Buddy Guy (born George Guy, July 30, 1936 in Lettsworth, Louisiana) is an A… Read Full Bio ↴Buddy Guy (born George Guy, July 30, 1936 in Lettsworth, Louisiana) is an American blues music and rock music guitarist, as well as a singer. Known as an inspiration to Jimi Hendrix and other 1960s blues and rock legends, Guy is considered as an important proponent of Chicago blues made famous by Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. He has influenced both widely known and local blues guitarists.

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.

Back Up Mama
Buddy Guy Lyrics

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My baby ease my mind
Makes me feel secure
But nowadays you know
I just can't be too sure

I got a back up mama
And she lives away across town
I got a back up mama

And mama number one is not around

You can't tell about a woman
That can't get by me
So I check in twice a month
Making sure she's on my team

I got a back up mama
She lives away across town
And mama number one is not around

I call it love insurance
I know I'm in goo hands
I don't worry if my baby
Finds another man

Cause I got a back up mama
She lives away across town
I got a back up mama
And mama number one is not around

I keep a back up mama
If mama number one is not around

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Buddy Guy's "Back Up Mama" talk about the idea of keeping a "back up" partner in case the primary partner isn't around or isn't fulfilling their needs. The first few lines suggest that the singer has a primary partner who brings them comfort and security, but something has changed, and they can't trust their partner anymore. The next few lines introduce the concept of the "back up mama," someone who lives across town and is ready to step in when mama number one isn't around. This allows the singer to feel more secure in their relationship, knowing that they have a plan B to fall back on.

The chorus reinforces this idea, with the singer describing their back up mama almost like an insurance policy against their primary partner leaving. They check in with her twice a month, and they "know [they're] in good hands" with her as a backup. The last few lines suggest that the singer doesn't worry if their primary partner "finds another man" because they have their back up mama to fall back on.

Overall, the lyrics of "Back Up Mama" explore the idea of trust and security in relationships, and how having a backup plan can make someone feel more in control and less vulnerable. It's an interesting twist on the idea of infidelity and cheating, where the singer isn't actively seeking out other partners, but rather keeping one on the back burner just in case. The song has a classic blues sound, with a driving beat and guitar riffs that highlight the emotion of the lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

My baby ease my mind
My girlfriend brings me peace and comfort

Makes me feel secure
She makes me feel safe and sure

But nowadays you know
But lately, things have changed

I just can't be too sure
I'm not completely confident in our relationship

I got a back up mama
I have another woman on standby

And she lives away across town
She lives far away from my main girlfriend

You can't tell about a woman
I can't always be sure about my main girlfriend's behavior

That can't get by me
I keep a close eye on her actions

So I check in twice a month
I make sure to see her at least twice a month

Making sure she's on my team
Making sure she's still willing to be with me

I call it love insurance
I consider my backup girlfriend as a type of insurance