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.
Hold That Plane
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please don't let those jet-engines start
Oh, I'm playing this morning
Please, please don't let those jet-engines start
When I hear your engines goin'
You know, it almost drives me out of my mind
Oh, but the last few morings lately
Before I get out of my bed
Oh, but the last few morings lately
Just before I get out of my bed
You know I can hear your engines goin'
And it almost drives me out of my head
Oh, but the last few morings lately
Before, before I get out of my bed
Oh, but the last, but the last, but the last few morings lately
Before, before I get out of my bed
Well, you know I can hear your engines goin'
You know, it almost drives me out of my head
In the song "Hold That Plane," Buddy Guy expresses his desire to stay near his love rather than have her leave on a plane. He begs the plane not to start its engines so that he can spend more time with her. The repetitive nature of the lyrics emphasizes his anxiety and desperation to stay with her. The opening lines of the song serve as his plea to the universe and his love, indicating his priority in the situation. The repetition of "before I get out of my bed" highlights his obsession with the plane's departure and his inability to let go.
The song conveys raw emotions of longing and despair, as Buddy Guy utilizes his unique voice and guitar skills to complement the lyrics. He channels his passion and heartbreak into his music, creating a visceral listening experience for the audience. The song may also be interpreted as a metaphor for the fear of abandonment or the reluctance to let go of a loved one. Overall, Buddy Guy's "Hold That Plane" is a powerful blues ballad that touches on universal themes of love, loss, and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I'm playing this morning
I am performing music early in the morning
Please don't let those jet-engines start
I don't want to hear the loud noise of airplanes starting
Oh, I'm playing this morning
I have a performance or gig scheduled for this morning
Please, please don't let those jet-engines start
I am begging to avoid the noise disturbance caused by aircraft engines
When I hear your engines goin'
The sound of airplanes starting disturbs my concentration
You know, it almost drives me out of my mind
The noise of planes starting is quite unbearable for me
Oh, but the last few mornings lately
Recently, in the past few days
Before I get out of my bed
While I'm still lying in bed
Just before I get out of my bed
Right before I am about to wake up
You know I can hear your engines goin'
I can clearly hear the sound of airplanes starting
And it almost drives me out of my head
The noise of airplane engines is causing me a lot of distress
Well, you know it almost drives me out of my head
The noise caused by airplanes starting is almost too much for me to handle
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BUDDY GUY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind