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.
First Time I Met the Blues
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People, you know I was walkin'
I was walkin' down through the woods
Yes, the first time
The first time I met you blue
Blues you know I was walkin'
I was walkin' down through the woods
Yes, I've watched my house burnin' blues
You done me all the harm that you could
The blues got after me
People, you know they ran me from tree to tree
Yeah, the blues got after me
Blues, you know you ran me
You ran me from tree to tree
Yes, you should-a heard me beg ya, blues
Ah, blues, don't murder me
Yes, good mornin', blues
Blues, I wonder
I wonder what you're doin' here so soon
Yes, good mornin'
Good mornin', good mornin' Mister Blues
Blues, I wonder
I keep wonderin' what you're doin' here so soon
Yes, you know you'll be with me every mornin', blues
Every night and every noon
Woah, yeah
Buddy Guy's "First Time I Met The Blues" is a testament to the powerful grip of the blues on an individual's life. The song's opening line sets the tone, "The first time I met the blues, people, you know I was walking, I was walking down through the woods." The listener is taken on a journey through the singer's experience of the blues. He feels the weight of the blues on his life, and it seems to have followed him everywhere he goes, from tree to tree. The singer's voice captures the deep hurt that comes with the blues, "Yes, you should-a heard me beg ya, blues, Ah, blues, don't murder me."
The chorus is a call and response, "Good morning, blues, blues, I wonder what you're doing here so soon, yes, good morning, good morning, Mr. Blues." It is almost as if the blues is a person that has a physical presence in the singer's life. He wakes up to it, living with it day and night.
The song is an invitation to listen to the sound of the blues, and through that, hear the story of the artist's pain. The blues are an emotional expression of the human experience, and it has the power to connect people through shared feelings of loss and grief.
Line by Line Meaning
The first time I met the blues
I recall the very first encounter I had with the feeling of sadness and regret that blues music represents.
People, you know I was walkin'
I was walking alone, contemplating my thoughts and feelings.
I was walkin' down through the woods
I was wandering through the woods, searching for solitude and peace.
Yes, the first time
That very first moment when I encountered the blues has been etched in my memory forever.
The first time I met you blue
I remember the moment I first felt overwhelmed by the blues, as if it were a person in its own right.
Blues you know I was walkin'
I was walking through life, unaware of what the future held - including my first encounter with the blues.
I was walkin' down through the woods
I was travelling through life, through a forest of emotions and experiences.
Yes, I've watched my house burnin' blues
I have felt the pain of losing what I once held dear, and the blues was there to share that pain with me.
Blues, you know you done me
The blues has affected me deeply, leaving an indelible mark on my soul.
You done me all the harm that you could
The blues has caused me immense pain and suffering, pushing me to my limits.
The blues got after me
The blues began to haunt me, following me wherever I went.
People, you know they ran me from tree to tree
The blues chased me relentlessly, forcing me to run from one place to another.
Yeah, the blues got after me
The blues caught up with me, as if it were a predator stalking its prey.
Blues, you know you ran me
The blues pursued me, causing me to flee in terror.
You ran me from tree to tree
The blues chased me through the forest, warning me of the dangers that lay ahead.
Yes, you should-a heard me beg ya, blues
I pleaded with the blues to spare me, but it was in vain.
Ah, blues, don't murder me
I implored the blues not to destroy me completely with its overwhelming sorrow and grief.
Yes, good mornin', blues
I greet the blues with resignation, knowing that it will always be a part of my life.
Blues, I wonder
I am curious about the blues, wondering about its origins and its purpose in my life.
I wonder what you're doin' here so soon
I am surprised by the speed with which the blues has reappeared in my life after my first encounter with it.
Good mornin', good mornin' Mister Blues
I acknowledge the blues as a constant companion, greeting it with respect and familiarity.
I wonder
I am filled with uncertainty and confusion about the role that the blues plays in my life.
I keep wonderin' what you're doin' here so soon
I am constantly questioning the reasons why the blues keeps returning to me, despite my efforts to avoid it.
Yes, you know you'll be with me every mornin', blues
I acknowledge that the blues is an ever-present part of my life, greeting me every morning without fail.
Every night and every noon
The blues is with me throughout the day, never leaving my side.
Woah, yeah
I express my pain and frustration with the blues, knowing that it will continue to torment me in the future.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Eurreal Montgomery
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gaudrey692
The first time I met the blues
People, you know I was walkin'
I was walkin' down through the woods
Yes, the first time, the first time I met the blues
Blues, you know I was walkin'
I was walkin' down through the woods
Yes, I've watched my house burnin' blues
Blues, you know you done me
You done me all the harm that you could
The blues got after me
People, you know they ran me from tree to tree
Yes, the blues got after me
Blues, you know you ran me, ran me from tree to tree
Yes, you shoulda heard me beg ya, blues
Ah, blues, don't murder me
Yes, good mornin', blues
Blues, I wonder, I wonder what you're doin' here so soon
Yes, good mornin', good mornin'
Good mornin', mister blues
Blues, I wonder, I keep wonderin'
What you're doin' here so soon
Yes, you know you'll be with me every mornin', blues
Every night and every noon
Oh, yeah
@johnhebert3986
Buddy, at his best here, IMO. That wide ranging voice, and stinging guitar. It has been noted, already in the comments here, but just to reiterate, I think this is the single best live blues performance, ever recorded, or filmed. IMO.
@timothybrown2054
Oh man, thats a bold statement of course, but damn I dont disagree ! This is Buddy at his best. Maybe the most furious guitar player I can think of. Combined with his vocal style - I mean its all emotion - reminds me of Little Milton in that way. Just dripping. Speaking of Milton and deep blues - check out walkin the backstreets and cryin. If you do, let me know what you think ... Thanks
@johnhebert3986
@Timothy Brown Thanks, I will.
@knifelyfe6565
@Timothy Brown In the 80s, I was in a little after hours joint in Jackson Ms called "The Subway".It was at Christmas time.At about 4am, Little Milton's bus pulled in and he got up and set in with the band.We got out of there at daylight.I like the live version of "Walking the Backstreets and Crying".That night was quite a gift to a couple of guys from Big D.I have also seen Jewell Bass from Malaco in several venues in Jackson."Fingers" Taylor (Jimmy Buffet's harp player) lives in Jackson.He was always our great tour guide.
@TonyThompson
Is this the only recording of this performance? Also, is this recording on an album or does it only exist on YouTube? This song rips my heart out, it’s my absolute fav blues recording. But it would be great if it was on a record or somewhere else?
@sirjanska9575
Nonsense, Buddy was already ahead of his time sure but he got way, way better later on.
@CowboyUp1371
Buddy Guy is one of my all time favorite guitarist and he’s so underrated.
@kylewest3325
Been one of my favorite videos for the longest time. Amazing
@swavekbu4959
This kind of blues isn't played by choice. It's played by necessity. Blues music originated as a way to cope with suffering and pain, like John Lee Hooker sings, "blues is a healer."
@babkeebabkus8177
absolutely correct...soul driven expression....suffering coming out in a type of ecstasy on guitar...almost like the expression is a triumph over the suffering that inspired it