Nadine (Is It You?)

Album: The Great Twenty-Eight (1964)
Charted: 27 23
Play Video
  • As I got on a city bus and found a vacant seat,
    I thought I spied my future bride a-walking up the street,
    I shouted to the driver "Hey conductor, you must"
    "Slow down, I think I see her, please let me off this bus."

    Nadine, honey is that you?
    Oh, Nadine. Honey, is that you?
    Seems like every time I catch you Darling you got something else to do.

    I saw her on the corner when she turned and doubled back
    And started walkin' toward a coffee colored Cadillac
    I was pushin' through the crowd tryin' to get to where she's at
    And I was campaign shouting like a southern diplomat

    Nadine, honey is that you?
    Oh, Nadine.
    Honey, is that you?
    Seems like every time I catch you Darling you're up to somethin' new.

    Downtown searching for her, looking all around.
    Saw her gettin' in a yellow cab a-heading uptown.
    I caught a loaded taxi, paid up everybody's tab.
    Slipped a twenty dollar bill, an' told him "Catch that yellow cab."

    Nadine, honey is that you?
    Oh, Nadine.
    Honey, is that you?
    Seems like every time I catch you Darling you're up to somethin' new.

    She moves around like a wayward summer breeze,
    Go, driver, go. Go on, catch her for me, please.
    Moving through the traffic like a mounted cavalier.
    Leaning out the taxi window tryin' to make her hear.

    [Chorus] Writer/s: Chuck Berry
    Publisher: Audiam, Inc., BMG Rights Management, Red Brick Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaStill my fav Berry tune. Always sounded like one of those arranged marriages, and she wasn't in to him at all.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 9th 1964, Chuck Berry performed in concert* at the Astoria Theater in London, England; it was his debut concert in the United Kingdom...
    During the calendar year of 1964 he had three records make the U.K. Singles chart; "Nadine (Is It You)" {#27}, "No Particular Place to Go" {#3}, and "You Never Can Tell" {#23}...
    Plus he also had three albums make the U.K. Top Albums chart; 'More', 'The Latest and Greatest', and 'You Never Can Tell'...
    * Three British groups opened for him; the Animals, the Nashville Teens, and the Swinging Blue Jeans.
  • Rotunda from Tulsa, OkWhen "Nadine" came out in '64 I was in jr. high school. The song got a lot of airplay in eastern Oklahoma/western Arkansas radio. I see from Songfacts that it peaked at #26 on Billboard pop charts in '64. But a lot of kids watched the R&B charts of Cashbox, Song Hits, & Goldmine. What really sticks in my mind was when I went away to the University of Kansas in the mid-Sixties and heard "Nadine" playing on the funky jukebox in one of the raunchiest college taverns ever (just off campus). The bass was turned way up! So when this song came on, the huge rumble just set yo' soul on fire! Same thing happened when "No Particular Place To Go" climbed the charts for Chuck. Those were great times with Mr. Berry igniting the rock & roll scene again. And I am fortunate to have been there & bought the records & danced to the jukeboxes playing his hits again!
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 1st 1964, "Nadine (Is It You?)" by Chuck Berry entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #90; and on April 26th it peaked at #23 (for 1 week) and it spent 10 week on the Top 100...
    It also reached #23 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    Between 1955 and 1972 he had twenty-two records on the R&B Singles chart; with twelve making the Top 10 and four reaching #1; "Maybellene" (1955), "School Days (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell)" (1957), "Sweet Little Sixteen" (1958), and "Johnny B. Goode" (1958)...
    Charles Edward Anderson Berry celebrated his 87th birthday five months ago on October 18th (2013).
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.