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.
Born To Play Guitar
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And at the age of two
My momma told my papa
Our little boy's got the blues
I grew up real fast
And I've traveled very far
One damn thing's for sure
I was born to play the guitar
I got a reputation
And everybody knows my name
I was born to play the guitar
People, I got blues running through my veins
Women in Chicago
They love me to the bone
But my love for my guitar
Keep me far away from home
I got a reputation
Oh, everybody knows my name, yeah
I was born to play my guitar
I got the blues running through my veins
I got six strings loaded
On my bad machine
Show me the money
And I'll make this damn thing scream
I'm gonna keep on playing
And on my dying day
A polka-dot guitar
Will be resting on my grave
I got this young reputation
And everybody know my name
Buddy Guy, that is
You know I was born to play this here guitar
I got the blues running through my veins
In "Born To Play Guitar," Buddy Guy talks about his love and passion for playing the guitar. The song begins with him talking about how he was born in Louisiana, and at a young age, his mother told his father that he had the blues, which indicates that he had a natural inclination towards music. He grew up quickly and traveled far, but one thing that never changed was his passion for playing the guitar. Buddy Guy has a reputation that precedes him, and everyone knows his name, primarily because he was born to play the guitar. He talks about how women in Chicago love him, but his love for the guitar keeps him away from home.
Despite how popular he is, Buddy Guy stays true to his passion and himself, remaining eager to play the guitar every day. His guitar represents him, and he represents the guitar. In the final verse, he says he has six strings loaded on his "bad machine," and if someone shows him the money, he'll make "this damn thing" scream. He plans to continue playing until he dies, with a polka-dot guitar resting on his grave as a tribute to his lifelong love for music. Throughout the song, he talks about his passion and love for the blues, and how it forms an integral part of his identity.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in Louisiana
I came into this world in the state of Louisiana
And at the age of two
When I was only two years old
My momma told my papa
My mother informed my father
Our little boy's got the blues
Their son had the blues even at a young age
I grew up real fast
I matured at a rapid pace
And I've traveled very far
I journeyed a great distance
One damn thing's for sure
It's an undeniable fact
I was born to play the guitar
Playing the guitar is my destiny
I got a reputation
People know who I am and what I do
And everybody knows my name
My name is recognizable to everyone
People, I got blues running through my veins
The blues is a part of me, it's in my blood
Women in Chicago
Ladies in the city of Chicago
They love me to the bone
They adore me deeply
But my love for my guitar
However, my love for my guitar
Keep me far away from home
Prevents me from being at home
I got a reputation
My reputation precedes me
Oh, everybody knows my name, yeah
Everyone is familiar with my name
I got six strings loaded
There are six strings on my guitar
On my bad machine
My mighty instrument
Show me the money
Pay me what I'm worth
And I'll make this damn thing scream
I'll make my guitar scream with my talent
I'm gonna keep on playing
I intend to keep playing the guitar
And on my dying day
Even when I die
A polka-dot guitar
A guitar with polka-dot pattern
Will be resting on my grave
Will be placed on my burial site
I got this young reputation
My reputation was made when I was young
Buddy Guy, that is
That's who I am, Buddy Guy
You know I was born to play this here guitar
It's my calling to play the guitar
I got the blues running through my veins
The blues is a big part of my DNA
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Richard Fleming, Tom Hambridge
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-zk8bl2eo4u
I was born in Louisiana
And at the age of two
My momma told my papa
"Our little boy's got the blues"
I grew up real fast
And I've traveled very far
One damn thing's for sure
I was born to play the guitar
I got a reputation
And everybody knows my name
I was born to play the guitar
People, I got blues running through my veins
Women in Chicago
They love me to the bone
But my love for my guitar keep me far away from home
I got a reputation
Oh, everybody knows my name, yeah
I was born to play my guitar
I got the blues running through my veins
I got six strings loaded
On my bad machine
Show me the money
And I'll make this damn thing scream
I'm gonna keep on playing
And on my dying day
A polka-dot guitar will be resting on my grave
I got this young reputation
And everybody know my name
"Buddy Guy, that is"
You know I was born to play this here guitar
I got the blues running through my veins
@Ervdawg57
The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad, and Buddy be hurtin!
@painlessremovals4447
Had the great pleasure of meeting Buddy in Bristol City Centre in 1965 when me'n my brother hitched up for the American Blues Festival. He was in the middle of eating his take out chicken lunch but he took the time to indulge two young aficionados. Such a humble, sweet & 'friendly chap'
@pumpkinboigaming6633
How old were you
@bzlanier
79 in a few days, been blessed to see him in 4 generations and never disappointed, in fact the shows seen to get better. Suppose to see him 10/14 in J'ville. A constant the the blues...
@herzausstahl3215
Wish i could see him at least once
@expert5995
Damn. This man gots the blues
@tracypartin7408
Glad I could be a part of this.
@thomassinclair9431
Still. 🤘🏻
@lukas6450
Greetings from Poland ! Buddy Guy!
@chrisdrummond8893
lukas6450 My brother lives in Poland Ohio.