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.
Black Cat Blues
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
God knows a black cat had crossed my trail
I had a dream last night
God knows a black cat had crossed my trail
You know I don't want you to
Sweep me with no broom
'Cause I'm afraid I might go to jail
When my right hand itch
People, you know I'm gettin' money for sure
You know when my right hand itch
People, I'm gettin' money for sure
You know when my
Left eye get to jumpin'
Somebody's just got to go
I went home last night
I lay down 'cross my bed
I woke up this mornin' God knows
Broken, hungry too, I said, oh
Lord, this black cat have crossed my dream
You know sometime I wonder B.G.
What in the world's gonna happen to me
Well, I went down to the cemetery
Got down on my bended knees
I asked the good Lord above
To take this spell off of me and I said, 'Woah'
You know a black cat have crossed my dream
You know I begin to wonder B.G.
What in the world is gonna happen to me
The lyrics to Buddy Guy's song Black Cat Blues speak of superstitions and the belief in the power of omens. Guy sings about a dream he had in which a black cat crossed his path, a symbol traditionally associated with bad luck. He expresses fear that the broom that is used to sweep away bad luck may instead sweep him into jail.
The lyrics also mention other superstitions such as the itching of the right hand indicating that money is on its way and the jumping of the left eye indicating that someone has to go. Guy then describes feeling broken and hungry upon waking up, attributing it to the black cat crossing his dream. He even goes as far as visiting a cemetery and asking the Lord to remove the spell that he believes the black cat has put on him.
Overall, the song conveys the power of beliefs and superstitions in shaping one's perceptions and experiences. It also highlights the fear and uncertainty that can result from these beliefs, especially when faced with bad omens.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a dream last night
Buddy Guy is describing a dream he had.
God knows a black cat had crossed my trail
Buddy Guy believes that a black cat crossing his path in his dream is an ominous sign.
You know I don't want you to
Buddy Guy is warning someone not to sweep him with a broom.
Sweep me with no broom
In Buddy Guy's belief, being swept with a broom can bring bad luck, which may lead him to jail.
'Cause I'm afraid I might go to jail
Buddy Guy is afraid that he might face a negative consequence from being swept with a broom.
When my right hand itch
Buddy Guy believes that a right-hand itch signifies that he is guaranteed to earn money.
People, you know I'm gettin' money for sure
Buddy Guy believes that an itch in his right hand is a sign of getting money.
You know when my right hand itch
Buddy Guy is pointing out a belief regarding the significance of his right hand itching.
People, I'm gettin' money for sure
Buddy Guy believes that an itch in his right hand means he will earn money for sure.
You know when my left eye get to jumpin'
Buddy Guy is pointing out that a jump in his left eye is a sign of something bad happening.
Somebody's just got to go
Buddy Guy believes that someone or something bad will have to leave his life.
I went home last night
Buddy Guy is describing his recent activities.
I lay down 'cross my bed
Buddy Guy went to bed the previous night.
I woke up this mornin' God knows
Buddy Guy is narrating his morning after waking up.
Broken, hungry too, I said, oh
Buddy Guy woke up feeling broken and hungry.
Lord, this black cat have crossed my dream
Buddy Guy believes that the black cat crossing his dream caused his bad luck in the morning.
You know sometime I wonder B.G.
Buddy Guy is asking himself what will happen to him as a result of the bad luck he's facing.
What in the world's gonna happen to me
Buddy Guy is expressing his concern for the future and the potential consequences he may face.
Well, I went down to the cemetery
Buddy Guy went to the cemetery to seek divine help.
Got down on my bended knees
Buddy Guy knelt down to pray for protection.
I asked the good Lord above
Buddy Guy is asking God for help.
To take this spell off of me and I said, 'Woah'
Buddy Guy is asking to be delivered from the bad luck caused by the black cat crossing his dream.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BESMAN, HOOKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind