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.

Had A Bad Night
Buddy Guy Lyrics

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Oh, I had a bad night last night
People you know things just didn't go right
I had a bad, bad, bad night last night
People you know things just didn't go right

You know I lost all my money on the boat
And I'm standing here to tell you all I'm down so broke

I got a call from my baby this morning
Said Buddy you know you just gotta pay
I got a call from my baby this morning, yeah
It said Buddy you just gotta pay
I shook my head and said
People you know this just ain't my day

Oh I went in to a friend of mine
And he was broke, busted and disgusting
Yes, I went to a friend of mine
And he was broke, busted and disgusted
And all he did was shook his had and walked away
And said Buddy Guy, this just ain't my day

That makes two of us

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Buddy Guy's "Had A Bad Night" describe a series of unfortunate events that occurred to the singer in a short period of time. The repetition of "bad" emphasizes the severity of the experience, while the communal "people you know" phrasing suggests that the situation is relatable to others. The singer's first problem is that they lost all their money gambling on a boat, which has left them broke. This financial strain is compounded by a call from their partner demanding payment, adding to the singer's stress. When seeking comfort and support from a friend, they find that their friend is also down on their luck, and therefore cannot alleviate the singer's problems. The exchange ends on a sour note, with both parties unable to offer anything beyond a shared sense of disappointment.

While the song's lyrics imply the singer's bad luck is limited to a single night, the repetition of "bad" also connotes more ongoing struggles - this one night is just the straw that broke the camel's back. However, the song retains a resilient spirit. Despite the difficulties, the singer continues to confront each new issue and keep moving forward. While the experience of losing money and facing financial strain is universal, the song manages to make the audience feel included in the singer's community, as if we can all commiserate as we navigate similar difficulties.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, I had a bad night last night
Last night was not a good night for me

People you know things just didn't go right
Things did not go as planned

I had a bad, bad, bad night last night
It was a very bad night

You know I lost all my money on the boat
I lost all my money while gambling

And I'm standing here to tell you all I'm down so broke
I am currently broke and have no money

I got a call from my baby this morning
My significant other called me earlier today

Said Buddy you know you just gotta pay
My significant other told me I need to pay for something

I got a call from my baby this morning, yeah
I received a call from my significant other earlier today

It said Buddy you just gotta pay
My significant other informed me that I need to pay for something

I shook my head and said
I expressed disbelief or disappointment

People you know this just ain't my day
This day is not going well for me