Rock and Roll

Chuck Berry wrote this song of a teenage love with a happy ending while he was in federal prison for alleged violations of the Mann Act with a young woman.  The song  was released after his release as a single backed with “Brenda Lee. ” “You Never Can Tell” was also on his 1964 album St. Louis to Liverpool. The song  went to #14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and U.S. R&B Chart. It was also in the top 40 in Canada and the U.K.

The song has been covered by Emmylou Harris, Chely Wright, John Prine, New Riders of the Purple Sage, the Jerry Garcia Band, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Seger. The song was featured in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction, where the characters played by John Travolta and Um Thurman dance to the song to win a Twist contest.

Chuck Berry  was born Charles Edward Anderson on October 18, 1926, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a  rock and roll legend and music pioneer.  Berry passed away recently  on March 18, 2017, at the age of 90.

Here are the lyrics to “You Never Can Tell” by Chuck Berry:

It was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well
You could see that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselle
And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell,
“C’est la vie,” say the old folks,
it goes to show you never can tell

They furnished off an apartment with a two-room Roebuck sale
The coolerator was crammed with TV dinners and ginger ale,
But when Pierre found work, the little money comin’ worked out well
“C’est la vie,” say the old folks,
it goes to show you never can tell

They had a hi-fi phono, boy, did they let it blast
Seven hundred little records, all rock, rhythm and jazz
But when the sun went down, the rapid tempo of the music fell
“C’est la vie,” say the old folks,
it goes to show you never can tell

They bought a souped-up jitney, ’twas a cherry red ’53,
They drove it down to New Orleans to celebrate their anniversary
It was there that Pierre was married to the lovely mademoiselle
“C’est la vie,” say the old folks,
it goes to show you never can tell

They had a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well
You could see that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselle
And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell,
“C’est la vie,” say the old folks,
it goes to show you never can tell”

For other songs by Chuck Berry: “Johnny B. Goode” and “Maybellene,” which are on Pass the Paisley’s sister site The Daily Doo Wop.

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Ho[pe you enjoyed “You Never Can Tell” by Chuck Berry.