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.

Cities Need Help
Buddy Guy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We need help in our city, people, we need a lot of help in our town
We need a lot of help in our city, you know, we need a lot of help in our town
'Cause a lot of lil' innocent children, Lord knows, they're being gunned down

We need help in our schools, we need a lot of help in our home
We need a lot of help in our schools, we need a lot of help in our home
'Cause, Lord knows, somewhere, somehow, oh, somethings going all wrong
(spoken: Look a-here)

They tried to tear down the high-rise and the laws say that was wrong
(spoken: Look a-here)
Oh, they tried to tear down the high-rise and the laws say that was wrong
They say, "Long as they're killing one another, you just leave'em alone)

We need help in our city, we need a lot of help, people, here in our town
Oh, we need help in our city, and, uh, we need a lot of help, people, in our town

Just bring along that big ball and tear the whole goddamn thing down
(spoken: Look a-here)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Buddy Guy's "Cities Need Help" talk about the dire state of American cities and the urgent need for help to address the crime, violence, and social problems that have plagued them. The first verse highlights the issue of gun violence that is killing innocent children. The chorus emphasizes the need for help in the city, schools, and home.

The second verse refers to an attempt to demolish a high-rise building, which was prevented by the law. However, the song suggests that this law is misguided, as it leaves the people in the high-rise to continue killing each other. The final verse repeats the plea for help and takes an extreme perspective of tearing down the entire city to start afresh.

Overall, the song's the lyrics are a powerful commentary on the social injustice and violence that continue to haunt American cities. It calls for urgent sensitization, interventions and solutions in different sectors to get the cities back on track and provide a better life for the people living in them.

Line by Line Meaning

We need help in our city, people, we need a lot of help in our town
Our community needs assistance and support from those around us to address the issues we're facing

We need a lot of help in our city, you know, we need a lot of help in our town
Our town requires significant aid to combat the many challenges it faces

'Cause a lot of lil' innocent children, Lord knows, they're being gunned down
Many innocent children are becoming victims of violent crimes and need protection

We need help in our schools, we need a lot of help in our home
We require assistance to improve the quality of our education and homes

We need a lot of help in our schools, we need a lot of help in our home
Our schools and homes are in need of significant resources and support

'Cause, Lord knows, somewhere, somehow, oh, somethings going all wrong (spoken: Look a-here)
Something is seriously wrong and we desperately need to address it

They tried to tear down the high-rise and the laws say that was wrong (spoken: Look a-here)
Efforts to address some of our issues are being restricted by laws and policies

Oh, they tried to tear down the high-rise and the laws say that was wrong
Attempts to remove problem areas are being prevented by legal roadblocks

They say, "Long as they're killing one another, you just leave'em alone)
Some people are willing to ignore the violence and problems in our community

We need help in our city, we need a lot of help, people, here in our town
Our community desperately needs support and collaboration to address the issues we face

Oh, we need help in our city, and, uh, we need a lot of help, people, in our town
Our town requires significant aid from the wider community to improve the quality of life for its residents

Just bring along that big ball and tear the whole goddamn thing down (spoken: Look a-here)
Our issues are so severe that drastic action may be warranted to completely start anew and rebuild

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BUDDY GUY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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