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 Smell a Rat
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aw, I smell a rat, I smell a rat in my house, honey, I think you walkin' 'round too late
You know I need a rat in my house like this now, just like I need a hole in my head
You cry baby you afraid at night, you said you can't stay home all alone
Oh you said you afraid, afraid to stay home at night, you said you didn't want to be home alone
Oh, but I keep smelling that rat every time I get back, and all, and all you do is gonna make me moan
You got my backdoor wide open, and you tell me you're supposed to be afraid
You know the last time I slept with it opened, you know was so cold I almost lost my head
Sometime I think you're foolin' me baby, and I do believe it's just drivin' me around
Sometime I think you're foolin' me baby, honey I think you're just drivin' me around
Why don't you leave me alone woman, you know I think there's another woman I can go,
I can be found
I think that you have it to explain, honey I'm not that hard to understand
Did you ever try to sit down and explain, I am not that hard to understand
You will be sleeping with the backdoor open, baby or with another man
You're so good, I don't believe I want to leave you alone
Oh you're so sweet to me, I don't believe, I can leave you alone
Stayin', and peepin' like you got a woman, and try to make me, all happy
The lyrics to "I Smell A Rat" by Buddy Guy talks about the suspicion of infidelity in a relationship. Buddy Guy expresses his concerns that he might have another man in his house causing his partner to leave the backdoor open at night. He is unable to shake the feeling of betrayal, and every time he returns home, he smells a rat. Buddy Guy is conflicted, and at times he feels like his partner is playing games with him, but he is still in love with her.
The verse "You know I need a rat in my house like this now, just like I need a hole in my head" denotes that Buddy Guy has no interest in having any unfaithful partner around him. He feels betrayed after putting his trust in his partner, who turns around and cheats on him, causing him to suffer. He expresses his disappointment that his partner does not value his trust and keeps the door open, leaving him feeling vulnerable.
The lyrics are told from the perspective of a man who is deeply conflicted and hurt by the suspicion of infidelity in his relationship. Buddy Guy's lyrics paint a clear picture of the distrust and mistrust that he feels, and his inability to walk away from a partner whom he suspects is cheating on him.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I smell a rat in my house, baby, I believe you got just too late
I suspect that there is something fishy going on in my home and it seems that you are arriving home very late
Aw, I smell a rat, I smell a rat in my house, honey, I think you walkin' 'round too late
Something seems suspicious in my home and I think you are wandering around at an unusual hour
You know I need a rat in my house like this now, just like I need a hole in my head
I don't need any more drama in my life, the last thing I need is a problem in my home
You cry baby you afraid at night, you said you can't stay home all alone
You complain about being scared at night and admit that you can't stay home alone
Oh you said you afraid, afraid to stay home at night, you said you didn't want to be home alone
You expressed your fear towards staying home alone and not wanting to be by yourself at night
Oh, but I keep smelling that rat every time I get back, and all, and all you do is gonna make me moan
I keep sensing something is off whenever I come home and your behavior is just going to aggravate me further
You got my backdoor wide open, baby you say you're supposed to be afraid
You left the backdoor to our home wide open, despite claiming that you are scared
You know the last time I slept with it opened, you know was so cold I almost lost my head
The last time I slept with the backdoor open, it was freezing and I nearly got sick
Sometime I think you're foolin' me baby, and I do believe it's just drivin' me around
Sometimes I think you are deceiving me and this thought is causing me frustration
Sometime I think you're foolin' me baby, honey I think you're just drivin' me around
I believe that you are leading me on and this is playing with my emotions
Why don't you leave me alone woman, you know I think there's another woman I can go, I can be found
Why don't you just give me some space? I think I could easily find a different woman to be with
Did you ever try to sit down and explain, I am not that hard to understand
Have you ever made an effort to talk to me and explain yourself? I'm not that difficult to comprehend
You will be sleeping with the backdoor open, baby or with another man
If you continue your behavior, you'll end up sleeping with the backdoor open or with a different man
Oh you're so sweet to me, I don't believe, I can leave you alone
You are so kind to me that I find it difficult to distance myself from you
Stayin', and peepin' like you got a woman, and try to make me, all happy
You're staying and snooping around like you're investigating a woman, while trying to keep me happy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Exceleration Music Partners, LLC
Written by: SONNY THOMPSON, SARAH LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@billywalker7273
The most under rated blues player, in the history of the blues. All the modern day players would challenge buddy, and he would send them home humbled. Keep in mind, he was 66 years old, 20 years ago.
@buddyguy2669
Wow Buddy! What a classic. One of the most underrated guitarist. I always love coming back to these songs.
@hankgutter8669
this is the opening song to the first Buddy album i heard.when i bought it..Stone Crazy.. i have bought lots more..been listening to Sweet Tea lately..love it after a good smoke..Rhythm And Blues is fuckin Buddy classic too
@americanina5548
I just stumbled upon this tonight. Damn!! This is the best blues guitar playing I've ever heard in my life!!!
@frankmicalef6156
I got to play buddy's guitar around 1990 at the El Macombo in Toronto. Man I'll never forget that night. I was hittin the strings with a drum stick and he was playing the cords.
@alvingeter3036
The way he lets lose on these solos within solos and fills is wild raw emotion, vintage buddy guy!
@michaelbrowning8937
Thank the guitar gods that Buddy has remained with us for all these years. I just hope he understands and realizes how much he means to music lovers for all these years. Go Buddy Go!
@joelfortenberry7865
So much emotion in his voice- sad and pleading; so much pain and anger at his fingertips. Absolutely perfect. The drums and bass are 110%, but somewhat overwhelmed by the guitar attacks. Best ever
@MrJimmyoc00
one of the best blues records ever recorded!! great band..live in the studiio,phil guy,ray(killer) allison...doesn't get much better
@timharris4197
Buddy Guy is a madman on the guitar