"You Can't Catch Me" is a song written for 1956 musical drama film '' Rock, Rock, Rock!''. It was recorded by

Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, guitarist and songwriter who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and de ...

and released as a single in 1956.

Background

The song's lyrics describe racing a souped-up "air-mobile" down the

New Jersey Turnpike The New Jersey Turnpike (NJTP) is a system of controlled-access highway, controlled-access toll roads in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The turnpike is maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA).The Garden State Parkway, although ma ...

, then unfolding its wings and taking off. At the time, the Aerocar designed and built by Molt Taylor was nearing Civil Aviation Authority approval for mass production as a

flying car A flying car or roadable aircraft is a type of vehicle which can function both as a road vehicle and as an aircraft. As used here, this includes vehicles which drive as motorcycles when on the road. The term "flying car" is also sometimes ...

with detachable folding wings. Berry's song was featured in the

1956 Events January * January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan after 57 years. * January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian Missionary, missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, E ...

film '' Rock, Rock, Rock'' and was one of the four songs from the film that was included on the "soundtrack" album (the only one of his songs to be used both in the movie and on the album). Originally recorded by Berry in May 1955 at Universal Recording Corp. for

Chess Records Chess Records was an American record company established in 1950 in Chicago, specializing in blues and rhythm and blues. It was the successor to Aristocrat Records, founded in 1947. It expanded into soul music, gospel music, early rock an ...

during the same session as " Maybellene" and " Wee Wee Hours", the lyrics refer to both of those songs.

Cover versions

The song's music publisher, Morris Levy, sued

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and activist. He gained global fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's ...

for

copyright infringement Copyright infringement (at times referred to as piracy) is the use of Copyright#Scope, works protected by copyright without permission for a usage where such permission is required, thereby infringing certain exclusive rights granted to the c ...

because of the melodic similarity between "You Can't Catch Me" and

the Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...

' 1969 song "

Come Together "Come Together" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is the opening track on the band's 1969 studio album ''Abbey Road''. It was also a double A-side single in the U ...

", written by Lennon, and because the Beatles' song used some of the lyrics of Berry's song ("here come old flat-top"). The suit was settled out of court. As part of the settlement, Lennon included a rendition of "You Can't Catch Me" on his 1975 album of cover versions, ''

Rock 'n' Roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...

''. Cover versions of the song were also recorded by Sleepy LaBeef for a 1963 single, by

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...

for their 1965 album '' The Rolling Stones No. 2'', and by The Blues Project for their 1966 album '' Projections''. It was also done by Love Sculpture for their 1970 album ''Forms and Feelings'', George Thorogood and the Destroyers for their 1988 album '' Born to Be Bad'', Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons on their 2003 album ''Ricochet'' and by Florence Rawlings for her 2009 debut album ''A Fool in Love''.

References

Citations Sources * * {{Authority control 1956 singles 1956 songs Chess Records singles Chuck Berry songs Songs about cars Songs about New Jersey Songs written by Chuck Berry The Rolling Stones songs Rock, Rock, Rock!