Johnny B. Goode
Marvin Berry/The Starlighters Lyrics

Way down Louisiana close to New Orleans,
Johnny B. Goode grew up in the southern state of Louisiana, not too far from the city of New Orleans.

Way back up in the woods among the evergreen
Johnny B. Goode's home was in a remote area of the woods, surrounded by evergreen trees.

There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood,
Johnny B. Goode's home was a simple log cabin, built with natural materials like earth and wood.

Where lived a country boy name of Johnny B. Goode
Johnny B. Goode was a young boy living in the countryside.

He never ever learned to read or write so well,
Johnny B. Goode did not have a formal education, and struggled with literacy.

But he could play the guitar like ringing a bell.
Despite his lack of formal education, Johnny B. Goode was a talented guitar player with a style that was smooth and lively, like the sound of a ringing bell.

Go Go Go Johnny Go Go Go Johnny B. Goode
The Starlighters urge Johnny B. Goode to keep playing and inspiring others with his amazing music.

He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Johnny B. Goode would carry his guitar in a simple sack made of coarse cloth.

And sit beneath the trees by the railroad track.
Johnny B. Goode would often find a peaceful spot under a tree, near the train tracks, to sit and practice his music.

Oh, the engineers used to see him sitting in the shade,
The engineers driving the trains would often see Johnny B. Goode resting in the shade while he played his guitar.

Playing to the rhythm that the drivers made.
Johnny B. Goode would match the rhythm of his guitar playing to the sound of the passing trains, creating a unique blend of sounds.

People passing by would stop and say
People who walked or drove by would often pause to listen to Johnny B. Goode's music.

Oh my that little country boy could play
Many people were impressed by the skills of this young, humble country boy.

His mama told him someday he would be a man,
Johnny B. Goode's mother believed that someday her son would grow up and become a successful adult.

And he would be the leader of a big old band.
She suggested that Johnny B. Goode would become the frontman of a popular musical group.

Many people coming from miles around
As Johnny B. Goode's reputation grew, many people began traveling from far away just to hear him play.

To hear him play his music when the sun go down
Johnny B. Goode's most popular performances took place in the evenings, as the sun was setting.

Maybe someday his name would be in lights
There was a possibility that Johnny B. Goode would become famous and have his name displayed prominently for all to see.

Saying Johnny B. Goode tonight.
This would likely happen on the night of one of his biggest performances, where he would be the star of the show.