Buddy Guy (born George Guy, July 30, 1936 in Lettsworth, Louisiana) is an A… Read Full Bio ↴Buddy Guy (born George Guy, July 30, 1936 in Lettsworth, Louisiana) is an American blues music and rock music guitarist, as well as a singer. Known as an inspiration to Jimi Hendrix and other 1960s blues and rock legends, Guy is considered as an important proponent of Chicago blues made famous by Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. He has influenced both widely known and local blues guitarists.

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.

Mellow Down
Buddy Guy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Jump jump here
Jump jump there
You jump jump jump
Everywhere
When you mellow down easy
Mellow down easy
Mellow down easy when you really wanna blow your top

Shake shake here
Shake shake there
You shake shake shake everywhere
When you mellow down easy
Mellow down easy
Mellow down easy when you really wanna blow your top

Dance dance here
Dance dance there
You dance dance dance everywhere
When you mellow down easy
Mellow down easy
Mellow down easy when you really wanna blow your top, ahahahah he
He fellows

Just wait a minute
Buddy can you play your guitar

Shake shake here
Shake shake there
You shake shake shake everywhere
When you mellow down easy
Mellow down easy
Mellow down easy
Mellow down easy
Mellow down easy
Mellow down easy
Mellow down easy when you really wanna blow your top, ahaha

Mellow down easy
Mellow down easy

Mellow down easy
He mellow down easy when you really he, wow

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Buddy Guy's song "Mellow Down" are all about staying calm and collected even in the face of anger or frustration. The repetition of "jump," "shake," and "dance" throughout the verses creates a sense of frenetic energy, suggesting that the person in question is trying to distract themselves from their troubles. However, the chorus, which repeats the phrase "mellow down easy" several times, implies that the real way to deal with these emotions is to take a step back and relax.

By emphasizing the importance of mellowing down in difficult situations, Buddy Guy's song encourages listeners to find inner peace even when things aren't going their way. The song's upbeat tempo and lively melody add to this sense of positivity, making it a feel-good anthem for anyone who's struggling to stay calm.

Overall, "Mellow Down" is a song about finding strength in moments of difficulty, teaching listeners that sometimes the best way to deal with a problem is to take a deep breath and let go of their worries. With its catchy rhythms and uplifting message, it's a perfect example of Buddy Guy's talent for making music that speaks to the human experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Jump jump here
Move quickly and energetically in all directions

Jump jump there
Keep moving and don't stay in one place

You jump jump jump
Always on the move and full of energy

Everywhere
Moving in all directions without any particular destination

When you mellow down easy
When you calm down and relax

Mellow down easy
Calm down and relax

Mellow down easy when you really wanna blow your top
Only relax when you really need to de-stress and calm yourself down

Shake shake here
Make quick, sudden movements with your body in all directions

Shake shake there
Keep shaking and moving around

You shake shake shake everywhere
Constantly moving and shaking with energy

Dance dance here
Move your body rhythmically and energetically