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.
Stormy Monday
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, they called it, they called it stormy Monday, but Tuesday, Tuesday is as just as bad
Oh, Wednesday is worst and Thursday oh so sad
The eagle flies on Friday now, Saturday I'll go out to play
Oh, the eagle, the eagle flies on Friday
Saturday I'll go out and play
Sunday I'll go to church, and I fall on my knees and pray
I say, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on me
But Lord, Lord have mercy Lord have mercy on me
You know I'm crazy 'bout my baby
Lord, please send my baby back on to me
Help me out here man, help me out
Sun rise in the east, it set up in the west
Yes, the sun rise in the east baby, and it set up in the west
It's hard to tell, it's hard to tell, it's hard to tell
Which one, which one, which one a little bad
Yeah! Go ahead Do it one more time
Oh, the eagle flies on Friday
Saturday I'll go out to play
Oh, the eagle flies on Friday
You know Saturday I'll go out to play
Sunday I'll go out to the signify church
Oh when I'll fall down on my knees and pray
I say, Lord have mercy Lord have mercy on me
Lord, Lord, Lord have mercy on me
Please, have mercy on me
You know I'm crazy, crazy 'bout my baby
Please, send her back, send her back on to me
Yeah!
The lyrics of Buddy Guy's song Stormy Monday Blues describe a series of bad days throughout the week, starting with stormy Monday and leading up to Thursday, which is described as sad. However, the tone switches on Friday as the eagle flies, signaling the arrival of the weekend. The singer plans to go out and play on Saturday, but also makes a point to attend church on Sunday and pray for mercy.
The song uses weather metaphors to describe the emotional states of the singer, noting that days of the week can have a significant impact on one's mood. The repeated pleas for mercy and the longing for the singer's lost love suggest a personal connection to the lyrics.
Overall, Stormy Monday Blues is a powerful blues song that offers a window into the human experience of facing challenging days and seeking hope in the midst of despair.
Line by Line Meaning
They called it stormy Monday, but Tuesday is as just as bad
The troubles aren't limited to just one day of the week 'cause even Tuesday is as bad as Monday
Oh, they called it, they called it stormy Monday, but Tuesday, Tuesday is as just as bad
Repeating the previous line to emphasize the similarity in the misery of both days
Oh, Wednesday is worst and Thursday oh so sad
Wednesday is even worse than the previous two days and Thursday is very sad
The eagle flies on Friday now, Saturday I'll go out to play
Looking forward to the weekend when the eagle, which symbolizes freedom, flies on Friday and he can go out and have fun on Saturday
Oh, the eagle, the eagle flies on Friday
Reiterating the symbolic importance of the eagle flying on Friday
Saturday I'll go out and play
Planning to go out and have a good time on Saturday
Sunday I'll go to church, and I fall on my knees and pray
On Sunday, he will go to church and pray for mercy from God for his troubles
I say, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on me
Asking for God's mercy on his difficult situation
But Lord, Lord have mercy Lord have mercy on me
Repeating the plea for divine mercy
You know I'm crazy 'bout my baby
Acknowledging his deep love for his significant other
Lord, please send my baby back on to me
Asking God to bring his beloved back to him
Help me out here man, help me out
Appealing to someone for assistance in his troubles
Sun rise in the east, it set up in the west
Stating the basic fact that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west
Yes, the sun rise in the east baby, and it set up in the west
Repeating the basic fact about the sun's movement
It's hard to tell, it's hard to tell, it's hard to tell
Expressing the difficulty in determining which thing or situation is worse
Which one, which one, which one a little bad
Asking which situation is a little less bad but ultimately acknowledging that both are tough
Yeah! Go ahead Do it one more time
Encouraging someone to perform again with enthusiasm
You know Saturday I'll go out to play
Repeating the plan to have fun on Saturday
Sunday I'll go out to the signify church
Intending to go to a meaningful church service on Sunday
Please, have mercy on me
Asking again for mercy in his difficult situation
You know I'm crazy, crazy 'bout my baby
Reiterating his deep love for his significant other
Please, send her back, send her back on to me
Imploring God to bring his beloved back to him
Yeah!
Expressing enthusiasm or affirmation
Contributed by Lillian R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
tenodogblu
How can anyone say Santana is rubbish? He puts on a great show anywhere, anytime !!
Robert Maharry
It's awesome how much Buddy enjoys listening to other guys play. You can tell he just genuinely has fun with it. Awesome duet.
Laurence Hudson
I saw Carlos Santana live in Montreal a couple of years ago, and realized that he was a far better guitar player than I had ever even imagined. The stuff that hit the airwaves was nobbled to the point where it was unrecognizable. Rock on, Carlos!
Ron Gang
Yessir! This is one of the best. I don't get tired of the 3 disc DVD set of this show that Carlos instigated to pay homage to 3 of his heroes. (Santana started off as a blues band before he made it big.) Barbara Morrison is a revelation - what a voice and beautiful spontaneous stage presence, interacting with Buddy Guy! Check her out.
MrJC7071
You just figured that out? Carlos is and has been one of the truly great rock guitarists from day one. Carlos is so distinctive, I can pick him out when he's guesting on someone else's album. Carlos can outplay anyone alive.
Matt Miller
I love how aware Buddy is of every nuance, and he knows how to gently pull the most out of what's going on. Such wonderful restraint and true expression of feeling. Blues at it's best. Santana is great here too.
Cathy Brooks
All I can say is wow! What a collaboration of two great artists!!
Peter Pueschel
Three, I'ld say ;-)
Steve Trivago
And 15 years later ... they’re still “ Living Legends” 🎸✊🏼☮️💟
Joshua Shane
This is a definite first for me. I have NEVER seen any footage of Carlos playing Blues. However, this has definitely been an exciting eye opener for me. All I can really say is BAD ASS!!!