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.
Just Playing My Axe
Buddy Guy Lyrics
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I just wanna play my axe
Let me, let me, let me, play my
Let me play my axe one time
Alright [Incomprehensible]
Let me play my axe again
The lyrics to Buddy Guy's song "Just Playing My Axe" are a simple reflection of the artist's true passion - playing his guitar. With just a few repeated lines in the chorus, Guy captures the essence of the song by pleading for the opportunity to play his instrument. The repetition of the lines "I just wanna play my axe" and "Let me play my axe one time" reinforce his desire to express himself through his music. The use of "axe" as a term for guitar adds a layer of colloquialism and slang to the song, emphasizing the root of the song's message - a musician's love of their instrument.
As the song continues, the instrumentation is dominated by Guy's signature bluesy guitar riffs, accompanied by a simple drum beat and bass line. The lyrics progress in a stream of consciousness style, with Guy seemingly lost in the moment as he jams on his guitar without a care in the world. The lines "Alright [Incomprehensible], let me play my axe again" speak to the joy and relaxation he finds in his music, and one can almost feel the contentment in his voice.
Overall, "Just Playing My Axe" is a love letter to Buddy Guy's guitar, and his passion for making music. Through the repetition of simple lyrics and masterful guitar playing, Guy's message rings true - sometimes, all a musician wants is to be left alone with their instrument, to let the music speak for itself.
Line by Line Meaning
I just wanna play my
I simply desire to play my guitar
I just wanna play my axe
I only want to play my guitar
Let me, let me, let me, play my
Allow me, permit me, grant me permission to play my guitar
Let me play my axe one time
Please let me play my guitar just one more time
Alright [Incomprehensible]
Okay, let's go
Let me play my axe again
I would like to play my guitar one more time
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BUDDY GUY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind