Johnny B. Goode Lyrics
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
[Chorus]
Go, go
Go, Johnny, go, go
Go, Johnny, go, go
Go, Johnny, go, go
Go, Johnny, go, go
Johnny B. Goode
[Verse 2]
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
Strummin' with the rhythm that the drivers made
People passing by, they would stop and say
"Oh, my, but that little country boy could play"
[Chorus]
Go, go
Go, Johnny, go, go
Go, Johnny, go, go
Go, Johnny, go, go
Go, Johnny, go, go
Johnny B. Goode
[Verse 3]
His mother told him, "Someday you will be a man
And you will be the leader of a big ol' 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
Sayin' 'Johnny B. Goode Tonight'"
[Chorus]
Go, go
Go, Johnny, go
Go, go, go, Johnny, go
Go, go, go, Johnny, go
Go, go, go, Johnny, go
Go, Johnny B. Goode
About
Widely considered one of the most iconic songs in rock and roll, “Johnny B. Goode” is based on Berry’s life. It tells the tale of a boy with humble beginnings with a talent for guitar. Some details were changed: Berry was from St. Louis, not Louisiana, and he knew how to read and write very well. He graduated from beauty school with a degree in hairdressing and cosmetology. The song is well known for its catchy guitar riff.
In 1977, NASA sent a copy of this on the Voyager space probe as part of a package that was meant to represent the best in American culture. Someday, aliens could find it and discover Chuck Berry.
According to Back to the Future, Marty McFly might have had a hand in inspiring the song.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Chuck Berry, explaining that a self-biographical song –
The original words [were], of course, ‘That little colored boy could play.’ I changed it to ‘country boy’ — or else it wouldn’t get on the radio.
Elvis Presley added –
I just wish I could express my feelings the way Chuck Berry does
Singer-songwriter and voiceover artist Mark Campbell sang Marty McFly’s cover of “Johnny B. Goode”. He’s credited on the movie under “special thanks”.
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