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.
Leave My Girl Alone
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You better leave, Lord, you better leave my little girl alone
Lord, before I get evil, man, and I'm known to do something wrong
You called my house, no later than yesterday
'Cause I picked up the extension, and I heard every word you said
Now, why don't you just go on, man, and leave my little girl alone
Lord, before I get evil, man, and I'm known to do something wrong
You better leave her alone, now
You call my house, all the hours of the night
But, let me tell you, mister, that's a sure way to start a fight
Now, why don't you just go on, man, and leave my little girl alone
'Cause, Lord, you know I can get so evil, and I'm known to do something wrong
The lyrics of Buddy Guy's "Leave My Girl Alone" convey a message of warning and threat to someone who has been trying to get involved with the singer's girl. The opening line sets the tone for the entire song, as the singer repeats the line "you better leave" twice to emphasize his point. The repetition of this line also highlights the singer's determination and intensity in protecting his girl from any potential harm. The singer warns the person to leave before he gets "evil" and does something wrong. The mention of getting "evil" and doing something wrong implies a violent and dangerous nature, and it seems like the singer will do whatever it takes to protect his girl.
The singer reveals that the person has been calling his house, and the singer has been able to hear every word they say. This shows that the person has been persistent in their attempts to get in touch with the girl, even though she is not interested. The singer warns that these actions may lead to a fight, which further emphasizes his determination to protect his girl, even to the point of violence.
Throughout the song, the singer's language is forceful, and the use of repetition and repetition of specific words and phrases throughout the lyrics adds to the intensity. The lyrics suggest that the singer would go to great lengths to defend his girlfriend if she were ever in danger.
Line by Line Meaning
You better leave, you better leave my little girl alone
Buddy Guy is warning someone to stay away from his daughter.
You better leave, Lord, you better leave my little girl alone
Buddy Guy is emphasizing that the person needs to leave his daughter alone or face the consequences.
Lord, before I get evil, man, and I'm known to do something wrong
Buddy Guy is letting the person know that he's not afraid to take matters into his own hands and do something he might regret.
You called my house, no later than yesterday
The person has been calling Buddy Guy's house, causing trouble.
'Cause I picked up the extension, and I heard every word you said
Buddy Guy has been listening in on the person's conversations, and he knows what's been going on.
Now, why don't you just go on, man, and leave my little girl alone
Buddy Guy is imploring the person to just stop harassing his daughter and go away.
You better leave her alone, now
Buddy Guy is reiterating his warning that the person needs to stop bothering his daughter.
You call my house, all the hours of the night
The person has been calling Buddy Guy's house at all hours of the night, causing trouble.
But, let me tell you, mister, that's a sure way to start a fight
Buddy Guy is warning the person that if they continue to cause trouble, they will provoke him into a fight.
'Cause, Lord, you know I can get so evil, and I'm known to do something wrong
Buddy Guy is emphasizing again that he's not afraid to get violent if he needs to protect his daughter.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Buddy Guy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@neiltaylor6443
Buddy’s guitar stings like a hornet!Love this guys blues.
@murph3001
Buddy and the Texas Cannonball _ might be the two greatest blues singers ever.
@Mission2Transition641
FIrst time hearing this...Ive only know the Stevie Ray version, since 1990...this is COOL!!
@murph3001
RICKY DEAN cool !! More like awesome
@murph3001
More than cool my friend ___ the roots by which other great ones flourished .
@murph3001
Cool !!!!!!!! This one of the greatest blues renditions ever. This is phenomenal .
@mickeyrube6623
Doing the same five years later.
@mickeyrube6623
Trying to come up with my own version, I figure I'd should at least learn the original first!
@murph3001
He puts major STANK on this
@leovelazquez5098
Increíble voz!!buudy