Introduction
“Johnny B. Goode” is a rock and roll song written and performed by American musician Chuck Berry. Released in 1958 as a single from his debut album Chuck Berry Is on Top, the song is widely regarded as one of the founding songs of rock and roll music. It was ranked number two on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004 and number four on the same list in 2020.
Background and Inspiration
Berry wrote the song in 1955, inspired by Johnnie Johnson, the piano player in Berry’s band. Johnson was known for his flashy style of playing, and Berry wanted to write a song that would showcase his skills. Berry also drew inspiration from the country music he had heard growing up in St. Louis, Missouri.
Recording and Release
The song was recorded in Chicago in 1958 at Chess Records’ Universal Recording Studios. The song was produced by Leonard Chess and features Berry on vocals and guitar, Johnnie Johnson on piano, Willie Dixon on bass, and Fred Below on drums.
Impact and Legacy
“Johnny B. Goode” was an immediate success, reaching number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1958. The song was a major turning point in rock and roll music, and it helped to establish Berry as one of the genre’s pioneers. The song’s lyrics about a young guitar player who dreams of making it big resonated with teenagers across the country, and it helped to popularize the electric guitar as a rock and roll instrument.
Did you know?
- The song was originally titled “Study Guitar“.
- The song was covered by The Beatles in 1964, and it helped to introduce rock and roll to a wider audience in the United Kingdom.
- The song has been featured in many films and television shows, including Back to the Future and Happy Days.
- The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1986.
- In 2004, the Library of Congress selected “Johnny B. Goode” for preservation in the National Recording Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
Conclusion
“Johnny B. Goode” is a timeless classic that has stood the test of time. It is a fun, energetic, and infectious song that is sure to get you up and dancing. Chuck Berry’s version of the song is definitive, and it is a joy to listen to. If you are looking for a song that will put a smile on your face and make you want to rock and roll, then “Johnny B. Goode” is the perfect song for you.
Video
Lyrics: 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-ringing a bellGo 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 engineer would see him sittin’ in the shade
Strummin’ with the rhythm that the drivers made
The people passing by, they would stop and say
“Oh my, but 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 ol’ band
Many people comin’ from miles around
To hear you play your music when the sun go down
Maybe someday your name’ll be in lights
Sayin’ ‘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!