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.
Dedication to the Late T-Bone Walker
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got a cold, cold feeling, seems like ice all around my heart
You know I'm gonna hurt somebody, every time that feelin' starts
I woke up early this morning, and I heard blue Monday call
I woke up early this morning, and I heard blue Monday call
You know I don't feel like it this morning boss, you know I don't feel like a thing at all
Oh, I could hear blue Monday callin', oh, but I'm so tired, I don't want you to call my name
Oh, I could hear blue Monday, oh, I could hear you call my name
You know I don't feel like it this morning big man, oh, you know it's a sin, oh, ain't it a shame
Buddy Guy's Dedication to the Late T-Bone Walker is a song that speaks to the feelings of heartbreak and despair that suffocate one's soul. The song starts with "I got a cold, cold feeling, seems like ice all around my heart." These lyrics paint a picture of a person who is feeling the worst kind of heartbreak, where their heart is frozen solid, and no amount of warmth can thaw it out. It feels like they are trapped in a frozen tundra, unable to escape or find comfort in anything. The following line, "You know I'm gonna hurt somebody, every time that feeling starts," adds a level of fear to the emotions being expressed. The pain is so overwhelming that it's as if an internal rage is bubbling beneath the surface, ready to lash out and hurt others.
As the song progresses, we hear about the singer's exhaustion, an unshakeable haze that saps all their energy, and turns them into a non-functioning zombie. "Oh, I could hear blue Monday, oh, I could hear you call my name, you know I don't feel like it this morning big man, oh, you know it's a sin, oh, ain't it a shame." This line speaks to the idea that no matter how much we may want to escape our pain, it's always present. Even when we try to hide, the pain of grief or heartbreak locates us and hovers around us, pushing us down into a corner until we are forced to acknowledge it once again.
Overall, Buddy Guy's Dedication to the Late T-Bone Walker is a beautiful tribute to the late blues legend, but also a deeply personal expression of pain that speaks to us all. It's a song that enthralls the listener with the beautiful expressiveness of lyrics while also taking them on a soulful ride through heartbreak and pain that touches a raw emotional cord.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a cold, cold feeling, seems like ice all around my heart
I'm feeling extremely sad and miserable, as if my heart is frozen and I can't feel anything.
You know I'm gonna hurt somebody, every time that feelin' starts
Whenever I get this feeling, I know it's going to lead me to do something harmful to someone else.
I woke up early this morning, and I heard blue Monday call
I woke up feeling down and depressed, and I knew it was going to be a miserable day.
You know I don't feel like it this morning boss, you know I don't feel like a thing at all
I don't have any motivation or energy today, and I don't feel like doing anything at all, sir.
Oh, I could hear blue Monday callin', oh, but I'm so tired, I don't want you to call my name
I'm aware that it's Monday and everything seems bleak, but I'm too exhausted to even acknowledge it.
You know I don't feel like it this morning big man, oh, you know it's a sin, oh, ain't it a shame
I really don't feel like dealing with anything today, and it feels wrong and regrettable that I can't be more productive.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BUDDY GUY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind