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.
It's A Jungle Out There
Buddy Guy Lyrics
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I was going to pay my bills
Everybody was passing me so fast
Darling, thought I was standing still
I say it's a jungle out there
Ohhh, it's a jungle out there
Everybody's in a hurry
And there ain't nobody going nowhere, no.
A little child on the playground
If you turn your back
That little child will be gunned down
I say it's a jungle out there
Ohhh, it's a jungle out there
Everybody's in a hurry
And there ain't nobody going nowhere
I took out some insurance
On me, myself and I
I got hit by someone
That was too damn drunk to drive
I say it's a jungle out there
Ohhh, it's a jungle out there
Everybody's in a hurry
And there ain't nobody going nowhere
The opening lines of the song "It's A Jungle Out There" by Buddy Guy, sets the stage for the theme of the song - the unpredictability of life. The singer is driving down the expressway, trying to pay his bills, and realizes that everyone is passing him by, creating a sense of urgency and competition in life. This is where Buddy Guy introduces the metaphor of the world as a jungle, a wild and dangerous place where everyone is fighting to survive. The song highlights how life has become like a jungle where people are in a hurry, yet going nowhere.
The song then moves on to the harsh reality of violence. Buddy Guy paints an image of a little child playing at the playground, vulnerable to the harshness of the world. The image suggests that even children are not free from the harsh effects of the jungle. They are at risk of being hurt, violated, and even killed. The metaphor resonates with the societal issues of our time that have led to disturbing cases of violence, particularly gun-related violence.
In the final verse, the singer reflects on his personal experience of being a victim of a car accident caused by a drunk driver. Despite taking insurance to protect himself, he was still vulnerable to the dangers of the world. In conclusion, the song reminds us that life is unpredictable, wild, and unrelenting. It highlights the value of being conscious of one's surroundings, making informed decisions, and adopting measures to protect oneself in the environment that has become so dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
I was driving down the expressway
I was traveling on the expressway
I was going to pay my bills
I was on my way to pay my bills
Everybody was passing me so fast
All the other vehicles were overtaking me at a high speed
Darling, thought I was standing still
My speed was so slow that it seemed as though I was standing still
I say it's a jungle out there
I'm of the opinion that life is tough out there
Ohhh, it's a jungle out there
Life is really tough out there
Everybody's in a hurry
Everyone is in a rush to get somewhere
And there ain't nobody going nowhere, no.
Despite the rush, no one seems to be making any progress
Can you just imagine
Imagine just for a moment
A little child on the playground
A small kid playing on the playground
If you turn your back
If you take your eyes off them
That little child will be gunned down
Someone might harm or kill the child
I took out some insurance
I bought some insurance
On me, myself and I
To protect myself
I got hit by someone
I was involved in an accident with someone
That was too damn drunk to drive
That person was intoxicated and unfit to drive
Writer(s): GEORGE GUY, Buddy Guy
Contributed by Riley K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.