About the Song
Background
- Written in Prison: Chuck Berry wrote “You Never Can Tell” while serving time in prison for a violation of the Mann Act (transporting a minor across state lines for immoral purposes).
- Release and Success: It was released in 1964 and became a Top 20 hit in the US. The song’s success solidified Berry’s position as one of the pioneers of rock and roll.
- Cultural Significance: “You Never Can Tell” gained even more fame in the 1990s when Quentin Tarantino used it in the iconic dance scene from Pulp Fiction.
Themes
- Young Love and Marriage: The song tells a lighthearted story of young lovers, Pierre and Mademoiselle, who get married despite initial doubts from others.
- Overcoming Obstacles: Pierre and Mademoiselle face financial challenges but find a way through them. It suggests that with love and determination, a young couple can build a successful life together.
- Unpredictability of Life: The song’s title, “You Never Can Tell” along with the French phrase “C’est la vie” repeated throughout speak to how unpredictable life and luck can be.
Lyrics
Here’s a look at some key points of the lyrics:
- The Wedding: The opening verses describe a teenage wedding. Relatives express good wishes although they harbor doubts about the couple’s future.
- Setting Up Home: The couple finds a small apartment filled with the conveniences of modern life (TV dinners and soda). This paints a picture of mid-century American consumerism.
- Music and a Car: The focus turns to their love of music (“a hundred little records all rock rhythm and jazz”) and the freedom and excitement that a car brings (“a cherry red ’53”).
- Anniversary: The final verses describe their trip to New Orleans to celebrate an anniversary and how even an observant mother concedes that life is full of surprises – you never know what might happen.
Overall
“You Never Can Tell” is a classic Chuck Berry song with a catchy melody and infectious energy. Its themes of young love, life’s twists and turns, and the joy of rock ‘n’ roll give it an enduring appeal.
Video
Lyric
It was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them wellYou could see that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselleAnd 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 saleThe coolerator was crammed with TV dinners and ginger aleBut 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 blastSeven hundred little records, all rock, rhythm and jazzBut 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 ’53They drove it down to Orleans to celebrate the anniversaryIt 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