You Never Can Tell

This song tells the story of a teenage couple getting married and staying together. Many of Berry's songs are written from the perspective of young people, but this one even takes a dig at the older generation: "'C'est la vie,' say the old folks," Berry sings. ("C'est la vie'" is French for "That's life").

Most songs that describe a young couple in love on their way to adulthood don't end well, as disaffection or tragedy strikes. This song is unusual in that the couple does just fine, settling in with a nice record collection and some Roebuck furniture. As they settle into married life, their love stays strong. It's not the storyline you'd expect, but you never can tell.

This was one of the new batch of hits Berry produced after being released from prison in 1963 after serving 20 months for "transporting an underage female across state lines for immoral purposes." Berry had met a 14-year-old girl in Mexico who he brought back to St. Louis to work in his nightclub.