"Johnny B. Goode" is a song written by Chuck Berry in 1955 (although recorded in 1958), and is considered one of the first pure rock and roll songs ever recorded.

The piece is the rock and roll version of the American dream - a poor country boy from the backwoods has dreams of becoming a star by hard work and his skill at playing the guitar. Although partly based on Berry himself, the inspiration for the song is said to have been Johnnie Johnson who played the piano and composed several songs with Berry. On earlier unreleased takes Chuck sang 'colored boy' for 'country boy', but the Chess-brothers decided that that would not sell.

The song's impact on the rock 'n' roll world has been immense. Countless rock guitarists of varying popularity have lifted the song's memorable guitar licks for their own songs, most notably the intro. Berry's recording of the song was included on the Voyager Golden Record, attached to the Voyager spacecraft.

Berry later wrote a sequel song called "Bye Bye Johnny".

Cultural uses

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• The Beach Boys copied the intro of the song for Fun, Fun, Fun. They recorded the song live on December 21, 1963, in a version which would later be released on the album Beach Boys Concert.
• The song is one of two Berry recording included on the American Graffiti soundtrack.
• In the movie Back to the Future, Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, performs this song at a high school dance (although Michael J. Fox does not provide the vocals) where the original band's guitarist (Marvin Berry) injures his hand. According to the movie, Chuck Berry becomes inspired to write the song by Marvin, his cousin, who calls Chuck to hear the "new sound", which is of course Marty playing the song.
• Johnny B. Goode makes a cameo appearance in the Ricky Nelson song, Garden Party, as a symbol of nostalgia
• Johnny B. Goode also makes a cameo in the Big Bopper song, "Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor".
• In 2004, Democratic nominee John Kerry used the song as a theme song at most of his campaign events
• Australian band TISM once recorded a parody of this song entitled "The Ballad of Johnny To B. Or Not To B. Goode". Their independent record label is named "Genre B. Goode".
• In the SNES game Earthbound (or Mother 2 in Japan), the music which plays when fighting the enemy identified as "New Age Retro Hippy" is based on Johnny B. Good — the beginnings of both songs are identical.

Covers

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This song has been covered by many artists including:

• AC/DC
• Aerosmith
• The Beatles
• Marc Broussard
• Earthlings?
• John Farnham
• Michael J. Fox
• Green Day
• The Grateful Dead
• Jimi Hendrix
• Elton John
• Jerry Lee Lewis
• Julian Lennon
• Marty McFly
• NOFX
• NRBQ
• Buck Owens
• Phish
• Elvis Presley
• Judas Priest
• Ratdog
• Sex Pistols
• Slade
• Status Quo
• Stray Cats
• George Thorogood
• The Tornadoes
• Peter Tosh
• The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
• Uncle Tupelo
• Wardy And The Rockets
• Johnny Winter
• Ben Waters
• Carlos Santana
• Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush

External links

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• Lyrics

1955 songs | Chuck Berry songs

Johnny B. Goode | Johnny B. Goode | Johnny B. Goode | Johnny B. Goode