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.
Stay Around A Little Longer
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Till I got, got a lot more to give
I thank the Lord for letting me stay around a little longer
Lord knows I love the life I live
This old road's been so good to me
I've been given much more than I ever dreamed
I won't ever stop playing these blues
I thank the Lord for letting me stay around a little longer
Feel like I've got a lot more to give
I thank the Lord for letting me stay around a little longer
Lord knows I love the life I live
So many good friends I've lost along the way
I know I'll meet 'em again on some uncloudy day
Until then there's more songs to be sung
We've come a long way but we're a long way from being done
I thank the Lord
I thank the Lord for letting me stay around a little longer
But I feel like I got a lot more to give
I thank the Lord for letting me stay around a little longer
Lord knows I love the life I live
Thank You, Lord, I love the life I live
You got that right, B, I love the life we live, Buddy
I spend a many nights listening to you play
You still sound good, oh, you too sound good, Buddy
Keep on doing it B
Your nickname is a good name for me
Because I believe you are my buddy
I love the life I live
You're the best that ever did it and got away with it
Well, thanks a lot
You ain't done it so bad yourself, old boy
When I'm pushing up daisies, don't forget
You're still my buddy
In Buddy Guy's song "Stay Around A Little Longer," he expresses his gratitude to God for letting him stay alive a little longer. He says that he has a lot more to give and thank God for the life he is living. Buddy also acknowledges that he has been given more than he ever dreamed of. He talks about how the road has been so good to him and how he won't stop playing the blues because he believes that is what he was put here to do.
The song takes a personal turn as he reminisces on good friends he lost along the way. He believes that they will meet again someday. Until then, there are more songs to sing, and they are a long way from being done. He thanks God again before ending the song with a conversation he had with someone who admires him, and he reciprocates the admiration. He reminds the person that they are still buddies and that he loves the life he's living.
Buddy Guy's "Stay Around A Little Longer" song is personal and relatable for everyone. It speaks about appreciating life and thanking God for every treasure. It is a message of gratitude and the need to live our best lives. Furthermore, we learn that even though we may have lost people we love along the way, we have to look ahead and know that we will meet them again. There's always something more to give in life, and we should embrace every opportunity that presents itself.
Line by Line Meaning
I thank the Lord for letting me stay around a little longer
Expressing gratitude for continued life expension
Till I got, got a lot more to give
Believing that one has a lot more to contribute in life
Lord knows I love the life I live
Feeling contentment and satisfaction with one's current life circumstances
This old road's been so good to me
Appreciating the journey of life and its experiences
I've been given much more than I ever dreamed
Expressing gratitude for blessings that exceeded one's expectations
I won't ever stop playing these blues
Knowing one's passion and purpose in life
That's what I think He put me here to do
Believing that one's passion and purpose was divinely guided
So many good friends I've lost along the way
Grieving the loss of loved ones who have passed
I know I'll meet 'em again on some uncloudy day
Holding a belief in an afterlife where one will reunite with loved ones
Until then there's more songs to be sung
Continuing life's journey with purpose and optimism
We've come a long way but we're a long way from being done
Acknowledging progress made in life, but recognizing that there is still much to accomplish
You got that right, B, I love the life we live, Buddy
Appreciating life and friendship
You still sound good, oh, you too sound good, Buddy
Complimenting each other's musical talents
Because I believe you are my buddy
Affirming the closeness of friendship
You're the best that ever did it and got away with it
Praising each other's unique talents and abilities
When I'm pushing up daisies, don't forget
Expressing a desire for the friendship to endure even after death
You're still my buddy
Reinforcing the strength of the friendship
Contributed by Scarlett L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Teesta Ghosh
thank the Lord for letting me stay around a little longer
Till I got, got a lot more to give
I thank the Lord for letting me stay around a little longer
Lord knows I love the life I live
This old road's been so good to me
I've been given much more than I ever dreamed
I won't ever stop playing these blues
That's what I think He put me here to do
I thank the Lord for letting me stay around a little longer
Feel like I've got a lot more to give
I thank the Lord for letting me stay around a little longer
Lord knows I love the life I live
So many good friends I've lost along the way
I know I'll meet 'em again on some uncloudy day
Until then there's more songs to be sung
We've come a long way but we're a long way from being done
I thank the Lord
I thank the Lord for letting me stay around a little longer
But I feel like I got a lot more to give
I thank the Lord for letting me stay around a little longer
Lord knows I love the life I live
Thank You, Lord, I love the life I live
You got that right, B, I love the life we live, Buddy
I spend a many nights listening to you play
You still sound good, oh, you too sound good, Buddy
Keep on doing it B
Your nickname is a good name for me
Because I believe you are my buddy
I love the life I live
You're the best that ever did it and got away with it
Well, thanks a lot
You ain't done it so bad yourself, old boy
When I'm pushing up daisies, don't forget
You're still my buddy
Enrique Aldanondo
" Quédate un poco más "
Doy gracias al Señor por permitirme quedarme un poco más
Hasta que tenga, tengo mucho más que dar
Doy gracias al Señor por permitirme quedarme un poco más
Dios sabe que amo la vida que vivo.
Esta vieja carretera ha sido tan buena conmigo
Me han dado mucho más de lo que jamás soñé
Nunca dejaré de tocar estos blues
Eso es lo que creo que me puso aquí para hacer.
Doy gracias al Señor por permitirme quedarme un poco más
Siento que tengo mucho más que dar
Doy gracias al Señor por permitirme quedarme un poco más
Dios sabe que amo la vida que vivo.
Tantos buenos amigos que he perdido en el camino
Sé que los conoceré de nuevo en algún día sin nubes
Hasta entonces hay más canciones para ser cantadas
Hemos recorrido un largo camino,
pero estamos muy lejos de estar hecho.
Le doy gracias al Señor
Doy gracias al Señor por permitirme quedarme un poco más
Pero siento que tengo mucho más que dar
Doy gracias al Señor por permitirme quedarme un poco más
Dios sabe que amo la vida que vivo
Gracias, Señor, amo la vida que vivo
Tienes ese derecho, B, me encanta la vida que vivimos, Buddy
Me paso muchas noches escuchándote tocar
Todavía suenas bien, oh, tú también suenas bien, Buddy
Sigue haciéndolo.
Tu apodo es un buen nombre para mí
Porque creo que eres mi amigo
Amo la vida que vivo
Eres el mejor que jamás he tenido y salí con él.
Bueno, muchas gracias
No lo has hecho tan mal, viejo.
Cuando estoy empujando margaritas, no olvide
Sigues siendo mi amigo ...
Bruce Joslin
Nobody can tell me that this isn't a great song........ A soulful experience from two of the best. They are having a great time playing and show a lot of love for each other. When BB says at the end of the song "When I'm pushin' up daisies, you're still my Buddy" it gets me. I will be sad and cry when these two pass away but I will smile big and often when I recall this and other memories of these two fine men. This is a perfect performance and an emotional experience to witness.
Bill Ridge
What a way to break the news.braino
Tony Mitchell
You bet
Layton
13 years on and Buddy has stayed around a little longer! Still performing at 86, it's so wonderful to see.
Mohamed Tlass
he turned 87 and his tour continues!
Shubhankar Das
I’m shedding tears right now. I feel heavy. Now that BB is gone, this song feels different. It’s like he knew he was leaving and he was just being grateful because he stayed a little longer than he expected. The greatest musician of all time rests in peace and we are left with his fragments to carry forward for the generations to know the greatest and his LUCILE.
Bluesman Sunny Fournier
Long live the King and his legacy.
Dalton Grados
I am 15 years old and I think this is beautiful... Buddy and BB's music will definitely stay around a little longer.
Stuart Knight
Just found this and I’m 15. I’ve been browsing Guy’s music because he’s touring near me!
Larry Starstruck
With B B King gone, that dialogue at the end is a little hard not to tear up. Anyone of us that has played the blues owes B B King a huge debt of gratitude. Buddy Guy is truly one of my favorite guitar players in the blues genre. That dialogue shows the respect between the 2 men and that is what made it touching. Great performance by both.