Chuck Berry – Maybellene – 1955

About The Song

“Maybellene” is a classic rock and roll song by Chuck Berry, released in 1955. The song is celebrated for its blend of blues and country influences, featuring Chuck Berry’s signature guitar riffs and storytelling lyrics. “Maybellene” is often considered one of the pioneering tracks in the early development of rock and roll music.

Five Facts:

Debut Single and Chart Success: “Maybellene” was Chuck Berry’s debut single, and it quickly became a massive hit. It reached #1 on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues chart and #5 on the Billboard Pop chart, marking Berry’s breakthrough into mainstream success.
Adaptation of Country Song: The song’s melody was adapted from the traditional fiddle tune “Ida Red.” Berry reworked the music and added his own lyrics, creating a unique fusion of country, blues, and rhythm and blues elements. This blend played a crucial role in defining the early rock and roll sound.
Guitar Riffs and Style: Chuck Berry’s innovative guitar playing, characterized by his energetic and distinctive guitar riffs, became a trademark of his style. The memorable opening guitar solo in “Maybellene” is an example of Berry’s influential use of the instrument, which had a profound impact on the development of rock music.
Lyrically Unique: The song’s lyrics tell a story of a car chase, infidelity, and a romantic rivalry, capturing the spirit of teenage rebellion and the emerging youth culture of the 1950s. The narrative focus of the lyrics set “Maybellene” apart from many of its contemporaries and contributed to its widespread appeal.
Cultural Impact: “Maybellene” played a pivotal role in the popularization of rock and roll as a genre. Chuck Berry’s energetic stage presence, coupled with the song’s infectious rhythm, influenced numerous musicians who would go on to shape the future of rock music. The track is often cited as one of the foundational songs of the rock and roll era.

Video

Lyrics

Maybellene, why can’t you be true?
Oh, Maybellene, why can’t you be true?
You done started doing the things you used to do

As I was motivatin’ over the hill
I saw Maybellene in a Coupé de Ville
A Cadillac a-rollin on the open road
Nothin’ will outrun my V-8 Ford
The Cadillac doin’ ’bout 95
She bumper to bumper, rollin’ side by side

Maybellene, why can’t you be true?
Oh, Maybellene, why can’t you be true?
You done started back doin’ the things you used to do

The Cadillac pulled up at 104
The Ford got hot and wouldn’t do no more
It done got cloudy and started to rain
I tooted my horn for the passin’ lane
The rain water blowin’ all under my hood
I knew that wasn’t doin’ my motor good

Maybellene, why can’t you be true?
Oh, Maybellene, why can’t you be true?
You done started back doin’ the things you used to do

Oh, Maybellene, why can’t you be true?
Oh, Maybellene, why can’t you be true?
You done started back doin’ the things you used to do

The motor cooled down, the heat went down
And that’s when I heard that highway sound
Cadillac sittin’ like toad on a lake
A 110, a half mile ahead
The Cadillac lookin’ like it’s sittin’ still
And I caught Maybellene at the top of the hill

Maybellene, why can’t you be true?
Oh, Maybellene, why can’t you be true?
You done started back doin’ the things you used to do