Jack Rabbit Slims Twist Contest
Hoban Jerome Patrick / Chuck Berry Lyrics
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You could see that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselle
And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell,
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
They furnished off an apartment with a two room Roebuck sale
The coolerator was crammed with TV dinners and ginger ale,
But when Pierre found work, the little money comin' worked out well
They had a hi-fi phono, boy, did they let it blast
Seven hundred little records, all rock, rhythm and jazz
But when the sun went down, the rapid tempo of the music fell
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
They bought a souped-up jitney, 'twas a cherry red '53,
They drove it down to Orleans to celebrate the anniversary
It was there that Pierre was married to the lovely mademoiselle
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
Chuck Berry's "Jack Rabbit Slims Twist Contest" follows the story of a married couple named Pierre and Mademoiselle. They had a teenage wedding that was wished well by their families. The song takes us through their journey, starting with the couple furnishing their apartment from a two-room Roebuck sale. They lived simple lives with TV dinners and ginger ale, but the little money Pierre earned made things much better for them. The song then talks about their passion for music, with over 700 rock, rhythm, and jazz records that they let blast on their hi-fi phono. But once the sun went down, they preferred to listen to slow music.
The next verse talks about how the couple bought a '53 cherry red jitney and drove it down to Orleans to celebrate their anniversary. It was there that Pierre got married to the lovely Mademoiselle, and the old folks said, "C'est la vie. It goes to show you never can tell." The song signifies the unpredictability of life and how one can never know what might happen next. The couple's journey is an excellent example of how a person's life can change drastically, for better or worse, within a short period.
Overall, this song is a delightful description of a couple's journey and their struggles and achievements. Chuck Berry's storytelling abilities are impeccable, and his talent has made this song a timeless classic that generations can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well
The couple got married when they were young and the elders were happy for them.
You could see that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselle
It was apparent that Pierre was in love with his bride-to-be.
And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell
The couple has gotten married and made it official.
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
The elders say that's how life is and you never know what to expect.
They furnished off an apartment with a two room Roebuck sale
They bought their furniture from a discounted Roebuck sale to decorate their apartment.
The coolerator was crammed with TV dinners and ginger ale,
Their refrigerator was filled with pre-made TV dinners and ginger ale.
But when Pierre found work, the little money comin' worked out well
When Pierre landed a job, their financial situation improved.
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
The elders remark that life can be unpredictable.
They had a hi-fi phono, boy, did they let it blast
They owned a high-quality music player and loved to play music at high volume.
Seven hundred little records, all rock, rhythm and jazz
They had a collection of 700 music records, all of which were rock, rhythm, and jazz genres.
But when the sun went down, the rapid tempo of the music fell
When evening came, they toned down the music and played slower tunes.
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
The elders reflect that life is full of surprises and uncertainties.
They bought a souped-up jitney, 'twas a cherry red '53,
They purchased an upgraded car, which was a cherry red-colored 1953 model.
They drove it down to Orleans to celebrate the anniversary
They drove to Orleans to commemorate their anniversary.
It was there that Pierre was married to the lovely mademoiselle
It was in Orleans that Pierre and his beautiful bride got married.
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
The elders reiterate that life is full of surprising twists and turns.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BRIAN WILSON, BRIAN DOUGLAS WILSON, MICHAEL LOVE, MICHAEL EDWARD LOVE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind