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 Got A Problem
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got a problem
I've got a problem
I got a problem
I got a problem with my woman
And I got a problem with my wife
when you see me standin'
Oh you must be wondering
How could I wreck my life
'cause I got a problem with my woman
And I got a problem with my wife, well
my wife is number one
And my woman is number two
my woman would do things for me
That my wife wouldn't do
Course I dig my wife, but she don't understand
Somtimes it take two y'all
To satisfy a man
now when my problem started
I started messin' with number three
she calls up my wife
And tells on my woman and me
my wife packs up her clothes
And goes home to her mother
and my woman runs off and
Finds another lover
I've got a problem
And it's about to wreck my life
problem with my woman
I got a problem with my wife, yeah
(solo)
Well when my problem started
I started messin' with number 3
she calls up my wife
And tells on my woman and me
my wife packs up her clothes
And goes home to her mother
and my woman runs off and
Finds another lover
I got a problem
And it's about to wreck my life
problem with my woman
I got a problem with my wife, yeah
(solo)
In Buddy Guy's song "I Got a Problem," the lyrics tell the story of a man who has a problem with both his woman and his wife. He laments about his situation, with tears in his eyes, and expresses his frustration with both women. The man's woman is number two, while his wife is number one, and he is torn between the two because the woman would do things for him that his wife wouldn't do. He loves his wife, but she doesn't understand that it takes two people to satisfy a man.
The underlying theme of the song is the complex issue of infidelity and the consequences of cheating. The man's actions have caused his wife to leave him and go home to her mother, while his woman has found another lover. The lyrics suggest that the man's problem is about to wreck his life, and he appears to be regretful for his actions.
The song also speaks to the broader societal issue of gender roles and expectations within relationships. The man's expectations of his wife and woman are different, and he is looking for satisfaction in both areas. However, his actions have led to a conflict that has caused him to lose both women.
Overall, "I Got a Problem" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of infidelity and the consequences that come with cheating. It highlights the importance of communication and honesty in relationships, and the value of mutual respect between partners.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a problem
There is an issue I am facing that troubles me
I've got a problem with my woman
I have an issue in my romantic relationship with a girlfriend
And I got a problem with my wife
I have an issue in my marital relationship with my spouse
when you see me standin' With tears in my eyes Oh you must be wondering How could I wreck my life
Others may judge me for the mistakes I have made and the damage caused in my relationships
my wife is number one And my woman is number two
I have a wife and a girlfriend, and I prioritize my wife over my girlfriend
my woman would do things for me That my wife wouldn't do
There are some aspects where my girlfriend performs better than my wife in our relationship
Course I dig my wife, but she don't understand Somtimes it take two y'all To satisfy a man
Although I love my wife, there are requirements that she cannot fulfill, which require me to have a girlfriend
now when my problem started I started messin' with number three
I got involved with a third woman, which led to more complications
she calls up my wife And tells on my woman and me
The third woman informs my wife about my girlfriend and me, which causes further damage to my relationships
my wife packs up her clothes And goes home to her mother
My wife leaves me and goes to stay with her mother due to my actions
and my woman runs off and Finds another lover
My girlfriend leaves me and gets in a relationship with someone else due to my infidelity
I got a problem And it's about to wreck my life
My problem is causing more harm than good and has the potential to cause severe damage
problem with my woman I got a problem with my wife, yeah
My issues are with both my girlfriend and my wife
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GENE BARGE, JESSE (USA) ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind