In my grade 7 music classes each year, I teach a unit that covers Pioneers of American Rock-n-Roll. You cannot listen to and dissect the popular music of the 1950’s without talking about Chuck Berry and his 1958 single “Johnny B. Goode.” As many times as I have heard the song, it only came to me recently that life meaning can be found in the simple lyrics. More about that in a moment. First, also consider that this simple blues tune is one of just 27 pieces of music that is on a gold record currently hurling through space on the Voyager probes. Launched in 1977, the 2 probes are currently crossing the boundary beyond Pluto to interstellar space, and may, with luck, be discovered by an alien race in 50,000 years or so. Should these beings be able to somehow decipher the Golden Record, they will find a map of The Milky Way, earthen math, photos, Bach and……Chuck Berry. Years ago, Saturday Night Live did a skit, based on aliens finding, and listening to the record. These aliens then sent a single message back to the people of Earth: SEND MORE CHUCK BERRY. Brilliant. Now, about that life meaning. Here’s a simple analysis below. Give the song a listen, put on Back to the Future, or check out a country cover version. This song will live forever. In 50,000 years the human race may be history, but Chuck Berry will survive. There’s a tagline for you….How about the lyrics?
Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
(All of us come from humble places, and most of us, humble roots)
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
(We all begin as no one special, we are everybody)
Who never ever learned to read or write so well
But he could play a guitar just like a-ringin’ a bell
(We learn and value most, the things that are important to us, and this becomes our world view)
Go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Go Johnny go go
Johnny B. Goode
(Dream, work, grow, repeat)
He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
(Develop your craft, science claims that 10,000 hours makes you an “expert”)
Oh, the engineers would see him sitting in the shade
Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made
The people passing by they would stop and say
“Oh my what that little country boy could play”
(Do your thing and do it well…over time people will take notice)
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
(Family is behind you and with you all the way. Nothing is more valuable than your original support system)
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”
(Believe in yourself, your dreams, and just be you. You’ll be alright. We’re all alright.)
Go go
Go Johnny go
Go go go Johnny go
Go go go Johnny go
Go go go Johnny go
Go
Johnny B. Goode
Yeah, yeah I know this isn’t too deep and it won’t change your life. Remember that I am teaching 7th grade here. Above is an analysis that was submitted by a student. She is 12 and is pretty spot on don’t you think? Remember being young and everything looked great from any angle that you looked from? Take 5 minutes today and think like that. You’ll feel better. Go Johnny…..go.
Patrick moeschen 