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.
I Could Cry
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Woman I could just lay down and die
Oh, sometimes I could cry
Woman I could just lay down and die
Well if you listen to the story now
My pal Buddy will tell you the reason why
My baby needs and she love me
Whoa, my baby needs and she love me
In the evenin' when I come home, oh yes
But seems like everything I do
Everything I do is wrong
I used to have plenty money
The finest clothes in town
Nothin' ever got in my way until
You come to get me down
I'm say'n mercy, mercy, mercy baby
Ooh have mercy on me, oh yes
I'll always love you darlin'
No matter what you do
Now listen closely baby
I'll try to change my ways
Don't go kickin' up trumped up troubles
Worry all my days
Mercy mercy mercy baby
Good God mercy be all around
Yes you know I'll be right there
When the grave digger laid her down
In the song "I Could Cry" by Buddy Guy, the lyrics speak of a man who is feeling defeated and overwhelmed. He shares how his baby needs and loves him, but he can't seem to do anything right. He talks about how he used to have everything, but his woman's love brought him down. He pleads for mercy and vows to change, but worries that she will leave him in the end. The repetition of the lyric "Oh, sometimes I could cry" creates a sense of despair and hopelessness.
The verses of the song recount the man's struggle to keep his woman happy. He laments that everything he does is wrong, despite her love for him. He talks about how his life used to be before she came along, emphasizing the contrast between his former wealth and his current troubles. The lines "I'm sayin' mercy, mercy, mercy baby / Ooh have mercy on me, oh yes" convey the man's desperation for his woman's forgiveness and understanding.
The song ends on a somber note, with the man promising to change his ways but still worrying that it won't be enough. The final lines "Yes you know I'll be right there / When the grave digger laid her down" suggest that the man's love for his woman will endure even after death.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Could Cry" paint a picture of a man grappling with his own shortcomings and the challenges of keeping a relationship afloat. The repetition of certain phrases and the melancholy tone of the song create a sense of resignation and sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, sometimes I could cry
The singer sometimes feels very emotional and overwhelmed
Woman I could just lay down and die
The singer feels so emotional that they would be willing to die
Well if you listen to the story now
The singer is about to provide some context or explanation for their emotional state
My baby needs and she love me
The artist's partner needs and loves them
In the evenin' when I come home
This love and need is especially evident when the artist returns home at night
But seems like everything I do
Despite this love and need, the singer feels like they can't do anything right
Everything I do is wrong
The singer feels constantly criticized and defeated
I used to have plenty money
The artist used to be financially secure
The finest clothes in town
The artist used to have access to fashionable clothing
Nothin' ever got in my way until
The artist was successful and had few obstacles until a certain point
You come to get me down
The singer's partner or romantic relationship brought them back down to Earth
I'm say'n mercy, mercy, mercy baby
The artist is pleading for mercy or pardon from their partner
Ooh have mercy on me, oh yes
The singer is imploring their partner to have compassion
I'll always love you darlin'
Despite everything, the singer will always love their partner
No matter what you do
The singer's love is unconditional
Now listen closely baby
The artist is addressing their partner directly and with importance
I'll try to change my ways
The artist is willing to work on personal growth and improvement
Don't go kickin' up trumped up troubles
The singer is asking their partner not to create false issues
Worry all my days
The singer's partner is causing them a lot of stress and anxiety
Mercy mercy mercy baby
The artist is once again asking for mercy or pardon
Good God mercy be all around
The artist is calling on God for mercy
Yes you know I'll be right there
The artist is assuring their partner that they will be there for them
When the grave digger laid her down
The singer intends to stay with their partner even after death
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
PurPleSuN
Love this era of Buddy Guy.
Kaykatniss G
I could cry just listening to Buddy Guy! ♥
Dennis Avery
Doesn't get any better than buddy.
Fernando Eid Pires
THAT's a blues man!
grosper
Great!
Blues Rain
John Mayall & Buddy Guy " I could Cry " !!
mikarvey
This is John Mayall.
Juzi Brown
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