There is a famous Chuck Berry song titled Roll Over Beethoven. The overall meaning was telling a DJ to stop playing classical music and play rock and roll. But when I looked up for the definition of the phrase "roll over", I can't find a meaning suitable for here. Can you explain what does "roll over" mean here?
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12I'm so old I remember when the Beatles released the song. At the time I interpreted it to mean "Move out of the way, you've had your time, you've been replaced."– Michael HarveyCommented Sep 29, 2020 at 6:41
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5(Though younger) I agree with the comment above. It think it simply means 'step aside', not 'turn in your grave', as suggested by Wikipedia. The song was written and recorded in 1956, when, certainly the phrase 'to turn in one's grave' existed, but was little used.– StrawberryCommented Sep 29, 2020 at 12:53
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2@Schmuddi - FWIW, the usual phrase is turning in [his/her/their/the] grave or spinning in [his/her/their/the] grave. "Rolling over" in [his/her/their/the] grave is more modern. Ngrams: books.google.com/ngrams/…– T.J. CrowderCommented Sep 29, 2020 at 16:33
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2We Brits tend to say "turn in one's grave". There is the old joke about the woman who dies, and upon reaching heaven, wishes to be reunited with her husband, who predeceased her. His name is John Smith. Saint Peter says 'Do you know how many of those we have here? We would locate him if you could remember his last words'. The woman says 'He said, "If you're unfaithful to my memory, I'll turn in my grave"'. 'Ah!, says Saint Peter! 'Turbine John Smith'.– Michael HarveyCommented Sep 29, 2020 at 19:06
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2Like some comments above, I always assumed that it meant that Rock & Roll would make Beethoven turn over in his grave. I have never even imagined that it could possibly have any other meaning.– MawgCommented Sep 30, 2020 at 7:17
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5 Answers
From wikipedia
The lyric "roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news" refers to how classical composers would roll over in their graves upon hearing that classical music had given way to rock and roll.
(Enough to make one) "turn in one's grave" is an idiom to describe an extreme level of shock or an intense level of surprise and is expressed as the vicarious sentiment of a deceased person. ... Other forms or "fanciful variants" of this idiom includes: "Roll over in one's grave"
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27Due respect to the random Wikipedia editor, I don't buy it. Note that the claim is unsourced. I find Michael Harvey's "get out of the way" interpretation much more believable. Also, "rolling over" in the grave is a relatively modern modification of earlier phrases; more here. Commented Sep 29, 2020 at 16:34
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2@T.J.Crowder The part "and tell Tchaikovsky the news" is a, well, dead giveaway that he's to roll over in his grave, isn't it? As is often the case with natural language the "make space" meaning admittedly may also hang in the air; since it's Rock'n'Roll there may also be a third meaning in the background: Mr. Beethoven was a rebel at his time as well and may not be able to keep his feet still when he hears Chuck Berry! [Sorry, I wanted to add the third meaning and had to rewrite the comment, now your answer is above it] Commented Sep 30, 2020 at 9:12
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3@Peter-ReinstateMonica - :-) It isn't to me, no. I'd really want sources to back it (or any other interpretation) up before stating something definitively as the Wikipedia article does. I think the Tchaikovsky thing (which isn't always the next line) is just a follow-on to broaden it to classical music in general. But people should enjoy whatever interpretation they like. :-) Commented Sep 30, 2020 at 9:21
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3Chuck Berry's own words do not back it up: "In fact most of the words were aimed at Lucy instead of the Maestro Ludwig Van Beethoven." Lucy was his elder sister, and he's telling her and her music to move out of the way because she "would monopolize the piano at home during our youthful school years" playing classical music.– JdeBPCommented Oct 1, 2020 at 8:50
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I agree with the comment by @Michael Harvey although I can't quote a source.
For me, "roll over" means "move over" or "move out of the way"
There's an old children's rhyme
There were ten in a bed and the little one said
"Roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over and one fell out
There were nine in a bed and the little one said
"Roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over and one fell out
There were eight in a bed and the little one said
"Roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over and one fell out
http://www.lyricsondemand.com/miscellaneouslyrics/childrenslyrics/rolloverlyrics.html
answered Sep 30, 2020 at 0:35
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5Supported by this dictionary entry: collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/…. and as a native speaker (in England) I have used the phrase with this meaning, and heard it used that way many times. Commented Sep 30, 2020 at 8:06
Rolling over is something that a dog does to acknowledge domination by another dog. This is likely to mean the same. Beethoven, roll over on your back, and acknowledge the dominance of Rock’n’Roll.
It seems short for "Roll over and play dead", meaning to submit or comply without any action, resistance, or protest. It is similar to what animals do when feigning death when faced with some predators. As explained here.
"Roll over" simply means to give way to pressure.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/roll-over
In this context Chuck Berry is telling classical composers (Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, etc) to "give way, rock and roll is here".
There could be a "roll over in his grave" interpretation (the normal terminology is "turn in his grave" though), but without a reference to Berry's intent, the standard definition seems to be the simplest explanation.
