Jimmy Reed
Mathis James "Jimmy" Reed (September 6, 1925 – August 29, 1976) was an Amer… Read Full Bio ↴Mathis James "Jimmy" Reed (September 6, 1925 – August 29, 1976) was an American blues singer, guitarist, harmonica player and songwriter, notable for bringing his distinctive style of blues to mainstream audiences. Reed was a major player in the field of electric blues. His distinctive voice, piercing harmonica and hypnotic guitar patterns were one of the blues' most easily identifiable sounds in the 1950s and 1960s, and had a significant impact on many rock and roll artists who followed, such as Elvis Presley, Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) and the Rolling Stones.
Reed was born in Dunleith, Mississippi, in 1925, learning the harmonica and guitar from Eddie Taylor, a close friend. After spending several years busking and performing in the area, Reed moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1943 before being drafted into the US Navy during World War II. In 1945, Reed was discharged and moved back to Mississippi for a brief period, marrying his girlfriend, Mary "Mama" Reed, before moving to Gary, Indiana to work at an Armour & Co. meat packing plant. Mama Reed appears as an uncredited background singer on many of his songs, notably the major hits "Baby What You Want Me to Do", "Big Boss Man" and "Bright Lights, Big City".
By the 1950s, Reed had established himself as a popular musician and joined the "Gary Kings" with John Brim, as well as playing on the street with Willie Joe Duncan. Reed failed to gain a recording contract with Chess Records, but signed with Vee-Jay Records through Brim's drummer, Albert King. At Vee-Jay, Reed began playing again with Eddie Taylor and soon released "You Don't Have to Go", his first hit record. This was followed by a long string of hits.
Reed maintained his reputation despite his rampant alcoholism; sometimes his wife had to help him remember the lyrics to his songs while recording. In 1957, Reed developed epilepsy, though the condition was not correctly diagnosed for a long time, as Reed and doctors assumed it was delirium tremens.
In spite of his numerous hits, Reed's personal problems prevented him from achieving the same level of fame as other popular blues artists of the time, though he had more hit songs than many others. When Vee-Jay Records closed down, Reed's manager signed a contract with the fledgling ABC-Bluesway label, but Reed was never able to score another hit.
In 1968 he toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival.
Jimmy Reed died in Oakland, California in 1976, of respiratory failure, eight days short of his 51st birthday. He is interred in the Lincoln Cemetery in Worth, Illinois.
In 1991 Reed was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Rolling Stones have cited Reed as a major influence on their sound, and their early set lists included many of Reed's songs, including tracks like "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby", "The Sun is Shining" (also played at the Stones' 1969 Altamont concert), "Bright Lights, Big City" and "Shame, Shame, Shame" ; the B-side of their February 1964 hit single "Not Fade Away" was a pastiche of "Shame, Shame, Shame" entitled "Little by Little". Their first album, The Rolling Stones, (subtitled England's Newest Hit Makers in America), released in April 1964, featured both "Little by Little" and their cover of Reed's "Honest I Do".
The Yardbirds recorded an instrumental dedicated to him entitled "Like Jimmy Reed Again", which was released on the "definitive edition" of their album Having a Rave Up.
Van Morrison's group Them covered "Bright Lights, Big City" and "Baby, What You Want Me To Do", both of which can be found on The Story of Them Featuring Van Morrison.
"Big Boss Man" was sung regularly by Ron "Pigpen" McKernan with the Grateful Dead during the 1960s and early 1970s and appears on their live album Skull and Roses. It was revived a few times by Jerry Garcia with the Dead during the 1980s. Bob Weir of the Dead also played it a few times with Kingfish in the mid 70s, and more recently with Ratdog. Phil Lesh also plays it with Phil & Friends. The Grateful Dead have also performed Baby What You Want Me to Do with Brent Mydland on vocals.
Elvis Presley recorded several of Reed's songs, scoring a 1967 hit with "Big Boss Man" and recording several performances of "Baby, What You Want Me to Do" for his 1968 Comeback TV Special. (However, Presley's 1964 hit, "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" is a different song than that recorded by Reed.) The song "Baby, What You Want Me to Do" was also covered by Wishbone Ash on their 1972 live album, Live Dates. "Baby What You Want Me to Do" was also frequently performed by Etta James and Hot Tuna. Johnny and Edgar Winter performed the song live in 1975 and included it on Johnny and Edgar Winter Together.
Reed's recordings of "Big Boss Man" and "Bright Lights, Big City" were both voted onto the list of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
Noted Austin, Texas musicians, Omar Kent Dykes and Jimmie Vaughan released an album entitled On the Jimmy Reed Highway as a tribute to Reed.
Bill Cosby covered 4 of Reed's songs – "Bright Lights, Big City", "Big Boss Man", "Hush Hush" and "Aw Shucks, Hush Your Mouth" – on his 1967 album Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings.
Steve Miller Band covered 5 of Reed's songs – "You're So Fine" on his 1968 album Sailor; "I Wanna Be Loved (But By Only You)", "Big Boss Man", "Caress Me Baby" and "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" on his 1986 album Living in the 20th Century.
Neil Young historically plays Reed's music to his audience before his shows.
British punk pioneer Billy Childish and his band Thee Headcoats released an EP of Reed covers entitled The Jimmy Reed Experience on Get Hip Records in 1997.
Reed was born in Dunleith, Mississippi, in 1925, learning the harmonica and guitar from Eddie Taylor, a close friend. After spending several years busking and performing in the area, Reed moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1943 before being drafted into the US Navy during World War II. In 1945, Reed was discharged and moved back to Mississippi for a brief period, marrying his girlfriend, Mary "Mama" Reed, before moving to Gary, Indiana to work at an Armour & Co. meat packing plant. Mama Reed appears as an uncredited background singer on many of his songs, notably the major hits "Baby What You Want Me to Do", "Big Boss Man" and "Bright Lights, Big City".
By the 1950s, Reed had established himself as a popular musician and joined the "Gary Kings" with John Brim, as well as playing on the street with Willie Joe Duncan. Reed failed to gain a recording contract with Chess Records, but signed with Vee-Jay Records through Brim's drummer, Albert King. At Vee-Jay, Reed began playing again with Eddie Taylor and soon released "You Don't Have to Go", his first hit record. This was followed by a long string of hits.
Reed maintained his reputation despite his rampant alcoholism; sometimes his wife had to help him remember the lyrics to his songs while recording. In 1957, Reed developed epilepsy, though the condition was not correctly diagnosed for a long time, as Reed and doctors assumed it was delirium tremens.
In spite of his numerous hits, Reed's personal problems prevented him from achieving the same level of fame as other popular blues artists of the time, though he had more hit songs than many others. When Vee-Jay Records closed down, Reed's manager signed a contract with the fledgling ABC-Bluesway label, but Reed was never able to score another hit.
In 1968 he toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival.
Jimmy Reed died in Oakland, California in 1976, of respiratory failure, eight days short of his 51st birthday. He is interred in the Lincoln Cemetery in Worth, Illinois.
In 1991 Reed was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Rolling Stones have cited Reed as a major influence on their sound, and their early set lists included many of Reed's songs, including tracks like "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby", "The Sun is Shining" (also played at the Stones' 1969 Altamont concert), "Bright Lights, Big City" and "Shame, Shame, Shame" ; the B-side of their February 1964 hit single "Not Fade Away" was a pastiche of "Shame, Shame, Shame" entitled "Little by Little". Their first album, The Rolling Stones, (subtitled England's Newest Hit Makers in America), released in April 1964, featured both "Little by Little" and their cover of Reed's "Honest I Do".
The Yardbirds recorded an instrumental dedicated to him entitled "Like Jimmy Reed Again", which was released on the "definitive edition" of their album Having a Rave Up.
Van Morrison's group Them covered "Bright Lights, Big City" and "Baby, What You Want Me To Do", both of which can be found on The Story of Them Featuring Van Morrison.
"Big Boss Man" was sung regularly by Ron "Pigpen" McKernan with the Grateful Dead during the 1960s and early 1970s and appears on their live album Skull and Roses. It was revived a few times by Jerry Garcia with the Dead during the 1980s. Bob Weir of the Dead also played it a few times with Kingfish in the mid 70s, and more recently with Ratdog. Phil Lesh also plays it with Phil & Friends. The Grateful Dead have also performed Baby What You Want Me to Do with Brent Mydland on vocals.
Elvis Presley recorded several of Reed's songs, scoring a 1967 hit with "Big Boss Man" and recording several performances of "Baby, What You Want Me to Do" for his 1968 Comeback TV Special. (However, Presley's 1964 hit, "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" is a different song than that recorded by Reed.) The song "Baby, What You Want Me to Do" was also covered by Wishbone Ash on their 1972 live album, Live Dates. "Baby What You Want Me to Do" was also frequently performed by Etta James and Hot Tuna. Johnny and Edgar Winter performed the song live in 1975 and included it on Johnny and Edgar Winter Together.
Reed's recordings of "Big Boss Man" and "Bright Lights, Big City" were both voted onto the list of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
Noted Austin, Texas musicians, Omar Kent Dykes and Jimmie Vaughan released an album entitled On the Jimmy Reed Highway as a tribute to Reed.
Bill Cosby covered 4 of Reed's songs – "Bright Lights, Big City", "Big Boss Man", "Hush Hush" and "Aw Shucks, Hush Your Mouth" – on his 1967 album Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings.
Steve Miller Band covered 5 of Reed's songs – "You're So Fine" on his 1968 album Sailor; "I Wanna Be Loved (But By Only You)", "Big Boss Man", "Caress Me Baby" and "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" on his 1986 album Living in the 20th Century.
Neil Young historically plays Reed's music to his audience before his shows.
British punk pioneer Billy Childish and his band Thee Headcoats released an EP of Reed covers entitled The Jimmy Reed Experience on Get Hip Records in 1997.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Jimmy Reed Lyrics
14. Found Love I found true love, one worth waitin' for I found true…
A New Leaf When everybody dies around you, from someone else's gun, It …
A String To My Heart Need me a string darlin', honey tied all around your…
Ain I got a Eldorado Cadillac Wit's a spare tire on the…
Ain't Loving You Baby Know I love ya, babe? Know I love ya, babe? Know I…
Ain't That Lovin You Baby Know I love ya babe? Know I love ya babe? Know I…
Ain't That Loving You Baby Know I love ya, babe? Know I love ya, babe? Know I…
Ain't That Lovon' You Baby Know I love ya babe? Know I love ya babe? Know I…
Ain`t That Lovin` You Baby Know I love ya, babe? Know I love ya, babe? Know I…
Aw Shucks Aw shucks, hush your mouth, baby you knockin' me out I…
Aw Shucks, Hush Your Mouth Aw shucks, hush your mouth, baby you knockin′ me out I…
Baby You've got me runnin' You've got me hidin' You've got me run…
Baby What Do You Want Me to Do You've got me runnin' You've got me hidin' You've got me r…
Baby What Do You Want Me To Do ? You've got me runnin' You've got me hidin' You've got me run…
Baby What's on Your Mind Tell me baby, a-tell me what's on your mind Yeah,…
Baby What's Wrong Hey baby, honey, what's wrong with you? Oh baby, honey, what…
Baby, What's Wrong Hey baby, honey, what′s wrong with you? Oh baby, honey, what…
Big Boss Man Big boss man, can't you hear me when I call Big…
Big Legged Woman Big leg woman, what you tryin' to do to me? Big…
Blue Blue Water When I first thought to hobo'in, hobo'in I took a freight…
Bright Light Bright light, big city, They gone to my baby's head Whoa,…
Bright Lights Big City Time is on my side, yes it is Time is on…
Bright Lights, Big City Bright light, big city, gone to my baby's head Whoa, bright…
Bright Ligthts Big City Time is on my side, yes it is Time is on…
Brights Light Big City Bright light, big city, They gone to my baby's head Whoa,…
C.C Rider Yes, C.C. Rider, see what you done, done No, C.C. Rider,…
Can Ev'ry sixty second, of ev'ry minute Ev'ry sixty minute, of t…
Can't Stand To Leave I can't stand ta' leave ya, baby, you'll break my…
Can't Stand To See You Go (Ha, ha, ha, ha) Pick me up in the mo' nin' Honey,…
Caress Me Baby Caress me baby, like the wind caress the trees Caress me…
Cherry Red Run here, pretty baby, honey sit down on your daddy's…
Christmas Present want to climb down your chimney, baby, I want to…
Close Together We gotta stay close together We gotta stay close together If…
Cold and Lonesome Cold and lonesome Honey I dont even have no place to…
Come Love Comes a rainstorm, put your rubbers on your feet Comes a…
Come On Baby Come on, tell me what you're gonna do Come on, tell…
Crazy I'm crazy about Oklahoma, Texas so doggone big Honey, I'm cr…
Cry Before I Go If you gotta cry, baby, little girl, cry before I…
Crying Blind Don't know why ya look so good ta me I don't…
Dimples I love the way you walk I love the way you…
Don Don't light my fire, baby, if you don't want to…
Down in Mississippi Down in Mississippi where cotton grow tall, get arrested for…
Down in Virginia I went down in Virginia, honey, where the green grass…
Down The Road When I was a boy Four houses down from me Was a…
Ends & Odds I stand it all and I shake my face You break…
Five Long Years If you've ever been mistreated, you know what I'm talkin'…
Found Joy Well the people have been searchin' before God sent his son…
Found Love I found true love, one worth waitin' for I found true…
Go Get My Baby Well, my things a-start hoppin' And my knees start a-rockin'…
Go on to School I met a little girl, was on her way to…
Goin Goin' to New York, get on the New York quiz…
Goin By The River I'm going to the river And i'm going to sit down…
Goin To New York Goin' to New York Get on New York quiz show Gotta win…
Goin' By The River I'm going to the river And i'm going to sit down…
Goin' To New York Goin' to New York, get on the New York quiz…
Going By The River I'm going to the river And i'm going to sit down…
Going Fishing Ain't no need of sitting down thinking, baby, 'bout some…
Going to New York Goin' to New York Get on New York quiz show Gotta win…
Going To The River I'm going to the river And i'm going to sit down…
Good Is Catching Up With Me Aaaaah I've got a feelin' baby, good's catchin' up with m…
Good Lover Well my baby wants mansion, diamond ring Big fine car and…
Got Me Chasing You Listen ta me baby, what I said is right I'll leave…
Hard Walkin' Hanna Hard workin' Hanna, honey, I heard about yo' game Hard worki…
Hard Walking Hannah Hard workin' Hanna, honey, I heard about yo' game Hard work…
High & Lonesome High and lonesome, be on your merry way High and lonesome,…
Honest I Do Don't you know that I love you Honest I do... I've never…
Honest I Do Don't cha know that I love you? Honest I do I'd never…
Honey You look like your high and lonesome I believe ya want…
Honey Don't Let Me Go You look like your high and lonesome I believe ya want…
Honey Where Are You Going See the woman walkin' down the street? Upsettin' everybody s…
How Long How long, how long Has that ev'nin train been gone? How long…
How Long Blues I've been down-hearted baby Ever since the day we met I said…
How Long How Long Blues How long, how long Has that ev'nin train been gone? How long…
Hush Hush Hush, hush Baby don't believe a word Hush, hush Honey don't …
I Don't you know that I love you Honest I do... I've never…
I Ain I got a Eldorado Cadillac Wit's a spare tire on the…
I Ain't Got You I got a Eldorado Cadillac Wit's a spare tire on the…
I Ain’t Got You I got a Eldorado Cadillac Wit's a spare tire on the…
I Can't Stand to See You Go (Ha, ha, ha, ha) Pick me up in the mo' nin' Honey,…
I Don Whoa you know baby, I don't go for that Whoa you…
I Don´t Go for That Whoa you know baby, I don't go for that Whoa you…
I Found My Baby Come home this morning, found my baby gone Come home this…
I Gonna Get My Baby Well, my things a-start hoppin' And my knees start a-rockin'…
I Got The Blues I got the blues 'cause my woman has gone Oh, I…
I Got to Keep Rolling I gotta keep on rollin', like a country wagon wheel I…
I Know It I know it's wrong, things I do The way that I,…
I Love You Baby Come on in this house so good I want to love…
I Told You Baby Dark Child Hey baby, ha ha ha If I told you that I…
I Wanan Be Loved I want to be loved, but by only you I want…
I Was It's hard to be lonely, feel ev'ryone is down on…
I'll Change My Style I′ll change my style Even change my smile If the beatin' in…
I'm a Love You Come on in this house so good I want to love…
I'm Goin Upside Your Head Yeah, yeah, yeah Better believe what I said Yeah, yeah, yeah…
I'm Goin' Upside Your Head Yeah, yeah, yeah Better believe what I said Yeah, yeah, ye…
I'm Gonna Get My Baby Well, my things a-start hoppin' And my knees start a-rockin'…
I'm Gonna Help You Come in here woman don't Don't say I worry We're gonna war…
I'm Leavin' I′m leavin', mama cryin′ won't make me stay I'm leavin′, you…
I'm Mr Luck They call me, Mr. Lucky Bad luck don′t follow me They call…
I'm Nervous I'm nervous and I'm sad I'm sorry and I'm mad Saw the…
I'm the Man Down There You on the second floor, what you don't know You reachin'…
I've Got The Blues I gotta keep on rollin' Like a country wagon wheel I gotta…
If You Don't Want Me Baby If you don′t want me, baby, got to have me…
Im Gonna Love You Come in here woman don't Don't say I worry We're gonna war…
Im Nervous I'm nervous and I'm sad I'm sorry and I'm mad Saw the…
Im the Man Down There You on the second floor, what you don't know You reachin'…
It's You Baby You've got me runnin' You've got me hidin' You've got me run…
Kansas City Baby I'm goin' to Kansas City, Kansas City, here I come I'm…
Knockin' at Your Door I'm a-knockin' at your door, baby, wonderin' why I can't…
Let You look like your high and lonesome I believe ya want…
Little Rain A little rain fallin' A little clock keep away the time A…
Meet Me Why won't you meet me Meet me in your hometown I want…
Moon Is Rising The moon is risin' This time goin' down I feel kinda lonesom…
My Baby My baby told me, says, "You don't want me no…
My Bitter Seed My mother told me, use my bitter seed My mother told…
My First Plea Baby plea, first time I plea to you Baby plea, first…
Oh John I can be tender, I can be rough I can do…
Outskirts of Town I'm gonna move, way out on the outskirts of town I'm…
Over the Hump Mother had a welfare rent We lived in a freezin' up…
Poor Country Boy They call me a country preacher Jimmy Reed, is my name Somet…
Pretty Thing Pretty Baby, pretty baby Pretty baby say you're mine Prett…
Roll Well, I've got a gal who lives upon the hill Well,…
Roll Em Pete Well, I've got a gal who lives upon the hill Well,…
See See Rider Yes, C.C. Rider, see what you done, done No, C.C. Rider,…
Shame Well I tried to tell you baby But it make no…
She Don My baby told me, she don't want me no mo' My…
She Don't Go for That Whoa you know baby, I don't go for that Whoa you…
She Don't Wan't Me No More My baby told me, she don't want me no mo' My…
Shoot My Baby The woman, I love she won't treat me right Leave in…
Signals of Love Red light of town life You know the green light gotta…
St Louis Blues I hate to see that ev'nin' sun go down I hate…
String to Your Heart Need me a string darlin', honey tied all around your…
Take Out Some Insurance If you leave me, baby, say you won't be back That…
Tell The World I Do C'mon baby, tell me what you puttin' down C'mon in this…
The Is Shining Come on baby, help me defend this gold Come on baby,…
The Moon Is Rising The moon is risin' This time goin' down I feel kinda lonesom…
The Sun Is Shining Come on baby, help me defend this gold Come on baby,…
Too Much I paid the bank note, the car note, an′ yes,…
Trouble in Mind Trouble in mind, I'm blue, But I won't be blue always 'Cause…
Turn Me on Turn me on like a TV and cut me off…
Wear Something Green Come see me baby, make sure you wear somethin' green I…
Wee Wee Baby It was early one mornin' I was on my way to…
Welcome to Nevada It's wonderful to breeze around They seem to have real trees…
What You Want Me To Do You've got me runnin' You've got me hidin' You've got me run…
What's on your mind Tell me baby, a-tell me what's on your mind Yeah,…
When I Woke Up This Morning When I woke up this mornin', I was in my…
When You Left Me Well, I bought you, I thought ya want a Rocket…
When You're Doing Alright Don't say nothin' if you don't know what you're talkin'…
Where Can You Be Ev'ry sixty second, of ev'ry minute Ev'ry sixty minute, of t…
Worried Life Blues All alone, all alone, got misery so bad, I have…
You You've got me runnin' You've got me hidin' You've got me run…
You Can't Hide (Ha, ha, ha, ha) Pick me up in the mo' nin' Honey,…
You Don Whoa, baby You don't have ta go Whoa, baby You don't have t…
You Gonna Need My Help You're gonna need, You're gonna need my help, I say. You kno…
You Got Me Crying I got a little girl An' when she hold me in…
You Got Me Dizzy Listen ta me baby, what I said is right I'll leave…
You Got My Crying I got a little girl An' when she hold me in…
You Got My Dizzy Listen ta me baby, what I said is right I'll leave…
You Know I Love You Come on in this house so good I want to love…
You Upset My Mind I'm in love wit'cha baby, tryin' a-keep from cryin' Now, I'm…
You're My Baby My baby told me, says, "You don't want me no…
You're Something Else Baby you send me Honest you do Ain't nobody in the whole…
You'Ve Got Me Dizzy Listen ta me baby, what I said is right I'll leave…
you´re something else Baby you send me Honest you do Ain't nobody in the whole…
You´re Something Else Baby you send me Honest you do Ain't nobody in the whole…
You‘ve Got Me Dizzy Listen ta me baby, what I said is right I'll leave…
You’re Something Else Baby you send me Honest you do Ain't nobody in the whole…
You’ve Got Me Dizzy Listen ta me baby, what I said is right I'll leave…