One of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with B.B. King and Freddie King), Albert King stood 6' 4", weighed 250 lbs and was known as "The Velvet Bulldozer". He was born Albert Nelson on a cotton plantation in Indianola, Mississippi. During his childhood he would sing at a family gospel group at a church. One of 13 children, King grew up picking cotton on plantations near Forrest City, Arkansas where the family moved when he was eight years old. He began his professional work as a musician with a group called In The Groove Boys in Osceola, Arkansas. He had also briefly played drums for Jimmy Reed's band and on several early Reed recordings. Influenced by blues musicians Blind Lemon Jefferson and Lonnie Johnson, but also interestingly Hawaiian music, the electric guitar became his signature instrument, his preference being the Gibson Flying V, which he named "Lucy".
King was a left-handed "upside-down/backwards" guitarist. He was left-handed, but usually played right-handed guitars flipped over upside-down so the low E string was on the bottom. In later years he played a custom-made guitar that was basically left-handed, but had the strings reversed (as he was used to playing). He also used very unorthodox tunings (i.e., tuning as low as C to allow him to make sweeping string bends). Some believe that he was using open E minor tuning (C-B-E-G-B-E) or open F tuning (C-F-C-F-A-D). A "less is more" type blues player, he was known for his expressive "bending" of notes, a technique characteristic of blues guitarists.
He recorded his first record in 1953 for Parrot Records in Chicago, but it had no impact. His first minor hit came in 1959 with Lonely Man written by Bobbin Records A&R man and fellow guitar hero Little Milton, responsible for King's signing with the label. However, it was not until his 1961 release Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong that he had a major hit, reaching number fourteen on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart. In 1966 he signed with the Stax record label. Produced by Al Jackson, Jr., King with Booker T. & the MG's recorded dozens of influential sides, such as Crosscut Saw and As The Years Go Passing By, and in 1967 Stax released the album, Born Under a Bad Sign. The title track of that album (written by Booker T. Jones and William Bell) became King's best known songs and has been covered by many other artists.
Another landmark album followed in Live Wire/Blues Power from one of many dates King played at promoter Bill Graham's Fillmore venues. It had a wide and long-term influence on Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Robbie Robertson, and later Gary Moore and Stevie Ray Vaughan (Criminal World, on David Bowie's 1983 release Let's Dance, features a guitar solo copied note-for-note from his hero Albert King by young session musician Stevie Ray Vaughan).
In the 1970s, King was teamed with members of The Bar-Kays and The Movement (Isaac Hayes's backing group), including bassist James Alexander and drummer Willie Hall adding strong funk elements to his music. Adding strings and multiple rhythm guitarists, producers Allen Jones and Henry Bush created a wall of sound that contrasted the sparse, punchy records King made with Booker T. & the MG's. Among these was another of King's signature tunes with I'll Play the Blues For You in 1972.
Recorded in December 1983, In Session captures an in-concert jam between Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan
As he hit his mid-sixties King began to muse about retirement, not unreasonable given that he had health problems. Nevertheless, when near to death, he was planning yet another overseas tour.
King died on December 21, 1992 from a heart attack in Memphis, Tennessee.
Can't You See What You're Doing To Me
Albert King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey baby, can't you see what you're doin' to me
Hey baby, baby, baby, can't you see what you're doin' to me
Well you say you're gonna leave me, darlin'
You're goin' back to your old time, used to be
I work two jobs, I bring home all-a the pay
Hey baby, can't you see what you're doin' to me
Well you say you're gonna leave me,
You're goin' back to your old time, used to be
Hey now! woo! yeah! yeah! come on band! sounds alright!
I work two jobs, I bring ya all-a the pay
If you tell me you love me, then try to do some things my way
Hey baby, can't you see what you're doin' to me
Yeah, you say you're gonna leave me darlin'
You're goin' back to your old time, used to be
Hey baby, can't you see what you're doin' to me
Hey, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
Can't you see what you're doin' to me
Now you say you're gonna leave me darlin'
You're goin' back to your old time, used to be
The song "Can't You See What You're Doing To Me" by Albert King is a blues song that explores a love-hate relationship between two people who are stuck in a pattern of conflict and emotional manipulation. The singer of the song is pleading with his lover to see the pain she is causing him by constantly threatening to leave him and return to her "old-time" used to be. The first line of the song, "I wonder where, I wonder where, this Sears Roebuck drummer come from?" is a reference to the drummer in King's band and also serves as a playful way to introduce the song.
The singer of the song is a hardworking man who supports his partner financially but is not receiving emotional support in return. He begs his partner to love him and to try to compromise more instead of constantly threatening to leave. The repetition of the line "Hey baby, can't you see what you're doing to me" emphasizes the singer's frustration and desperation to be heard and understood.
Overall, the song speaks to the conflicting emotions of a tumultuous relationship and the difficult balance between security and freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
I wonder where, I wonder where, this Sears Roebuck drummer come from?
I am curious about the origin of the drummer who works for the department store Sears Roebuck.
Hey baby, can't you see what you're doin' to me
My dear, do you not realize the emotional pain and turmoil you are causing me?
Well you say you're gonna leave me, darlin', you're goin' back to your old time, used to be
You have informed me that you intend to end our relationship and return to a past lover or way of life.
I work two jobs, I bring home all-a the pay
I am employed in two jobs to provide for us financially, and I bring home all the income.
If you tell me you love me, then try to do some things my way
If you truly love me, please make an effort to compromise and consider my perspective.
Hey now! woo! yeah! yeah! come on band! sounds alright!
An exclamation of excitement and approval for the musical performance.
Yeah, you say you're gonna leave me darlin', you're goin' back to your old time, used to be
You have expressed an intention to break up with me and return to a previous lifestyle or relationship.
Hey, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
A repetition of endearment towards the subject being addressed.
Now you say you're gonna leave me darlin', you're goin' back to your old time, used to be
You have announced that you want to end our romantic relationship and return to your previous way of life or relationship.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALBERT KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alexis Vega
fantastic song..i love the bass line here.. albert king one of the greatest of the blues,i never get tired of listen to his music
Leroy Rolland sr.
๐๐๐g
AndyGinterBlues
Saw Albert play "Live", in Buffalo, N.Y., around the time this was recorded, at the Peace Bridge Center. I remember that his guitar playing at the show was VERY LOUD!
Sasakka
da hora ein !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kenya Nkhrumah
A Bluesmaster @ Work!!!
Robert Ellison
Fantastic!!
Alex Vior
The best
George Moore
The Blues, a shot of Johnny walker and a dismal Monday. welcome to my life
MJR Lormans
Smoking Hot Guitar & Groovy Bass ๐ธ๐ธ
Hattie Martin-Mays
He is WHIPPING THEM STRINGS.....COME ON MAN ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐