You Never Can Tell by Chuck Berry Lyrics Meaning – Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Classic Wedding Tale Unveiled
Lyrics
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 Orleans to celebrate the 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
Chuck Berry’s ‘You Never Can Tell’, also known as ‘C’est la Vie’ or ‘Teenage Wedding’, is more than just a catchy tune. This 1964 rock ‘n’ roll classic, with its infectious piano riff and Berry’s signature guitar style, tells the story of a young couple embarking on the journey of matrimony. It’s deceptively simple, yet brimming with commentary on love, life, and the unpredictable nature of it all.
With an undercurrent of post-war consumerism and the innocent zeal of youth, the song weaves a storyline that resonates as much today as it did in the 60s. Beyond its scrutiny of societal norms and expectations, the lyricism of ‘You Never Can Tell’ offers an exploration of love’s serendipity and the joys of shared humble beginnings.
A Hitch at the Altar of Youth: Unpacking the Teenage Dream
The opening lines, ‘It was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well,’ sets the stage for this narrative of young love. Berry taps into the buoyant spirit of teenagers acting on impulse, marrying perhaps against conventional wisdom. The old folks, symbols of experience and skepticism, serve as the chorus of the song—observers to the folly of youth or so they might initially think.
Despite their doubts, the youngsters’ love story challenges preconceived ideas about the appropriateness or timing of marriage. Berry’s recognition of the couple’s genuine affection—’You could see that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselle’—can be seen as an acknowledgment that when it comes to love, age is but a number.
Consumer Culture in a Newlywed’s Nest: The Roebuck Reference
The song’s second stanza speaks to the nesting of the newlyweds, with a nod to the consumer culture of the era. The ‘two room Roebuck sale’ is a direct reference to Sears Roebuck, a cornerstone of American retail. Their apartment, filled with TV dinners and ginger ale, symbolizes not just the materialism prevalent in the post-war boom, but also the beginning of a new, modern way of living and the democratizing of domestic comfort.
This depiction of a start-up home could also be viewed as a microcosm for the American Dream—a working-class couple bootstrapping their way to a comfortable life, piece by piece, an emblem of mid-century optimism and belief in upward mobility.
A Melodic Metaphor? The Hi-Fi Phono’s Larger Story
The presence of the ‘hi-fi phono’ and ‘seven hundred little records’ is Berry at his storytelling best. It’s not just a detail for ambiance; it’s a metaphor for the couple’s exuberance, individuality, and a youthful rebellion distilled into the needle drop on vinyl. Here, the hi-fi is the couple’s declaration of nonconformity, an assertion of their musical identity in the face of society’s standard playlist.
As the ‘rapid tempo of the music fell’ with the setting of the sun, one might interpret the transition from day to night as the transformation from the public spectacle of their lives into the intimate solitude where their shared rhythms could truly dance.
The ‘souped-up jitney’ Journey: Redefining Freedom
In their ‘cherry red ’53’, the couple’s road trip to New Orleans for their anniversary is not merely a victory lap but a triumphant embrace of freedom and a testament to their enduring affection. Chuck Berry himself, a pioneer of rock ‘n’ roll, often celebrated the open road in his music. The ‘souped-up jitney’ symbolizes the couple’s journey ahead—fast, colorful, and a little bit unconventional.
This act of defiance is discovering bliss within reach, and not merely in the milestones of a long-distance journey. Their choice to celebrate their love in the birthplace of jazz, a city; symbolic of cultural fusion and resilience, further colours their relationship with an artistic tint and a free-spirited bravado.
The Song’s Hidden Beat: What ‘C’est La Vie’ Truly Means
Amid the celebratory tones lies a poignant refrain repeated by the ‘old folks’: ‘C’est la vie… it goes to show you never can tell.’ This phrase epitomizes the song’s deeper resonance—the acknowledgment of life’s inherent unpredictability and the misadventures of fortune. What seemed like youthful imprudence may, in the undiscriminating hands of time, blossom into hard-won fulfillment.
Berry’s clever incorporation of the French ‘C’est la vie,’ literally ‘such is life,’ elevates the narrative, coloring it with an existential shrug that nods to the myriad paths love and life can take. ‘You Never Can Tell’ thus becomes an anthem of possibility, a wistful reflection on the choices we make, and a reiteration that the old folks, for all their age-earned wisdom, sometimes simply, truly never can tell.
