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.
Lyin
Buddy Guy Lyrics
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When you don't give a damn about yourself?
How could you stand there and tell me you love me
And woman, you don't give a damn about yourself?
You know if you really did, woman, you would be carrying on with someone else.
I want you to stop right there in your tracks, baby
Honey, don't you go no further.
Honey, don't you go no further.
You know your lyin' just like a dog, and you standin' there lookin' just like another.
Oh, you keep wasting my time,
Honey, you running around all night long.
Oh, you keep wasting my time, I say
Honey, you running around all night.
If I fight like a dog all day long, honey, tell me when you're gonna bite.
Tonight, I might cut you loose
I think I found me another lover.
Tonight, I might cut you loose
'Cause I think I found myself another lover.
You're lyin' to me just like a dog, and you know you're looking just like another.
[Guitar Solo]
I'm sick an tired of all your lies, darlin'
Honey, you can go back to your mother.
I'm sick an tired of all your lies, darlin'
And honey, you can go back to your mother.
You're lyin' to me just like a dog, and you know you're looking just like another.
In Buddy Guy's song "Lyin' Like A Dog," the lyrics express the frustration and disappointment of a man who is being lied to by his woman. He questions how she could say she loves him when she doesn't seem to care about herself. He accuses her of lying like a dog and looking just like another, indicating that she is not unique in her behavior.
The man tries to stop her in her tracks, telling her not to go any further in her lies. He feels like he is wasting his time with her and that she is running around all night. He asks her when she is going to bite, implying that she is like a dog that never stops barking but never bites.
In the end, the man decides that he has had enough and might cut her loose. He believes that he has found another lover and doesn't need to put up with her lies anymore.
Overall, the song is a testament to the difficulty of maintaining a healthy relationship when one partner is not honest and does not care about themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
How could you stand there and tell me you love me
How can you look me in the eye and say you have love for me
When you don't give a damn about yourself?
When you clearly have no regard for your own wellbeing?
You know if you really did, woman, you would be carrying on with someone else.
If you truly loved yourself, you would find someone else who treats you properly.
I want you to stop right there in your tracks, baby
I need you to come to a halt before you go any further, my love.
You know your lyin' just like a dog, and you standin' there lookin' just like another.
You are deceiving me like an unfaithful dog standing there appearing just as dishonest as any other.
Oh, you keep wasting my time, Honey, you running around all night long
You continue to consume my valuable time, my dear, as you spend all night gallivanting around.
If I fight like a dog all day long, honey, tell me when you're gonna bite.
I work tirelessly like a dog all day, my dear, so why won't you reciprocate that effort?
Tonight, I might cut you loose 'Cause I think I found myself another lover.
I may end things with you tonight, my dear, as I currently have my eyes set on another romantic interest.
I'm sick an tired of all your lies, darlin' And honey, you can go back to your mother.
I am fed up with your constant dishonesty, my love, so you can return to your mother's care for all I care.
You're lyin' to me just like a dog, and you know you're looking just like another.
You are deceiving me like an unfaithful dog and you are aware that you appear no different than other deceivers.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BUDDY GUY, TOM HAMBRIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind