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.
Louise McGhee
Buddy Guy Lyrics
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My Monday woman bring me socks and shoes
But I let my good gal get you
And I ain′t no telling what my Lucy Mae do
My Tuesday woman like that pocket change
That Wednesday woman want the same damn thing
But I let my good gal catch you
That Thursday woman knock upon my door
That Friday woman man, sure got to go
But I let my good gal catch you
And I ain′t no telling what my Lucy Mae do
My Saturday woman totes a Gatling gun
'Cause if you stand she shoot you for you run
But I let my good gal catch you
And I ain't no telling what my Lucy Mae do
Listen
Ain′t no telling what my Lucy Mae do
Ain′t no telling what my Lucy Mae do
Ain't no telling what my Lucy Mae do
In Buddy Guy's song "Louise McGhee," the lyricist portrays a man who has multiple women in his life, each assigned to a specific day of the week. The singer describes how each woman fulfills a particular role or provides something specific to him. The lyrics suggest that these relationships are transactional in nature, where the women expect something in return for their companionship.
The singer acknowledges that his "good gal," Lucy Mae, has the potential for unpredictable behavior if she were to discover his infidelity. He warns that if Lucy Mae were to catch him with any of the other women, there would be consequences, though they are left unspecified. This introduces an element of mystery and tension to the song, as it becomes clear that Lucy Mae is someone not to be taken lightly.
The repetition of the line "Ain't no telling what my Lucy Mae do" emphasizes the sense of uncertainty and fear surrounding Lucy Mae, suggesting that she has a strong and potentially dangerous character. Overall, the lyrics of "Louise McGhee" showcase the complexities and consequences of dishonesty and infidelity within relationships, particularly in the face of a formidable partner like Lucy Mae.
Line by Line Meaning
My Sunday woman bring the daily news
The woman I spend Sundays with informs me about important events and updates
My Monday woman bring me socks and shoes
The woman I spend Mondays with takes care of my basic needs by providing me with clean socks and shoes
But I let my good gal get you
However, I allow my faithful and trustworthy partner to confront or deal with you
And I ain't no telling what my Lucy Mae do
And it is uncertain what actions my dedicated partner, Lucy Mae, might take
My Tuesday woman like that pocket change
The woman I spend Tuesdays with is interested in receiving financial benefits or small amounts of money
That Wednesday woman want the same damn thing
The woman I spend Wednesdays with desires the exact same things as my Tuesday woman
But I let my good gal catch you
Nevertheless, I permit my loyal partner to witness your actions directly
And I ain't no telling what my Lucy Mae do
And it is uncertain what actions my dedicated partner, Lucy Mae, might take
That Thursday woman knock upon my door
The woman I spend Thursdays with visits my residence and seeks my attention
That Friday woman man, sure got to go
The woman I spend Fridays with implies that her partner must leave or be removed
But I let my good gal catch you
However, I allow my loyal partner to see or catch you
And I ain′t no telling what my Lucy Mae do
And it is uncertain what actions my dedicated partner, Lucy Mae, might take
My Saturday woman totes a Gatling gun
The woman I spend Saturdays with carries a firearm, specifically a Gatling gun
'Cause if you stand she shoot you for you run
Because if you remain stationary, she will shoot you before you have a chance to escape
But I let my good gal catch you
However, I allow my loyal partner to apprehend you
And I ain't no telling what my Lucy Mae do
And it is uncertain what actions my dedicated partner, Lucy Mae, might take
Ain′t no telling what my Lucy Mae do
There is no way to predict the actions that my faithful partner, Lucy Mae, might take
Ain't no telling what my Lucy Mae do
It is impossible to determine what actions my dedicated partner, Lucy Mae, might engage in
Ain't no telling what my Lucy Mae do
There is no means to guess or anticipate what actions my loyal partner, Lucy Mae, may choose
Writer(s): Son House
Contributed by Alexandra M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.