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.
On The Road
Buddy Guy Lyrics
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Gonna keep on driving, I'll never stop
My baby's riding in a shotgun seat
Don't let no grass grow under our feet
I'm on the road, yes, I'll take it on the road
Give it some juice, turn my motor loose
On the road
This ride of mine got a rambling soul
Got a built-in bar to keep the Cokers cold
I point to the east and I pointed west
What my baby wants, you know my baby gets
On the road, yes, I'll take it on the road
Give it some juice, turn my motor loose
On the road
She got a body that keeps all cool
Thunder and lightning, up on the hood
I tune her up, never let her down
You know we're ready, now we're highway bound
On the road, hey, I'll take it on the road
Give it some juice, turn my motor loose
On the road
Give it some juice, turn my motor loose
On the road
The lyrics of Buddy Guy's "On The Road" depict the singer's love for the open highway and his love for an adventurous lifestyle. The first two lines set the tone for the song, as he sings about driving a blue Mercedes with a snakeskin top and never planning to stop. The next line sets the scene for him and his lover with the words "my baby's riding in a shotgun seat," meaning they are both embarking on this journey together. The fourth line emphasizes the need for them to keep moving, never slowing down or lazing around.
The chorus highlights the singer's love for an exciting and adventurous lifestyle. He sings about taking it on the road, giving his car some juice, and turning his motor loose. These lines capture the essence of a free-spirited person always craving adventure, moving forward and never looking back.
In the second verse, the singer describes his car as having a rambling soul and a built-in bar to keep Cokers cold. He points east and west, suggesting that he is ready to travel anywhere his lover wants to go. The line "What my baby wants, you know my baby gets" shows how he is ready to do anything to keep his lover happy.
The last verse talks about his lover's body in a way that suggests she is confident and cool. He also describes his car as having "thunder and lightning up on the hood." The line "I tune her up, never let her down" suggests that he takes good care of his ride and treats it like a living entity. The song ends with the singer revving up his engine and heading out onto the highway.
Line by Line Meaning
Got a blue Mercedes with a snakeskin top
I have a fancy car that catches attention with its unique design and color.
Gonna keep on driving, I'll never stop
I love traveling so much that I'll never stop driving, exploring new places.
My baby's riding in a shotgun seat
My partner is riding in the front seat of the car next to me.
Don't let no grass grow under our feet
We won't stay in one place for too long, we will keep moving and exploring.
I'm on the road, yes, I'll take it on the road
I'm always on the move, ready to take on any new adventures that come my way.
Give it some juice, turn my motor loose
I want to give my car more power and speed to enjoy the thrill of driving.
This ride of mine got a rambling soul
My car has a personality of its own and is always ready to hit the road and explore new places.
Got a built-in bar to keep the Cokers cold
My car has a feature that allows me to keep drinks cool while traveling.
I point to the east and I pointed west
I'm open to any direction and location while traveling.
What my baby wants, you know my baby gets
I will fulfill all of my partner's desires and wishes while traveling together.
She got a body that keeps all cool
My car has a sleek body design that keeps everyone feeling cool and stylish while riding in it.
Thunder and lightning, up on the hood
My car has a powerful and appealing exterior design that catches people's attention like thunder and lightning.
I tune her up, never let her down
I take good care of my car, maintaining and fixing any issues, so it always runs smoothly and never disappoints.
You know we're ready, now we're highway bound
We are well-equipped and prepared for our journey, heading towards the highway to start our next adventure.
On the road, hey, I'll take it on the road
I'm always ready for the next journey and am excited to experience whatever comes my way.
Give it some juice, turn my motor loose
I want to give my car more power and speed to enjoy the thrill of driving.
On the road
The focus of the song is the excitement and love for traveling and exploring new places.
Contributed by Blake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@coyote2welve
best blues guitarist in the world
@coravisser727
Yah Buddy Guy you are amazing bless you maestro.
@michaelbrowning8937
Give it some juice he is the living proof!
@ryanblount6216
The master and my MOJO filter😎
@kostassitos7382
Ευχαριστω για την υπερωχη μουσικη
@johnbennett8254
G-d bless BG...
@CogumeloBlues
SINCERAMENTE ESSA ENTRADA É TOTALMENTE SURREAL. MUITO PHÔDA.
@youtubemusicchannel4811
Buddy Guy - On the Road
@nightcrawler1
xcellent
@jteo7452
Τέλειο❣❣ amazing❣❣