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.
Meet Me in Chicago
Buddy Guy Lyrics
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Got to get back to the windy city, with them funky ole sweet home blues
Meet me in Chicago, baby I'll show you around
Meet me in Chicago, let me take you downtown
A couple have been lookin funny, I've been all over the world
Nothing better than a walk downtown with a sweet home Chicago girl
Meet me in Chicago, up and down hall street
Woah, what a place to be. Come on and hang out with me
Chi-town better where I got to be, I got to be back home
Soldier Field, Comiscapot, I'll be lookin for Al Capone
Meet me in Chicago, that funky little downhill place
Meet me in Chicago, chewing on a t-bone steak
Gotta get back to the midwest hunny, I miss that deep dish taste
Sittin on the roof at Wrigley Field, call where, call em off too late
Meet me at Chicago, some calgash that'll do
Meet me at Chicago, where Buddy gotta play the blues
Here I come
Meet me in Chicago
Buddy Guy's song "Meet Me in Chicago" is a tribute to the city where he made his name in blues music. The song opens with Guy talking about how it's been too long since he's played "that down old music" and how he needs to get back to the Windy City to hear some "funky ole sweet home blues." He invites his listeners to "meet me in Chicago" and promises to show them around and take them downtown.
Guy talks about how he's been all over the world, but there's nothing better than walking around Chicago with a "sweet home Chicago girl." He name-checks famous Chicago landmarks like Soldier Field and Wrigley Field, as well as notorious Chicago gangster Al Capone. He even suggests getting some "deep dish taste" at a local restaurant and chewing on a T-bone steak.
The song is a celebration of Chicago culture and the blues scene that gave Buddy Guy his start. It's a fun, upbeat tune that invites listeners to come and experience the city for themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
I got down a little bit of that down old music, Lord it's been overdue
I have been missing the old-style blues music for a while and it's time to revisit it.
Got to get back to the windy city, with them funky ole sweet home blues
I need to return to Chicago, where the soulful blues music originated from
Meet me in Chicago, baby I'll show you around
Let's meet in Chicago, and I'll give you a tour of the city
Meet me in Chicago, let me take you downtown
Join me in Chicago, and I'll show you the bustling downtown area
A couple have been lookin funny, I've been all over the world
People have been looking at me strangely because I've traveled everywhere but still return to Chicago
Nothing better than a walk downtown with a sweet home Chicago girl
I love strolling downtown with a girl from Chicago because it's the perfect setting for the blues
Meet me in Chicago, up and down hall street
Meet me on Hall Street and let's explore the city together
Meet me in Chicago, get yourself somethin' to eat
Join me in Chicago, where we can grab some delicious food
Woah, what a place to be. Come on and hang out with me
Chicago is an amazing place to be, and I want you to accompany me there
Chi-town better where I got to be, I got to be back home
Chicago is where I belong and I need to go back home
Soldier Field, Comiscapot, I'll be lookin for Al Capone
Let's check out some iconic Chicago landmarks like Soldier Field and Comiscapot while hoping to spot Al Capone
Meet me in Chicago, that funky little downhill place
Join me in the city of Chicago, known for its distinctive blues and unique neighborhoods
Meet me in Chicago, chewing on a t-bone steak
Let's meet in Chicago, and enjoy a classic Chicago-style t-bone steak together
Gotta get back to the midwest hunny, I miss that deep dish taste
I have to return to the Midwest, where I can eat some delightful deep-dish pizza
Sittin on the roof at Wrigley Field, call where, call em off too late
I love sitting on the roof at Wrigley Field and cheering on my team but sometimes it's too late to stop the opponents from scoring
Meet me at Chicago, some calgash that'll do
Let's grab some traditional Chicago-style hot dogs together in the city
Meet me at Chicago, where Buddy gotta play the blues
Join me in Chicago, where I'll be performing some of my best blues music
Here I come
I'm heading to Chicago, and I can't wait to immerse myself in its vibrant blues culture
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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