Johnny B. Goode
Chuck Berry
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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-ringin' a bell Go 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 engineers would see him sitting in the shade Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made People passing by they would stop and say "Oh my what 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 old band Many people coming from miles around To hear you play your music when the sun go down Maybe someday your name will be in lights Saying "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
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10 facts about this song
Artist Background"Johnny B. Goode" is a song by American rock and roll pioneer Chuck Berry.
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Song Release and PopularityThe song was first released as a single on Chess Records in 1958.
- "Johnny B. Goode" is considered one of Berry's most popular and enduring songs, reaching number two on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sides chart and number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Lyrics and InspirationThe song tells the semi-autobiographical tale of a country boy from the Deep South who can play a guitar "just like ringing a bell".
- The lyrics were partly inspired by his pianist, Johnnie Johnson.
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Cultural Significance"Johnny B. Goode" is often recognized as one of the most recognizable songs in the history of rock music.
- The song's intro remains one of the most famous guitar riffs in rock history.
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Historical RecognitionIt was one of the only rock and roll songs included on the Voyager Golden Record, attached to the Voyager spacecraft as representing the best in human culture, making "Johnny B. Goode" the only rock and roll song likely to be heard by alien lifeforms.
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Covers and RecognitionsThe song has been covered by many artists, including The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Jimi Hendrix.
- It was ranked seventh on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
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Film References"Johnny B. Goode" was famously featured in the 1985 film "Back to the Future" when Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) plays it at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance.
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Song CompositionWritten in the key of B flat, this song is notable for its rapid-fire lyrics done in the blues theme.
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Induction into Hall of Fame"Johnny B. Goode" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, recognizing its qualitative or historical significance.
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InfluenceIts influence continues to be heard in rock music to this day, often referenced and used in contemporary pop culture.
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Citation
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"Johnny B. Goode Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/5516069/Chuck+Berry/Johnny+B.+Goode>.
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