About the song
Background
- Rock ‘n’ Roll Foundation: Released in 1960, “Let It Rock” is considered a cornerstone of early rock ‘n’ roll and a showcase of Berry’s signature guitar work.
- The Working Man’s Song: The song’s lyrics detail a day of labor on the railroad, a familiar theme in classic blues and folk music that Berry translates into a rock ‘n’ roll context.
- Train Imagery: Railroad references are a recurring element in Berry’s work, often symbolizing freedom, escape, and the energy of the music itself.
Lyrics
Here’s a look at a crucial verse and its meaning:
“In the heat of the day down in Mobile, Alabama Working on the railroad with the steel-driving hammer I gotta get some money to buy some brand new shoes Tryin’ to find somebody to take away these blues”
- The Blue-Collar Grind: This sets the scene of hard work and the desire for basic necessities like new shoes.
- Blues Cure: There’s a hint at music being the escape from daily struggle. The blues are mentioned, but maybe the real cure will be the rock ‘n’ roll to come.
Themes
- Work and Escape: The song captures the tension between the daily grind and a longing for release and excitement.
- The Power of Music: There’s a strong implication that rock ‘n’ roll music is the ultimate escape from hardship, allowing the listener to “let it rock” and forget their troubles.
- Resilience: Despite hard labor, there’s an underlying spirit and drive to keep going – a resilience that also infuses the rock ‘n’ roll spirit.
Legacy
“Let It Rock” is a classic Chuck Berry song, embodying his infectious guitar riffs, storytelling lyrics, and the pure energy of early rock ‘n’ roll.
Video
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
In the heat of the day
Down in Mobile, Alabama
Working on the railroad
With the steel-driving hammer
I gotta make some money
To buy some brand new shoes
Tryin’ to find somebody
To take away these blues
“She don’t love me”
Hear them singing in the sun
Payday’s coming when my work is all done
[Verse 2]
Later in the evening when the sun is sinking low
All day I been waiting for the whistle to blow
Sitting in a teepee built right on the tracks
Rolling them bones until the foreman comes back
Pick up your belongings boys and scatter about
We’ve got an off-schedule train comin’ two miles out
[Verse 3]
Everybody’s scrambling n’ ‘jumping around
Picking up their money
Tearing the teepee down
Foreman wants to panic
‘Bout to go insane
Trying to get the workers out the way of the train
Engineer blows the whistle long and long
Can’t stop the train
You have to let it roll on