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.

Have You Ever Been Lonesome
Buddy Guy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Have you ever been lonesome
I think you know what I'm talkin' about
I said have you ever been lonesome
Ohhh I think you know what I'm talkin' about
You know I like to be in a dark room
And no one there to let me out
I remember way back
You know when I was about the age of nine

Oh, I said I remember ohh,ohh, way, way, way back
I think about the age of nine
You know I think about some of the good times I was havin' in those days
People and you know it sure to do worry my mind

You know I hate to remember
All those times have slipped by and gone
Ohh, I said I hate, Lord, I hate to remember
Listen, all those times have slipped by and they're gone
You know I get that feeling every now and then
I think I might get my rags and I think I move, move on back home

I still remember that little girl
We used to run around and play with no shoes on our feet
Oh, I said, I still remember that little girl
We used to walk around and play with no shoes on our feet

All those memories go through my mind
And I tell the world that worries me

Overall Meaning

Buddy Guy's "Have You Ever Been Lonesome" is an emotional blues song that speaks to anyone who has gone through the pains of loneliness. The song is a conversation with the audience, asking if they have ever felt lonely in their lives. The song begins with Guy asking a question and responding to it, stating that if the listener has ever been lonely, then they know exactly what he is talking about. Guy mentions that he enjoys being in a dark room with no one around, which is a unique take on loneliness, as many people speak of the fear of being in the dark.

The song then takes a reflective turn as Guy reminisces about his childhood around the age of nine. He remembers all the good times he had back then, but it worries his mind. The lyrics suggest that he cannot help but think of the past and how it has slipped away, which is a source of sadness for him. Guy shares that he hates to remember the past because it is gone and that he gets the feeling every now and then to move back home. The memories flood his mind, and he tells the world that worries him.

In conclusion, Buddy Guy's "Have You Ever Been Lonesome" is a powerful song that reveals the pain of loneliness and the ache of memories. It is a song that speaks to anyone who has ever felt alone and knows what it feels like to miss a time gone by.

Line by Line Meaning

Have you ever been lonesome
Do you know the feeling of being lonely?

I think you know what I'm talkin' about
I believe you understand how it feels.

Ohhh I think you know what I'm talkin' about
Oh, I'm sure you know what I mean.

You know I like to be in a dark room
I prefer to be in a dark room.

And no one there to let me out
Without anyone to release me.

I remember way back
I still have memories of the past.

You know when I was about the age of nine
I recall being nine years old.

Oh, I said I remember ohh,ohh, way, way, way back
I distinctly remember a time long ago.

I think about some of the good times I was havin' in those days
I reminisce about the good times I had then.

People and you know it sure to do worry my mind
Thinking about people from that time troubles me.

You know I hate to remember
I dislike recalling those times.