Chuck Berry — Maybelline
Album: Chuck Berry Is on TopAvg rating:
Your rating:
Total ratings: 1584
Length: 2:16
Plays (last 30 days): 0
share
tweet
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh maybellene, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing the things you used to do.
As I was motivatin' over the hill
I saw maybellene in a coup de ville.
A cadillac a-rollin' on the open road,
Nothin' will outrun my v8 ford.
The cadillac doin' 'bout ninety-five,
She's bumper to bumber rollin' side by side.
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh maybellene, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing the things you used to do.
Pink in the mirror on top of the hill,
It's just like swallowin' up a medicine pill.
First thing I saw that cadillac grille
Doin' a hundred and ten gallopin' over that hill.
Offhill curve, a downhill strecth,
Me and that cadillac neck by neck.
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh maybellene, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing the things you used to do.
The cadillac pulled up ahead of the ford,
The ford got hot and wouldn't do no more.
It then got clody and it started to rain,
I tooted my horn for a passin' lead
The rain water blowin' all under my hood,
I knew that was doin' my motor good.
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh maybellene, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing the things you used to do.
The motor cooled down, the heat went down
And that's when I heard that highway sound.
The cadillac a-sittin' like a ton of lead
A hundred and ten a half a 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've started back doing the things you used to do.
Oh maybellene, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing the things you used to do.
As I was motivatin' over the hill
I saw maybellene in a coup de ville.
A cadillac a-rollin' on the open road,
Nothin' will outrun my v8 ford.
The cadillac doin' 'bout ninety-five,
She's bumper to bumber rollin' side by side.
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh maybellene, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing the things you used to do.
Pink in the mirror on top of the hill,
It's just like swallowin' up a medicine pill.
First thing I saw that cadillac grille
Doin' a hundred and ten gallopin' over that hill.
Offhill curve, a downhill strecth,
Me and that cadillac neck by neck.
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh maybellene, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing the things you used to do.
The cadillac pulled up ahead of the ford,
The ford got hot and wouldn't do no more.
It then got clody and it started to rain,
I tooted my horn for a passin' lead
The rain water blowin' all under my hood,
I knew that was doin' my motor good.
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh maybellene, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing the things you used to do.
The motor cooled down, the heat went down
And that's when I heard that highway sound.
The cadillac a-sittin' like a ton of lead
A hundred and ten a half a 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've started back doing the things you used to do.
Comments (64)add comment
this makes me think of my dear old dad. he used to sing this around the house when i was a kid.
grumpyoldman wrote:
ummmm....complete lack of taste and understanding about the history and influencers of Rock and Roll?
The same people who listen to iHeartRadio radio or commercial music radio.
ummmm....complete lack of taste and understanding about the history and influencers of Rock and Roll?
The same people who listen to iHeartRadio radio or commercial music radio.
I'm just now comprehending this is an all 'round paean to fast women ... men who can catch up ... and all 'round fast American cars.
Oh wow, takes me back to the days of rock 'n roll - wonderful times. Pleased to be able to say I can remember that far back 
itsme_bygolly wrote:
You're thinking Route 66. 61 runs parallel to the Mississippi.
I thought highway 61 was east/west.
I thought highway 61 was east/west.
romangaslan wrote:
ummmm....complete lack of taste and understanding about the history and influencers of Rock and Roll?
39 "1" votes. What the hell is wrong with people! 
ummmm....complete lack of taste and understanding about the history and influencers of Rock and Roll?
,Ahhhh...Highway 61.
The physical...nay metaphysical link between Bon Dylan, Chuck Berry, and Fats Domino.
And,,,Uncle Tupelo , Wilco, Son Volt,. anfd Greg Brown.
The physical...nay metaphysical link between Bon Dylan, Chuck Berry, and Fats Domino.
And,,,Uncle Tupelo , Wilco, Son Volt,. anfd Greg Brown.
idiot_wind wrote:
I thought highway 61 was east/west.
so heres a mind bender
chuck grew up in STL, in which highway 61 runs north and south
he's driving highway 61 in that car race
I thought highway 61 was east/west.
39 "1" votes. What the hell is wrong with people!
so heres a mind bender
chuck grew up in STL, in which highway 61 runs north and south
he's driving highway 61 in that car race
chuck grew up in STL, in which highway 61 runs north and south
he's driving highway 61 in that car race
garyalex wrote:
c.
"As I was motivating over the hill"... Great rock & roll line. Motivating, motorvating - who knows?
its real simple
great rnr is about two things: freedom and energy
great rnr is about two things: freedom and energy
joejennings wrote:
Although, I had to drop my rating to "6", due to crummy sound quality. There are better sound quality versions of him doing this tune!
GREAT TUNE!!!! ICONIC!!!!
Although, I had to drop my rating to "6", due to crummy sound quality. There are better sound quality versions of him doing this tune!
theirongiant wrote:
YEP! FLAC does not improve this tune! It was 1958. GREAT TUNE!!!
Is it me or did this track degrade in quality right before the third chorus and then regain quality?
YEP! FLAC does not improve this tune! It was 1958. GREAT TUNE!!!
theirongiant wrote:
Entirely possible. 1958's recording technology was, uh, primitive.
c.
Is it me or did this track degrade in quality right before the third chorus and then regain quality?
c.
GREAT TUNE!!!! ICONIC!!!!
tonyjory wrote:
You got that right, brother
Chuck Berry - the real King of Rock 'n' Roll.
You got that right, brother
Proper old school; just fantastic. 9 for me.
Is it me or did this track degrade in quality right before the third chorus and then regain quality?
Chuck Berry - the real King of Rock 'n' Roll.
"As I was motivating over the hill"... Great rock & roll line. Motivating, motorvating - who knows?
sfyi2001 wrote:
Thank goodness that cousin Marvin was there to hear Marty McFly play at the "Under the Seas" dance.
His guitar solo here.
ROCK and ROLL defined.
ROCK and ROLL defined.
Thank goodness that cousin Marvin was there to hear Marty McFly play at the "Under the Seas" dance.
His guitar solo here.
ROCK and ROLL defined.
ROCK and ROLL defined.
tonyjory wrote:
I assume you are joking - or being satirical.
Chuck Berry is THE King of Rock n Roll - sheer artistic brilliance.
Tony Jory
London
England
PS. I seem to remember that this sentiment has been seconded by The Beatles, The Stones, The Beach Boys, Oasis, Blur, Clapton et al.
Chuck Berry is THE King of Rock n Roll - sheer artistic brilliance.
Tony Jory
London
England
PS. I seem to remember that this sentiment has been seconded by The Beatles, The Stones, The Beach Boys, Oasis, Blur, Clapton et al.
cc_rider wrote:
I saw what you did there...
Rock In Peace, Mr. Berry.
c.
Rock In Peace, Mr. Berry.
c.
idiot_wind wrote:
Rock In Peace, Mr. Berry.
c.
Whoever this guys is, he needs to take some guitar lessons and do a lot more over-production of the song. This is just too raw. Too loose. Too jumpy. It needs to be smoother and more produced. That's how RnR sells in the 21st century.
Get with the plan, Chuck.
Meanwhile....I'm still thinkin,
I saw what you did there...Get with the plan, Chuck.
Meanwhile....I'm still thinkin,
Rock In Peace, Mr. Berry.
c.
Hope the folks commenting below were joking. Otherwise, need a little history lesson. 
cc_rider wrote:
It plain out must have.
Is it any wonder parents of teens were terrified of this music when it came out? This music scared them silly.
It plain out must have.
HAIL, HAIL - to HIS MAJESTY, the KING ~
expatlar wrote:
Sadly both, expatlar, and utter blasphemy as well.
Reading the negative comments about this song makes me wonder if there are really people of such ignorance(of the song's place in rock history) and bad taste, or are they just contrarians trying to get a rise out of people.
Sadly both, expatlar, and utter blasphemy as well.
Reading the negative comments about this song makes me wonder if there are really people of such ignorance(of the song's place in rock history) and bad taste, or are they just contrarians trying to get a rise out of people.
hschlossberg wrote:
I weep for you. (Not really.)
Maybelline died a long-assed time ago. The song should have died shortly thereafter.
I weep for you. (Not really.)
Oh so this is where Hot Rod Lincoln came from. Guess I need to pay more attention to lyrics now and then.
Not too crazy about the subject of the song, but the music is from the Olympus of the original rock gods.
Maybelline died a long-assed time ago. The song should have died shortly thereafter.
His first and perhaps his greatest, tho' there's an awful lot of room for debate about the latter. What an original. Deep debt.
What I mean when I say "deep debt" is that what he brought to American culture, especially rock'n'roll, was an unapologetic originality, energy, and sexuality that IMHO The Man never forgave him for. At the height of his ascendancy, he was railroaded into prison on a trumped up charge under the Mann Act—a dubious and odious piece of "legislation" as there ever was—because they just couldn't stand that a black man, a very black man, could move their children like no white pop star, save Elvis, who was railroaded into the army before he could inflict further damage on their children. Berry knew better. He never, ever once apologized for who he was, what he wrote and sang about, or what his hordes of followers loved. IMHO his biggest hit, "My Ding-a-Ling," was a bitter, ironic commentary on his treatment by the establishment in general and record companies in particular, one in which he took a measure of sad satisfaction. But before that slice of cheese, there were "Maybelline," "Johnny B. Goode," "Sweet Little Sixteen," "Roll Over Beethoven," "Nadine," "Rock and Roll Music," "No Particular Place to Go," and "Little Queenie," among many, many others—all comprising a canon of rock standards that have been little seen before or since. (Ah, yes, you say The Beatles and the Rolling Stones—but look how many Berry hits found there way into their songbooks...)
I doff me hat to Chuck Berry, his music, his enormous contribution to our musical heritage, and mostly the anger he brought to rock'n'roll. Long may it wave.
What I mean when I say "deep debt" is that what he brought to American culture, especially rock'n'roll, was an unapologetic originality, energy, and sexuality that IMHO The Man never forgave him for. At the height of his ascendancy, he was railroaded into prison on a trumped up charge under the Mann Act—a dubious and odious piece of "legislation" as there ever was—because they just couldn't stand that a black man, a very black man, could move their children like no white pop star, save Elvis, who was railroaded into the army before he could inflict further damage on their children. Berry knew better. He never, ever once apologized for who he was, what he wrote and sang about, or what his hordes of followers loved. IMHO his biggest hit, "My Ding-a-Ling," was a bitter, ironic commentary on his treatment by the establishment in general and record companies in particular, one in which he took a measure of sad satisfaction. But before that slice of cheese, there were "Maybelline," "Johnny B. Goode," "Sweet Little Sixteen," "Roll Over Beethoven," "Nadine," "Rock and Roll Music," "No Particular Place to Go," and "Little Queenie," among many, many others—all comprising a canon of rock standards that have been little seen before or since. (Ah, yes, you say The Beatles and the Rolling Stones—but look how many Berry hits found there way into their songbooks...)
I doff me hat to Chuck Berry, his music, his enormous contribution to our musical heritage, and mostly the anger he brought to rock'n'roll. Long may it wave.
R.I.P. Mr. Berry
Listening to this song, I always want to ask what she should have been true to? Sounds like she was doing a great job being true to herself.
The governor who started it all.
idiot_wind wrote:
Also needs more auto-tune. And maybe also some more cowbell.
Whoever this guys is, he needs to take some guitar lessons and do a lot more over-production of the song. This is just too raw. Too loose. Too jumpy. It needs to be smoother and more produced. That's how RnR sells in the 21st century.
Get with the plan, Chuck.
Meanwhile....I'm still thinkin,
Get with the plan, Chuck.
Meanwhile....I'm still thinkin,
Also needs more auto-tune. And maybe also some more cowbell.
Great album cover!
Whoever this guys is, he needs to take some guitar lessons and do a lot more over-production of the song. This is just too raw. Too loose. Too jumpy. It needs to be smoother and more produced. That's how RnR sells in the 21st century.
Get with the plan, Chuck.
Meanwhile....I'm still thinkin,
Get with the plan, Chuck.
Meanwhile....I'm still thinkin,
My favourite Chuck Berry is the film of him singing Sweet Little Sixteen at the the Newport Jazz festival 1958. The whole movie is available on youtube "Jazz on a Summers Day" I have watched it several times. Ahh, when I was very young....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBAw-_oEW78
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBAw-_oEW78
Unable to put this classic less than 9.
Shit. Song is as old as moi.
But it still bops and kick ass, like moi.
A 6 because it's cool, a 7 because it was among the first.
But it still bops and kick ass, like moi.
A 6 because it's cool, a 7 because it was among the first.
NOOOO!!!! Simply put, enough for one lifetime!
10+ cause a that, and everything else Mr. R+R Berry represents!!!!
Is it any wonder parents of teens were terrified of this music when it came out? This music scared them silly.
"Make mine a double chocolate malted!"
Everyone here at Fonzie's loves this song. We be jumping and jivin'!
Everyone here at Fonzie's loves this song. We be jumping and jivin'!
Marvin Berry's cousin has it going on!
finoufk wrote:
and I guess everybody was dancing , right ?
Yes, we be dancing! Love this song! Hope you are having a marvelous time right this minute...
and I guess everybody was dancing , right ?
Yes, we be dancing! Love this song! Hope you are having a marvelous time right this minute...
| 1 - | Almost Grown |
| 2 - | Carol |
| 3 - | Maybellene |
| 4 - | Sweet Little Rock 'N' Roller |
| 5 - | Anthony Boy |
| 6 - | Johnny B. Goode |
| 7 - | Little Queenie |
| 8 - | Jo Jo Gunne |
| 9 - | Roll Over Beethoven |
| 10 - | Around And Around |
| 11 - | Hey Pedro |
| 12 - | Blues For Hawaiians |
Look at the track list on this. 1955, unbelievable. There are at least 7 benchmark tracks here. This is where it started
cc_rider wrote:
This is not really a "car" song, but it is one of the best no matter what you call it!
Of all of the 'car' songs, this may be the best. Damn.
This is not really a "car" song, but it is one of the best no matter what you call it!Wow, this is an exceptional-sounding recording - has someone finally gotten around to remastering Chuck Berry?
This tune really cooks.
holy shit, now THAT'S some rock & roll.
romeotuma wrote:
I had forgotten how great this song really is! I think it has been decades since I have heard it... thank you so much for this...
and I guess everybody was dancing , right ?
I had forgotten how great this song really is! I think it has been decades since I have heard it... thank you so much for this...
and I guess everybody was dancing , right ?
Can't help thinking of the creepy "bathroom cam" scandal every time I hear Chuck Berry.
Of all of the 'car' songs, this may be the best. Damn.
Chuck Berry plays live on the Midnight Special in 1973. Features the legendary "Duck Walk".
Yeah, play it Bill!!
It's a classic and much better than what I'm hearing right now.
C-mon. Do it.
And after that, play Back in the U.S.A. !
Just don't get.