Roll Over Beethoven
The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna mail it to my local DJ
It's a rockin' rhythm record
I want my jockey to play
Roll over Beethoven, I gotta hear it again today
You know, my temperature's rising
And the jukebox blows a fuse
And my soul keeps on singing the blues
Roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news
I got the rockin' pneumonia
I need a shot of rhythm and blues
I think I'm rolling arthritis
Sitting down by the rhythm review
Roll over Beethoven rockin' in two by two
Well, if you feel you like it
Go get your lover, then reel and rock it
Roll it over and move on up just
A trifle further and reel and rock it, roll it over
Roll over Beethoven rockin' in two by two
Well, early in the morning I'm a giving you a warning
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
Hey diddle diddle, I am playin' my fiddle
Ain't got nothin' to lose
Roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news
You know she wiggles like a glow worm
Dance like a spinnin' top
She got a crazy partner
Oughta see 'em reel and rock
Long as she got a dime the music will never stop
Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven and dig
These rhythm and blues
In the song "Roll Over Beethoven", The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers express their love for rock and roll music and their desire for it to be played on the radio, specifically on the program of their local DJ. The lyrics "Roll over Beethoven, I gotta hear it again today" convey the message that the musicians cannot get enough of the rock and roll rhythm that Beethoven is viewed as a symbol of classical music and by rolling over him, they are supplanting him with the new sound. The lines "My heart's beating rhythm // And my soul keeps on singing the blues // Roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news" further support this idea. The singer has the rockin' pneumonia and the blues while he needs a shot of rhythm and blues, which are typical features of rock music. Hence, the way has to be cleared for the new sound and the old classical music standard represented by Beethoven has to be put aside.
At the end of the song, the lyrics take on a cheeky tone, "Long as she got a dime the music will never stop, Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven, Roll over Beethoven and dig these rhythm and blues" which can be read as having a sexual connotation to them, with "she" representing a female rock and roll partner. As "they reel and rock," the music will continue to play on.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna write a little letter
I plan to write a correspondence
Gonna mail it to my local DJ
And send it to my local disc jockey
It's a rockin' rhythm record
Containing some rockin' rhythm music
I want my jockey to play
I implore my jockey to spin it
Roll over Beethoven, I gotta hear it again today
So let's hear it again today, as I implore Beethoven to move over
You know, my temperature's rising
I feel my temperature heating up
And the jukebox blows a fuse
The fault now possibly lies with a faulty jukebox fusing out
My heart's beating rhythm
My heart is beating to a rhythm
And my soul keeps on singing the blues
While my soul continues to sing the blues
Roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news
All Beethoven must do is let Tchaikovsky know what's up
I got the rockin' pneumonia
I seem to be struck by a rocking pneumonia
I need a shot of rhythm and blues
So I am in dire need of a shot of rhythm and blues
I think I'm rolling arthritis
I feel like I'm dealing with rheumatoid arthritis
Sitting down by the rhythm review
Seated nearby the rhythm show
Roll over Beethoven rockin' in two by two
Beethoven should once more move over as folks dance in pairs
Well, if you feel you like it
If you feel that you like it
Go get your lover, then reel and rock it
Go bring your beloved, then reel and rock with them
Roll it over and move on up just
Roll it over as you proceed making your way up
A trifle further and reel and rock it, roll it over
Just a bit further ahead, reel and rock with them some more, roll it over
Roll over Beethoven rockin' in two by two
It is the turn of Beethoven again to make way as the sweethearts rock in pairs
Well, early in the morning I'm a giving you a warning
As early dawn breaks, let me put you on notice
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
It's not polite to step on my blue suede shoes
Hey diddle diddle, I am playin' my fiddle
Hey diddle diddle, I am playing my fiddle
Ain't got nothin' to lose
I don't have anything to lose
Roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news
Roll over, Beethoven is what I say, as I let Tchaikovsky know what's new
You know she wiggles like a glow worm
You know she's wiggling like a glow worm
Dance like a spinnin' top
She's dancing like a spinning top
She got a crazy partner
She has a wild partner
Oughta see 'em reel and rock
You should watch them dance and rock
Long as she got a dime the music will never stop
As long as she has a coin, the music won't end
Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven
I say roll over Beethoven over and over again
Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven
Again, roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven and dig These rhythm and blues
I implore Beethoven to move over so I can enjoy this rhythm and blues
Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP, Royalty Network
Written by: Chuck Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nan D
Love this version of Money Honey. Lost my album decades ago. Thanks for posting!
Stan Tissue
Money Honey just slipped out of the memory bank last night. Covered this tune in 1979 with Only After Dark. Guess I was the Graham Parsons influence in the group, but I ended up sounding like Keith Richards in the end. Al Perkins had some good licks on these tunes. Thought he was just the steel guitar guy but apparently not. Anyway, I grew up listening to Albert Lee and James Burton in the hot band, loved Clarence Whites sound, but somehow never understood it all. I get it now. Too late.
Rebecca' Dale
I wondered if they sang a song the serchers British invasion bands
Mick Marino
Money Honey is 1st?