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Chris Smither — Maybelline
Album: It Ain't Easy
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1337









Released: 0
Length: 2:51
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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As I was motorvatin' over the hill
I saw Maybellene in a Coupe de Ville
A Cadillac a-rollin' on the open road
Nothin' will outrun my V8 Ford
The Cadillac doin' about ninety-five
She's bumper to bumper, rollin' side by side

Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true?
You done started back doin' the things you used to do

The Cadillac pulled up to a hundred and four
The Ford got hot and wouldn't do no more
It then got cloudy and started to rain
I tooted my horn for the passin' lane
The rainwater blowin' all under my hood
I know that I was doin' my motor good

Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true?
You done started back doin' the things you used to do

Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true?
You done started back doin' the things you used to do

The motor cooled down, the heat went down
And that's when I heard that highway sound
The Cadillac a-sittin' like a ton of lead
A hundred and ten half a mile ahead
The Cadillac lookin' like it's sittin' still
And I caught Mabellene at the top of the hill

Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true?
You done started back doin' the things you used to do
Comments (65)add comment
 renegade_X wrote:
Poor Chuck Berry!! Why would someone do this? =(


Because it's awesome?
Posted 1 week ago by Tippster    [ Reply ]
 xcranky_yankee wrote:

This guy has such a great voice - never compare covers to the original. Does the tune have soul? With this voice it does. Saw him in a club in Portsmouth; perfect venue - rates the term intimate. He is fine - hope he feels lucky.


"Hot Rod Lincoln" was written and recorded by Charley Ryan in 1955.   The Commander covered it.
Posted 1 year ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Poor Chuck Berry!! Why would someone do this? =(
Posted 1 year ago by renegade_X    [ Reply ]
Keeping it low makes an entirely different song. Very nice!
Posted 1 year ago by johnfiva    [ Reply ]
Bumping this up to a nine.  This is amazing.
Posted 1 year ago by rhiangalthie    [ Reply ]
Great version, and nice shuffle!
Posted 2 years ago by flgbanjo    [ Reply ]
This is one of those time when a particular cover of a famous tune, covered by many, totally changes the song and it becomes something entirely different, with totally different emotions.  Fabulous.  I suggest that, whenever you feel the need to play "White Bird" RP, please play this instead.
Posted 2 years ago by tkelley    [ Reply ]
Nice interpretation. At first I thought it was JohnnyCash’s guitar …. Wish he’d tried it too
Posted 3 years ago by Montreal_Mort    [ Reply ]
 Kajukenbo wrote:

In the not too distant past a 300 horsepower car was almost unimaginable. Now your average vehicle comes with that or even more. The days of engines overheating at 104 are behind us as even trucks can easily do 110 or 120 mph. And electric cars don't even have engines! The problem of Maybellene being true, however, is still with us. 



LOL.  And don't even get me started about Nadine...!
Posted 3 years ago by QuantumShaman    [ Reply ]
In the not too distant past a 300 horsepower car was almost unimaginable. Now your average vehicle comes with that or even more. The days of engines overheating at 104 are behind us as even trucks can easily do 110 or 120 mph. And electric cars don't even have engines! The problem of Maybellene being true, however, is still with us. 
Posted 3 years ago by Kajukenbo    [ Reply ]
Yes i like this song 
Posted 3 years ago by Quetzal    [ Reply ]
Dude sounds way too old to be drivin' that fast.
Posted 3 years ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:
Burl Ives meets Chuck Berry
 
You are indeed wise, oh king, cause that's truth

Posted 3 years ago by weedyjoe    [ Reply ]
Thought this was Mr Waites... pleasantly surprised it wasn't... But I think he should ALSO try the cover 
Posted 4 years ago by Jeeper    [ Reply ]
 sbird wrote:

Covers should be one of two things... either a significant re-imagining of a song, or alternately, something that is different but still captures the pure heart of the song. Arguably, this does both. Wow.



Arguably? I'd kinda like to hear the counter-point, because I 100% agree with everything else you said! :)
Posted 4 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
I was fortunate enough to see Chris smither live, at a local venue in my area. He was simply amazing. Really fine guitarist, and sing er as well
Posted 4 years ago by ih8bills    [ Reply ]
I was lucky enough to see Chris Smither play a small outdoor venue maybe 10 years ago.
Posted 4 years ago by Ralf    [ Reply ]
really liked this interpretation , not my musical taste but always keep and open mind and having an appreciation for work will done. 
Posted 4 years ago by ratbbb2    [ Reply ]
Best cover of the original ever.  Chuck smiles from on high.  
Posted 4 years ago by DW4554    [ Reply ]
Maybe Lean?
Posted 4 years ago by Rockit9    [ Reply ]
This doesn't work...especially the cello.  Please stop.
Posted 4 years ago by rpdevotee    [ Reply ]
Burl Ives meets Chuck Berry
Posted 5 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
Outstanding. Stripped down arrangement and solid guitar.
Posted 5 years ago by itsme_bygolly    [ Reply ]
Posted 5 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
This guy has such a great voice - never compare covers to the original. Does the tune have soul? With this voice it does. Saw him in a club in Portsmouth; perfect venue - rates the term intimate. He is fine - hope he feels lucky.
Posted 5 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
 dc_zee wrote:

Odd, I'm having the opposite reaction. Maybe it's just too much RP rotation...?
 

Plays (last 30 days): 2

Innumerate ...

Posted 5 years ago by radioparadise9    [ Reply ]
Too bad Johnny Cash isn't still around to cover Chris!
Posted 5 years ago by whatsupdude    [ Reply ]
 Canadese wrote:
A great version of the old Chuck Berry classic. I had a copy of that on a 45RPM record.
 
Somehow Commander Cody either borrowed from this or paid homage to it or paid homage to the original or something, but there's definitely a connection with Hot Rod Lincoln.

Posted 5 years ago by pinto    [ Reply ]
Terrible. The worst crime- boring.
Posted 5 years ago by Wavemechanic    [ Reply ]
Hey Bill, you should follow this with 40 Miles of Mountain Road by Kevn Kinney and also way more Kevn Kinney and Drivin' n Cryin'
Posted 5 years ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
Wow does this ever suck!
Posted 5 years ago by nelamvr6    [ Reply ]
The minor key really works for this song!
Posted 6 years ago by onerb    [ Reply ]
The lyrics look to be this song, but they don't match this song.
Posted 6 years ago by 1jerry    [ Reply ]
 Boxie wrote:
Not something I would actually look for. 
 
But now that you've found it...?
Posted 6 years ago by markybx    [ Reply ]
Not something I would actually look for. 
Posted 6 years ago by Boxie    [ Reply ]
Well done Mr. Smither 

radioparadise9 wrote:

Who knew that anyone could do a Chuck Berry song differently and it sound just fine.
Well done RP.
 

Posted 6 years ago by Delawhere    [ Reply ]
Covers should be one of two things... either a significant re-imagining of a song, or alternately, something that is different but still captures the pure heart of the song. Arguably, this does both. Wow.
Posted 6 years ago by sbird    [ Reply ]
Why?
Posted 6 years ago by AlanF    [ Reply ]
Growin' on me...
Posted 6 years ago by mrtuba9    [ Reply ]
What a GREAT version!  I like it better than the original.
But, that's just me.
Posted 6 years ago by dublanica    [ Reply ]
A great version of the old Chuck Berry classic. I had a copy of that on a 45RPM record.
Posted 6 years ago by Canadese    [ Reply ]
Puts me in the mind of Leo Kottke singing 'Eight Miles High'  This is some pretty good sh*t...
Posted 6 years ago by misterbearbaby    [ Reply ]
Doesn't anyone know why the spelling of the name is different in the title and in the lyrics ? just wondering if there is a particular reason or if it's a mistake.
Posted 6 years ago by ChrisVIII    [ Reply ]
different
Posted 6 years ago by martynworrall3    [ Reply ]
Sounds like John Lee Hooker.
Posted 6 years ago by Queue    [ Reply ]
{#Sunny}
Posted 7 years ago by khardog145    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:
Hey, that's a good cover. In its own way, better than Chuck's. 
 
Who knew that anyone could do a Chuck Berry song differently and it sound just fine.
Well done RP.
Posted 7 years ago by radioparadise9    [ Reply ]
 expatlar wrote:
I like this version more every time I hear it. Dude swings, but with a good dose of melancholy thrown in.
 
Odd, I'm having the opposite reaction. Maybe it's just too much RP rotation...?
Posted 7 years ago by dc_zee    [ Reply ]
That gave me chills. Awesome reinterpretation.
Posted 7 years ago by nevar23    [ Reply ]
Love this version!
Posted 7 years ago by Geecheeboy    [ Reply ]
Not good
Posted 7 years ago by rpdevotee    [ Reply ]
Recent addition?  Not familiar with the artist.
Posted 7 years ago by the_jake    [ Reply ]

{#Hug} Taking requests? Can we hear Trampoline next to Opaline? This version of Maybellie? Preceeded by Bodeans?

 

Posted 7 years ago by Segue    [ Reply ]
Brriliant.
Posted 7 years ago by Segue    [ Reply ]
I can finally understand all the lyrics. {#Guitarist}
Posted 7 years ago by nomnol    [ Reply ]
Caught my ear - great voice, great guitar.  and something new!
Posted 7 years ago by cathstewart94    [ Reply ]
Hey, that's a good cover. In its own way, better than Chuck's. 
Posted 7 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
So different from the original I wouldn't had guessed it if I hadn't heard the lyrics like 1000 times when I was a kid {#Jump}

Like it
Posted 7 years ago by Dubbelito    [ Reply ]
I admire his ability to change it up so much, and I think it's good.
Posted 7 years ago by ExpatLarry    [ Reply ]
Wow. I like it! Nice reinvention, indeed, Bill!
Posted 7 years ago by jtherieau    [ Reply ]
So different... but I kind of like it.
Posted 7 years ago by mememu    [ Reply ]
 aelfheld wrote:
Was this necessary?

 
Yes.
Posted 7 years ago by Webfoot    [ Reply ]
...interesting cover.
Posted 7 years ago by drivingunit103    [ Reply ]
Was this necessary?
Posted 7 years ago by aelfheld    [ Reply ]
Excellent little number
Posted 7 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]