular and successful band. She envisioned large crowds coming to see him play his music, with his name up in lights for all to see.


Go go Go Johnny go Go go go Johnny go Go go go Johnny go Go go go Johnny go Go Johnny B. Goode
Another chorus to remind Johnny to keep playing, and to recognize his status and nickname as Johnny B. Goode - someone who is really good at what they do.




Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
Written by: Chuck Berry

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@musicman1776

Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
Who never ever learned to read or write so well
But he could play a guitar just like a-ringin' a bell
Go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Johnny B. Goode
He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
Oh, the engineers would see him sitting in the shade
Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made
The people passing by they would stop and say
"Oh my what that little country boy could play"
Go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Johnny B. Goode
His mother told him "someday you will be a man
And you will be the leader of a big old band
Many people coming from miles around
To hear you play your music when the sun go down
Maybe someday your name will be in lights
Saying "Johnny B. Goode tonight"
Go, go
Go Johnny, go
Go, go, go Johnny, go
Go, go, go Johnny, go
Go, go, go Johnny, go
Go
Johnny B. Goode



@JavierCassiano

Johnny B. Goode

Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
Who never ever learned to read or write so well
But he could play a guitar just like a-ringin' a bell

Go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Johnny B. Goode

He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
Oh, the engineers would see him sitting in the shade
Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made
The people passing by they would stop and say
"Oh my what that little country boy could play"

Go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Go Johnny, go, go
Johnny B. Goode

His mother told him "someday you will be a man
And you will be the leader of a big old band
Many people coming from miles around
To hear you play your music when the sun go down
Maybe someday your name will be in lights
Saying "Johnny B. Goode tonight"

Go, go
Go Johnny, go
Go, go, go Johnny, go
Go, go, go Johnny, go
Go, go, go Johnny, go
Go

Johnny B. Goode

0:01 ●━━━━━━━━━━━━ 3:18
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@babajnpon

Bruce Springsteen might be dreaming of performing with this legend father of Rock n roll songs & music 🎶🎶🎶🎵 Chuck berry.

Go go Johny go Johny be good...... Was my grandfather's favourite Rock n Roll song of Chuck berry.

My grandfather had more then (1000) L.P. record discs as well as (1000) L.P. record discs of (Lt Elvish pressley.

Later on 90's he had collected audio cassettes of Chuck berry & Elvish pressley. He had (my grandfather) was dead in 2019.

Go go Johny be good is 1of my favourite Rock n Roll song which I listen often when I do work out.

R.I.P. Chuck berry.😢

Love from me and my country which I belong India.



All comments from YouTube:

@leokimvideo

Chuck Berry had everyone look at him like a lover. When it comes to modern music it started with him.

@frontcentermusician

Nope. it was McFly pal...

@nope929

The Beatles may have started British rock, but that started in the black south

@AnnieAnnieBuckwheatCakes

Everyone who has attempted the guitar has done the Chuck Barry shuffle. Everyone playing with him had stars in his eyes. A founding father of modern music.

@user-ju4ni9fm9i

and?

@simontaylor2319

Depends on you age

121 More Replies...

@chrissennfelder7249

20 seconds in and I'm smiling like an idiot. Chuck is killing it.

@GuyMcPherson69

Alright fam

@tonvandenhurk7760

English invasion starts with Keith and Brain. Afther they heard Chuck.

@ferchoneutron12

So?

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