Guy is known for his showmanship; for example, he plays with drumsticks and walks into the audience whilst playing, the latter being a gimmick he picked up from a local blues guitarist at an early age (joining or leaping into the audience has also long been common in both American popular and gospel music, as in the earlier work of Big Jay McNeely or the Dixie Hummingbirds).
Guy grew up in Louisiana where he learned to play guitar. In the early 1950s he began performing with bands in Baton Rouge. Soon after moving to Chicago in 1957, Guy fell under the influence of "Mighty" Muddy Waters. In 1958 he won a record contract with Artistic Records after beating the West Side guitarists Magic Sam and Otis Rush in a "Head Cutting Contest" at the Blue Flame Club. Soon afterwards he recorded for the Cobra label.
In the early 1960s, Guy was a session guitarist for Chess Records. He recorded on Junior Wells sessions for Delmark Records under the pseudonym Friendly Chap in 1965 and 1966. His career took off during a blues revival period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and was sparked by Eric Clapton's request that Guy be part of the '24 nights' all-star blues guitar lineup at London's Royal Albert Hall and Guy's subsequent signing with Silvertone Records.
7‐11
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, I've just got to let her go
Because this little girl is runnin' wild
I said I got to let her go
Because this little girl is runnin' wild
You know she whupped this whole game on me
Oh girl, girl, girl, girl, girl, girl
You take all the happiness out of my live
Hey girl, girl, girl, girl, ah
You takes all, all the happiness out of my lives
You go to 7-11 on me
Just like a gambler with a crooked dice
Look-a-here
Yeah
Mr. Johnny Johnson
Mother said, "Son you've got to let her go
Can't you see this woman got her game up tight?
Oh, son you've got to let her go
Can't you see this a woman got her game up tight?"
She said, "Son get your hat and get your coat
Or she will never treat you right"
Well, ooh, got to get my hat and coat
This ain't right
She'd go to 7-11 on me
Oh, like a man with a loaded dice
In Buddy Guy's song "7-11," the singer is lamenting about a woman who is causing problems in his life. He says that he needs to let her go because she is running wild and has beaten him at his own game. Despite everything she has done, she won't even apologize. The woman takes all the happiness out of his life and goes to 7-11 on him like a gambler with a crooked dice. In the second verse, the singer's mother advises him to let this woman go because she has her game up tight and will never treat him right. The singer realizes that his mother is right and decides to leave her. He compares her going to 7-11 on him to a man with a loaded dice, implying that she was cheating him all along.
Overall, "7-11" is a song about a woman who has caused the singer a lot of problems and heartache. Despite his feelings for her, he knows he needs to let her go because she is no good for him. The song's lyrics are full of vivid imagery and metaphors that convey the emotions and frustrations of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I've just got to let her go
The singer needs to break up with his girlfriend for her constant unpredictable behavior.
Because this little girl is runnin' wild
The girl in question has been acting recklessly and carelessly.
You know she whupped this whole game on me
The girl has bested the singer in their relationship, maybe by always getting her way.
And now she won't even apologize
Despite her actions and their consequences, the girl won't acknowledge any wrongdoing or ask for forgiveness.
You take all the happiness out of my live
The girl's behavior has made the singer miserable, and he can't find any joy in his life when he is with her.
You takes all, all the happiness out of my lives
The girl's actions are impacting multiple areas of the singer's life, not just his romantic relationship.
You go to 7-11 on me
The girl is deceitful or unreliable, and her behavior is like that of a dishonest gambler.
Just like a gambler with a crooked dice
The girl's behavior is similar to that of an untrustworthy gambler.
Mother said, "Son you've got to let her go
The singer's mother is advising him to end his relationship with the unpredictable girl.
Can't you see this woman got her game up tight?
His mother believes the girl is skilled at manipulating people and situations to get what she wants.
She said, "Son get your hat and get your coat
The singer's mother advises him to leave the girl and end the relationship immediately.
Or she will never treat you right"
His mother warns that the girl's behavior is unlikely to improve, and he deserves better treatment in a relationship.
She'd go to 7-11 on me
The girl is unreliable and deceitful, and her behavior is like someone cheating at a game of chance.
Oh, like a man with a loaded dice
The girl's actions are similar to someone cheating at a game using loaded dice, making it impossible to win fairly.
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