In the Back to the Future films, Marvin Berry & the Starlighters was a fict… Read Full Bio ↴In the Back to the Future films, Marvin Berry & the Starlighters was a fictional band led by Marvin Berry, Chuck Berry's cousin. They performed at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance in 1955.
When Marty McFly was locked in the trunk of their car during their break, Marvin sliced open his hand attempting to get him out. This caused Marvin to call it a night since he couldn't play guitar; however Marty stepped forward to continue the dance, and Marvin Berry sang.
After Earth Angel, they joined him in an upbeat tune that was to be a rock'n'roll classic, Johnny B. Goode.

Johnny B. Goode
Marvin Berry And The Starlighters Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Way down Louisiana close to New Orleans,
Way back up in the woods among the evergreen
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood,
Where lived a country boy name of Johnny B. Goode
He never ever learned to read or write so well,
But he could play the guitar like ringing a bell.

Go Go

Go Johnny Go
Go Go
Johnny B. Goode

He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
And sit beneath the trees by the railroad track.
Oh, the engineers used to see him sitting in the shade,
Playing to the rhythm that the drivers made.
People passing by would stop and say
Oh my that little country boy could play

His mama told him someday he would be a man,
And he would be the leader of a big old band.
Many people coming from miles around
To hear him play his music when the sun go down

Maybe someday his name would be in lights
Saying Johnny B. Goode tonight.

Overall Meaning

The song Johnny B. Goode by Marvin Berry and the Starlighters tells the story of a young man named Johnny B. Goode who lives in a log cabin in Louisiana close to New Orleans. Although he never learned to read or write very well, he possesses an incredible talent for playing the guitar. He carries around his guitar in a gunny sack and sets up beneath trees by the railroad track, where he plays to the rhythm that the passing trains make. People passing by frequently stop to listen to him play and are impressed with his talent.

Despite growing up in a rural area and lacking a formal education, Johnny's mother has faith in his abilities and tells him that he will grow up to be a man and the leader of a big old band. People from miles around come to hear him play his music when the sun goes down, and Johnny dreams of the day when his name will be up in lights, saying "Johnny B. Goode tonight."

The song paints a nostalgic picture of a simpler time when talent alone was enough to captivate an audience. Johnny's story is one of triumph over circumstance and a testament to the power of music to cross boundaries and bring people together.

Line by Line Meaning

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.

Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
Written by: Chuck Berry

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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