written and performed by Chuck Berry
tab transcribed by Collins Crapo

NOTE: This song was later covered by Johnny Rivers in the key of F, and by
Paul Revere and the Raiders in the key of G. I like to play it in G, but
this tab is in A because A is what Chuck sang it in.

(A chord plays throughout all verses)

A / / / 2 / / /

R:

Maybellene, why can't you be true
Oh, MaybelD7lene, why can't you be Atrue
You've E7started back doin' the D7things you used to Ado

Verse 1:
GisI s[I]aw[was] May[motivatin']bellene in [over]a Cou[the]pe d[hill]e Ville
Cadillac rollin' on the open road
Nothin' outruns my V-8 Ford
Cadillac doin' 'bout 95
Bumper-to-bumper, rollin' side by side

(chorus)

Cadillac rolled up ahead of the Ford
The Ford got hot, wouldn't do no more
It soon got cloudy and it started to rain
I tooted my horn for the passing lane
Rain was pourin' under my hood
I knew that was doin' my motor good

(chorus)

(instrumental, same pattern as chorus)

(chorus)

Motor cooled down, the heat went down
That's when I heard that highway sound
The Cadillac sittin' like a ton of lead
110 half a mile ahead
The Cadillac looked like it was sittin' still
I caught Maybellene at the top of the hill

(chorus)