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.
Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They chased a boy right through the park
And in a case of mistaken identity
The put a bullet through his heart
Heart breakers with your forty four
I want to tear your world apart
You heart breaker with your forty four
I want to tear your world a part
Sticking needles in her arm
She died in the dirt of an alleyway
Her mother said she had no chance, no chance!
Heart breaker, heart breaker
She stuck the pins right in her heart
Heart breaker, pain maker
Stole the love right out of you heart
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Want to tear your world apart
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Want to tear your world apart
Heart breaker, heart breaker
You stole the love right out of my heart
Heart breaker, heart breaker
I want to tear that world
I want to tear that world
I want to tear that world apart
Heart breaker, heart breaker
Stone love, stone love
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Heartbreaker, heartbreaker
Want to tear that world apart
Doo, doo doo doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
The lyrics of Buddy Guy's song "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo" speak to the systemic injustices and tragedies that plague society. The first verse describes how the police mistakenly shoot a boy in the park, highlighting the issue of police brutality, particularly towards people of color. The next verse focuses on a ten-year-old girl, who is addicted to heroin and dies in an alleyway. The lyrics display the hopelessness and despair that comes with poverty and addiction, which are often prevalent in inner city neighborhoods. The choruses repeat the phrase "Heart breaker, heart breaker," emphasizing the pain and suffering caused by these issues.
The song's title, "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo," doesn't appear in the lyrics, but it is a reference to the song's melody, which consists of repeating the word "doo" seven times, followed by a single, elongated "doo." The song is a rock tune with a bluesy feel and was originally released by The Rolling Stones in 1973. Buddy Guy's cover of the song emphasizes the societal issues present in the lyrics, giving them a grittier, more emotional tone.
Line by Line Meaning
The police in New York City
The law enforcement officials of New York City
They chased a boy right through the park
They pursued a young male individual in a park area
And in a case of mistaken identity
Due to a misunderstanding in recognition
The put a bullet through his heart
A gunshot was inflicted on his cardiac organ
Heart breakers with your forty four
Individuals that cause emotional anguish with their firearm ammunition
I want to tear your world apart
I wish to destruct your existence
You heart breaker with your forty four
You person who cause emotional distress with your firearm ammunition
A ten year old girl on a street corner
A female child of ten years standing on a corner of a road
Sticking needles in her arm
Inserting sharp medical instruments within her arms
She died in the dirt of an alleyway
She expired in the soil of an alley space
Her mother said she had no chance, no chance!
Her maternal figure claimed she had no probability of welfare, no chance!
Heart breaker, heart breaker
Individuals that cause emotional anguish
She stuck the pins right in her heart
She inserted the sharp objects directly in her cardiac organ
Heart breaker, pain maker
People that cause emotional agony and discomfort
Stole the love right out of you heart
Extracted affection directly from your cardiac organ
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Expression of agreement or pleasure
Want to tear your world apart
Desire to destruct your existence
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Expression of agreement or pleasure
Want to tear your world apart
Desire to destruct your existence
Heart breaker, heart breaker
Individuals that cause emotional anguish
You stole the love right out of my heart
You removed love directly from my cardiac organ
Heart breaker, heart breaker
Individuals that cause emotional anguish
I want to tear that world
I desire to destruct that existence
I want to tear that world apart
I desire to completely destruct that existence
Heart breaker, heart breaker
Individuals that cause emotional anguish
Stone love, stone love
Unemotional love
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Expression of agreement or pleasure
Heartbreaker, heartbreaker
Individuals that cause emotional anguish
Want to tear that world apart
Desire to destruct that existence
Doo, doo doo doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
Repetitive onomatopoeic syllables
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KEITH RICHARDS, MICK JAGGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind