You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover

E775151

"You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" is a blues classic originally written by Willie Dixon and popularized by Bo Diddley, known for its driving rhythm and cautionary lyrics about appearances being deceiving.

All labels observed (2)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (40)

Predicate Object
instanceOf single
song
associatedWithArtist Bo Diddley
associatedWithSongwriter Willie Dixon
basedOnProverb Don't judge a book by its cover
composer Willie Dixon
countryOfOrigin United States
genre blues
rhythm and blues
guitarist Bo Diddley
hasEra early 1960s
hasForm verse-chorus structure
hasInstrumentation bass
drums
electric guitar
hasLyricalPerspective first person narrator
hasMoral outward appearance does not reveal true value
hasMusicalKey E major
hasNotableLine You can't judge a book by looking at the cover
hasRhythm driving rhythm
hasStyleCharacteristic blues shuffle feel
strong backbeat
hasSubjectMatter hidden qualities of people
judgment based on looks
hasTempo up-tempo
influencedGenre blues rock
rock and roll
isClassicOf blues
language English
lyricist Willie Dixon
lyricTheme appearances can be deceiving
caution against superficial judgments
notablePerformer Bo Diddley
notableSongwriter Willie Dixon
originallyPopularizedBy Bo Diddley
performedBy Bo Diddley
recordedBy Bo Diddley
recordLabel Checker Records
vocalist Bo Diddley
writer Willie Dixon

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Chapter and Verse featuresSong You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover
Bo Diddley notableWork You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover
Goin' Home hasTrack You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover
Girls Go Wild hasPart You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
linked to: You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover