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.
A Man And The Blues
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What can a poor man do, you know when the blues keep bothering him around
Give him a half pint of good liquor, and sit down and drink it all down
You know, sometimes I feel, I feel like drinkin' me some gasoline
You know, sometimes I feel, I feel like drinkin' me some gasoline
Strikin' me a match and blow myself up in steam
you know where the water tastes like cherry wine
I feel I'm gonna move on back down south,
you know where the water tastes like cherry wine
Because this crap of whiskey and water tastes to me like turpentine
The lyrics of "A Man And The Blues" by Buddy Guy are about a man who is constantly bothered by the blues and is trying to find a way to alleviate his pain. The first verse questions what a poor man can do when the blues keep bothering him. The answer presented is to drink a half pint of good liquor and drink it all down. The second verse presents a darker solution to his woes. The man speaks about feeling like drinking gasoline and blowing himself up with a match, indicating severe feelings of hopelessness and despair. He then expresses a desire to move back down south, where the water tastes like cherry wine, indicating that he needs to leave his current environment to find a solution to his problems. The song conveys the depth of the blues, their ability to inflict mental pain, and the hopelessness that can accompany that pain.
Line by Line Meaning
What can a poor man do, you know when the blues keep bothering him around
When a poor man is constantly plagued by blues, he doesn't know what to do
Give him a half pint of good liquor, and sit down and drink it all down
One remedy for the blues is to give the poor man some good liquor and have him drink it all down
You know, sometimes I feel, I feel like drinkin' me some gasoline
Sometimes, the blues get so bad that one feels like drinking gasoline
Strikin' me a match and blow myself up in steam
To end it all and escape the blues, one might consider lighting themselves on fire
I feel I'm gonna move on back down south,
you know where the water tastes like cherry wine
The singer feels like moving back down south where water tastes better than the bad whiskey and water in his current location
Because this crap of whiskey and water tastes to me like turpentine
To the singer, the whiskey and water he's stuck with taste horrible like turpentine
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BUDDY GUY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Juan Camacho
What can a poor man do, you know when the blues keep bothering him around
What can a poor man do, you know when the blues keep bothering him around
Give him a half pint of good liquor, and sit down and drink it all down
You know, sometimes I feel, I feel like drinkin' me some gasoline
You know, sometimes I feel, I feel like drinkin' me some gasoline
Strikin' me a match and blow myself up in steam
I feel I'm gonna move on back down south,
you know where the water tastes like cherry wine
I feel I'm gonna move on back down south,
you know where the water tastes like cherry wine
Because this crap of whiskey and water tastes to me like turpentine
George Kallishis
Buddy Guy, one of the biggest legends of blues . Great voice.
Daniel Olsson
Buddy Guy is the man, still keepin the blues alive. Thanks for the great channel!
Don's Tunes
He is a true legend of the blues..enjoy!
Annie Mitchell
Betty
Tereza Cristina Meira Faria
Uaaaaaauuu! Isto é que chamo de riqueza! Que Blues magnífico! Sentir todos os instrumentos na alma, coração.... amo blues! Principalmente qdo é vc, Don que me proporciona esta raridade! Obrigada pelo carinho e atenção! 👑👑👑🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆💎💎💎💎💎🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹❤💋👏👏👏👏👏🍸
Gafbeat 81
Larga vida al Sr. del Blues !! Mr. Buddy Guy !!
W Ghost
Buddy Guy a true blues legend #Much_Respect
andrew wheeler guitar
just about the best electric blues solo of all time on this tune here.
Irene Fraser
Seen him in Glasgow a few years ago, when he was in his 80th year. Been to many gigs but this man left them all standing with his non-stop energy. He came down from the stage and walked round the hall playing his guitar. Over 2 hours of brilliant blues. 👏
🎸🎶🎸🎵🎸
Nawel Mered
I've just got into blues ! About two weeks ago, and oh my Lord !! My heart skips a beat every time I find a notification from your Channel Don ! You've helped me escape the routine ! As I put me headphones on and play the music i've downloaded from Your channel! And right now the rain is falling and I feel like I'm all by myself in this world while listening to these master pieces. Well I've said enough. I just want to tell you: Thank you Don. ♡