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.
Key Don't Fit
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I come to your door
No, I said, my key won't fit your lock
When I try to put it in your door
You know I got a funny, funny feeling
You don't want me around no more
I left a message last Monday
By the time I've got to Friday
Lord knows I had left five or six more
Now my key don't fit your lock
But I try to stick it in your door
I saw you on the street this morning
Walking with that other man
I could tell him in holding
Much more than your little hand
Now there's talk all over neighborhood
He's thinking about steeping in
My key don't fit your lock
When I try to put it in your door
I said, my key won't fit your lock
When I try to walk it in your door
I got this funny, funny feeling
You don't want me around no more
The song "Key Don't Fit" is a powerful blues anthem composed by Buddy Guy. The lyrics of the song depict a heartbroken man who has been kicked out of his lover's life, and he is struggling to accept the fact that the relationship is over. The lyrics revolve around the metaphor of a “key” representing the man's place in his lover's life. The man tries to unlock his lover's heart with his “key,” but it no longer fits. The lines "My key don't fit your lock" and "I said, my key won't fit your lock" are repeated throughout the song to emphasize the pain of being locked out of a loved one's life.
The singer of the song recalls leaving numerous messages for his lover each week, hoping to be received with open arms, but the “key” that was once a welcome addition in his lover's life no longer fits. He sees his lover walking with another man, and it becomes evident to him that he's no longer the only man in her life. The song concludes with the singer expressing his heartbreaking “funny feeling” that his lover doesn't want him around anymore.
In conclusion, "Key Don't Fit" is a poignant song about heartbreak and rejection. The metaphor of the “key” not fitting the “lock” is a powerful representation of the feeling of being locked out of someone's life. The song's structure, with a repeating chorus and a simple melody, creates a powerful emphasis on the singer's desperation.
Line by Line Meaning
My key don't fit your lock
I do not fit into your life anymore
When I come to your door
When I try to be a part of your life
No, I said, my key won't fit your lock
I have realized that I am no longer a match for you
When I try to put it in your door
When I try to make things work between us
You know I got a funny, funny feeling
I have a gut feeling that you do not want me around anymore
I left a message last Monday
I reached out to you recently
Just like the Monday before
Just like I have done in the past
By the time I've got to Friday
As the week goes on
Lord knows I had left five or six more
I have left numerous messages for you
But I try to stick it in your door
But I keep trying to make things happen between us
I saw you on the street this morning
I ran into you today
Walking with that other man
You were with another person
I could tell him in holding
I could tell that he means more to you than just a passing interest
Much more than your little hand
More than just a physical connection
Now there's talk all over neighborhood
People are talking about the possibility of you two getting together
He's thinking about steeping in
He may be considering pursuing a relationship with you
I said, my key won't fit your lock
I have accepted that things have changed between us
When I try to walk it in your door
When I try to force our relationship to work
I got this funny, funny feeling
I cannot shake the feeling that our relationship is over
You don't want me around no more
You have moved on from our relationship
Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
schnabby
I love all the great guitarists and I've recently been getting into the Blues. BB King, Albert King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gary Moore, Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Howlin' Wolf, T-Bone Walker. Any others people can suggest?
John Wavada
Freddie King
Andrew Karameris
Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter and Sonny Boy Williamson the 1st and the second
Andrew McCallum
schnabby Rory Gallagher
Thierry Saliou
Ain't nothing but the blues !!!! Long live Buddy and thanks you for all this briliant blues.
bobykens
Amazing blues song by an amazing player
Paul Purple
he is the fucking legend , i know gary is so happy for the living blues legends !!!
mark mccurry
Buddy is slickly business here, and i love it
PlayerX
The only one who makes me laugh listening to the blues is Buddy Guy. "My key don't fit your lock"... face palm... only Buddy Guy :) haha. And very well played.
Bruce Smith
I think he's talking about his cock