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 Love the Life I Live
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I dont mind th way you talk
But if you touch me somethin's got to give
I live the life I love and I Love The Life I Live.
So if you see me and you think Im wrong
Dont worry bout me just leave me alone
Sweet life and nothin' but a thrill
My diamond ring and my money too
Tomarrow night I could be all for you
The girl moves me at the will
I live the life I love and I Love The Life I Live.
I may spend a thousand on a hap less time
One minute later I may not have a dime
Tomarrow night I could be on the hill
I just want you to know baby the way I feel.
I see her walkin as I pass you by
Dont talk about me cause I could be high
Just forgive me if you will
I live the life I love and I Love The Life I Live.
Buddy Guyβs 'I Love the Life I Live' is a song about living life to the fullest without any regrets. The opening line, "Sheβs watchin' me like a hawk" suggests that the singer is living on the edge, but he does not mind how people view him. He is happy with his life and the choices he makes.
The second line, "I donβt mind the way you talk, but if you touch me, something's got to give," suggests that while the singer is happy with his life, he is also setting boundaries for himself. He may be living recklessly, but he does not want to be taken advantage of.
The third and fourth lines of the verse, "I live the life I love and I love the life I live," captures the essence of the song. The singer is unapologetic about the way he chooses to live his life. His material possessions, his love for a girl, and his financial status do not matter to him as long as he is living the life he loves.
The second verse of the song continues the theme of living life to the fullest. The line "my diamond ring and my money too, tomorrow night I could be all for you" shows the fickle nature of the singer's life. He could have everything today, and tomorrow, it could all be gone.
Overall, 'I Love the Life I Live' is a reminder that life is short, and we should do what makes us happy and fulfilled, without any regrets.
Line by Line Meaning
Shes watchin' me like a hawk
Someone is closely monitoring my actions and behavior.
I dont mind th way you talk
I am not bothered by the things you say.
But if you touch me somethin's got to give
If you cross a certain boundary with me, there will be consequences.
I live the life I love and I Love The Life I Live.
I am content with my current choices and way of living.
So if you see me and you think Im wrong
If you perceive me to be making incorrect decisions or actions,
Dont worry bout me just leave me alone
do not concern yourself with me and just let me be.
Sweet life and nothin' but a thrill
My life is exciting and full of positive experiences.
I may spend a thousand on a hap less time
I am willing to spend money on enjoyable experiences, even if they are short-lived.
One minute later I may not have a dime
My financial situation can change quickly and unexpectedly.
Tomarrow night I could be on the hill
I may experience a downturn in luck or fortune in the near future.
My diamond ring and my money too
I have material possessions of value such as jewelry and currency.
Tomarrow night I could be all for you
I may have romantic interest in you tomorrow evening.
The girl moves me at the will
I am strongly affected by the actions and behavior of the woman in question.
I just want you to know baby the way I feel.
I want you to understand my perspective and how I feel about my life.
I see her walkin as I pass you by
As I walk by you, I notice her in the distance.
Dont talk about me cause I could be high
Do not speak about me negatively, since I may be feeling euphoric.
Just forgive me if you will
Please pardon me for any potential missteps or mistakes.
I live the life I love and I Love The Life I Live.
Once again, I am content and happy with my current existence.
Contributed by Lucas B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.