Roll Over Beethoven

"Roll Over Beethoven" is a 1956 hit single by Chuck Berry originally released on Chess Records, with "Drifting Heart" as the B-side. The lyrics of the song mention rock and roll and the desire for rhythm and blues to replace classical music. The song has been covered by many other artists and Rolling Stone ranked it #97 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

According to Rolling Stone and Cub Koda of Allmusic,Berry wrote the song in response to his sister Lucy always using the family piano to play classical music when Berry wanted to play popular music.

In addition to classical composers Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, the lyrics mention or allude to several popular artists. "Early in the Mornin'" is the title of a Louis Jordan song and "Blue Suede Shoes" refers to the Carl Perkins song. Finally, "Hey Diddle Diddle" which comes from the nursery rhyme, "The Cat and the Fiddle", is an indirect reference to Berry's Chess stablemate Bo Diddley, who was an accomplished violin player. Although the lyrics mention rocking and rolling, the music that the classics are supposed to step aside for is always referred to as "rhythm and blues" (R&B). Arthur Alexander appropriated the lyric "a shot of rhythm and blues" for the title of his later song.

Later in the song, a "rhythm revue" describes the old style R&B show with many featured artists appearing on one bill in front of a big band.

Berry's version was originally released as a single by Chess Records in May 1956 with "Drifting Heart" as the B-side."Roll Over Beethoven" and three other Berry songs appeared on the Rock, Rock, Rock album, ostensibly a soundtrack to the film of the same name, but only four of the twelve songs on the album appeared in the film.

Chuck Berry Roll Over Beethoven Lyrics

I'm gonna write a little letter,

Gonna mail it to my local DJ.

Yeah an' it's a jumpin' little record

I want my jockey to play.

Roll Over Beethoven, I gotta hear it again today.

You know, my temperature's risin'

The jukebox's blowin' a fuse.

My heart's beatin' rhythm

And my soul keeps a-singin' the blues.

Roll Over Beethoven and tell Tschaikowsky the news.

I got the rockin' pneumonia,

I need a shot of rhythm and blues.

I caught the rollin' arthiritis

Sittin' down at a rhythm review.

Roll Over Beethoven they're rockin' in two by two.

Well, if you feelin' like it

Go get your lover, then reel and rock it.

Roll it over and move on up just

A trifle further and reel and rock with it,

Roll it over,

Roll Over Beethoven, dig these rhythm and blues.

Well, early in the mornin' I'm a-givin' you a warnin'

Don't you step on my blue suede shoes.

Hey diddle diddle, I am playin' my fiddle,

Ain't got nothin' to lose.

Roll Over Beethoven and tell Tschaikowsky the news.

You know she wiggles like a glow worm,

Dance like a spinnin' top.

She got a crazy partner,

Ya oughta see 'em reel and rock.

Long as she got a dime the music wont never stop.

Roll Over Beethoven,

Roll Over Beethoven,

Roll Over Beethoven,

Roll Over Beethoven,

Roll Over Beethoven, dig these rhythm and blues.