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.
Are You Losing Your Mind
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or something tell me you just might be losing your mind
Oh you make me think you're crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, woman
Seem like to me darling you may be losing your mind
The way you been acting lately baby, lord
Oh, you're 'bout to go drive me out of my mind
You know I sit in a dark room, yes
My tears rollin' down my eyes
Oh, you know you make me sit in a dark room
With the tears rollin' down from my eyes
You know I can hear my little girl say
Oh, my father is a hurt child
Oh, when I leave I'm goin' back south
People, where the weather you know they suit my clothes, wow
You know I think I move back south
You know where the weather, you know that good weather sure suits my clothes
You know I've been here in Chicago so long
But in last two winters man you know I've almost froze
You know it snowed in Chicago
'Till I could hardly see myself, he he
Oh, you know it snowed in Chicago
'Till I can walk down the streets you know and I couldn't see myself
Well you know I was tryin' to find my baby
You know she was right over, right over snowin' with somebody else
The lyrics of Buddy Guy's song "Are You Losing Your Mind" depict a man's confusion and frustration towards a woman's irrational behavior. The repetition of the word "crazy" emphasizes his disbelief in her actions, while the line "Or something tell me you just might be losing your mind" suggests that there may be a deeper issue at hand. The man is struggling to deal with how the woman's behavior is affecting him, and he feels as if he is losing his mind. He describes sitting in a dark room with tears streaming down his face, indicating how deeply he is affected by the situation. The song ends with him contemplating returning to the South, where the weather is better suited to him and where he may be able to find his lost love.
Overall, the lyrics of "Are You Losing Your Mind" explore themes of love, loss, and mental health. The main character is struggling to come to terms with the woman's erratic behavior, and he questions whether she is truly "crazy" or if there is something else going on. The emotion and intensity in Buddy Guy's voice adds to the song's raw and powerful message.
Line by Line Meaning
Woman you know you got to be crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy
You are exhibiting erratic behavior, possibly due to a mental health condition.
Or something tell me you just might be losing your mind
I have a suspicion that your behavior is indicative of you experiencing a mental breakdown.
Oh you make me think you're crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, woman
Your behavior leads me to believe that you may be experiencing a mental health crisis.
Seem like to me darling you may be losing your mind
Based on your actions, it appears that you are struggling with your mental health.
The way you been acting lately baby, lord
Your recent actions have been concerning and are causing me distress.
Oh, you're 'bout to go drive me out of my mind
Your behavior is affecting me negatively and causing me great distress.
You know I sit in a dark room, yes
I find myself frequently retreating to a dark, isolated space to escape the situation.
My tears rollin' down my eyes
I am so overwhelmed by the situation that I am crying uncontrollably.
Oh, you know you make me sit in a dark room
Your behavior is so distressing that I feel like I have no choice but to distance myself from you.
With the tears rollin' down from my eyes
I am crying uncontrollably due to the stress and distress caused by your behavior.
You know I can hear my little girl say
I am reminded of my child and how they would view the current situation with concern and sadness.
Oh, my father is a hurt child
My child would see me as vulnerable and in pain due to the current situation.
Oh, when I leave I'm goin' back south
I am considering leaving the situation and returning to the southern region of the country.
People, where the weather you know they suit my clothes, wow
I would feel more comfortable in an environment with weather that is better suited to my clothing and lifestyle.
You know I think I move back south
I am seriously considering the possibility of relocating back to the southern region of the country.
You know where the weather, you know that good weather sure suits my clothes
I am drawn to an environment with weather that is better suited to my clothing and lifestyle.
You know I've been here in Chicago so long
I have been living in Chicago for an extended period of time.
But in last two winters man you know I've almost froze
The last two winters have been incredibly harsh, to the point where I have come close to experiencing hypothermia.
You know it snowed in Chicago
Chicago has experienced heavy snowfall.
'Till I could hardly see myself, he he
The heavy snow made it difficult for me to see, and this fact seems ironic to me.
Oh, you know it snowed in Chicago
Chicago experienced a significant amount of snowfall.
'Till I can walk down the streets you know and I couldn't see myself
The snow got so deep that I was unable to see myself while walking through the streets.
Well you know I was tryin' to find my baby
I was attempting to locate my significant other.
You know she was right over, right over snowin' with somebody else
I discovered that my significant other was spending time with someone else, while the snow was falling heavily outside.
Contributed by Charlie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MrJimmyoc00
seriously the best Buddy record...in my opinion...he just plays with so much heart..every song on this record is great. great band too, his brother phil on guitar and Ray "the Killer" Allison on drums,, get the record if you don't have it...peace
@markgarno5167
This is just crazy, or something tells me ya might just be losing your mind?
@secnart
no hay nada como un buen blues para el alma !! n_n
@apissano
Buddy Guy, simply the man who took expression to it's highest level.
@TheNephilim69
Puro poder del blues!¡!¡!¡¡!
@coravisser727
needs no words it is brilliand grandioos.Thank you for uploading of this track of our buddy guy.
@FutureRefrence
God , how he bent that fifth man. Pure heaven. Heaven is at buddy's feet with him playing guitar =)
@bymyself9487
Love the song Buddy Guy with help I'm trying to find it Thank you 💙
@coravisser727
The most greatist artist buddy buddy you are so good.
@robertosozio3425
Nice Mister Buddy,