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.
The Dream
Buddy Guy Lyrics
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I've got dreams, dreams to remember
Honey, I saw you there last night
Another man's arms holding you tight
Nobody knows what I feel inside
All I know, I walked away and cried
Dreams to remember
Listen to me
(I've got dreams) rough dreams (dreams to remember)
I know you said he was just a friend
But I saw him kiss you again and again
These eyes of mine, they don't fool me
Why did he hold you so tenderly?
I've got dreams
Dreams to remember
Listen, honey
(I've got dreams) rough dreams (dreams to remember)
I still want you to stay
I still love you anyway
I don't want you to ever leave
Girl, you just satisfy me, ooh-wee
I know you said he was just a friend
But I saw you kiss him again and again
These eyes of mine, they don't fool me
Why did he hold you so tenderly?
I've got dreams
Dreams to remember
Listen to me, mama
(I've got dreams) bad dreams, rough dreams, oh (dreams to remember)
Don't make me suffer, don't let me
(I've got dreams, dreams, dreams to remember) rough dreams, bad dreams, rough dreams
The lyrics to Buddy Guy's song "I've Got Dreams To Remember" featuring John Mayer are about heartache and the pain of seeing someone you love with another person. The opening lines "I've got dreams, dreams to remember" are repeated throughout the song and serve as an anchor for the emotional weight of the lyrics that follow. The singer describes seeing his love interest with another man and feeling the sting of jealousy and betrayal. Despite her assurances that the other man was "just a friend," he can't shake the feeling that something more is going on. He sings "These eyes of mine, they don't fool me/Why did he hold you so tenderly?"
The chorus, with its repetition of "I've got dreams, dreams to remember," takes on a more mournful tone as the song progresses. The roughness of the dreams seems to signify the raw and unfiltered emotions the singer is feeling as he comes to terms with the reality of the situation. He still wants her to stay and loves her anyway, but the hurt is too much to bear. The song ends on a plea not to make him suffer and a repetition of the chorus, driving home the idea that despite his pain, the singer will never forget the dreams he had for their relationship.
Overall, the lyrics to "I've Got Dreams To Remember" are a poignant depiction of unrequited love and the heartbreak that comes with it. The repeated chorus and the rawness of the emotions expressed make it a powerful and haunting tune.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got dreams, dreams to remember
The singer has unfulfilled desires and aspirations.
Honey, I saw you there last night
The singer is addressing a lover, recalling a recent encounter.
Another man's arms holding you tight
The lover was seen in the embrace of another man.
Nobody knows what I feel inside
The singer is suffering from unrequited love and hiding it from others.
All I know, I walked away and cried
The singer's emotions overwhelmed him and he left the scene in tears.
I know you said he was just a friend
The singer recalls a conversation where the lover denied romantic involvement with the other man.
But I saw him kiss you again and again
The singer witnessed intimate physical interactions between the lover and the other man.
These eyes of mine, they don't fool me
The singer is confident in his observations and intuition despite possible attempts at deception.
Why did he hold you so tenderly?
The singer is questioning the nature of the embrace between the lover and the other man.
I still want you to stay
Despite the apparent infidelity, the singer desires the lover's continued presence in his life.
I still love you anyway
The singer's love for the lover remains unchanged despite the painful situation.
I don't want you to ever leave
The singer fears losing the lover despite their betrayal.
Girl, you just satisfy me, ooh-wee
The singer finds satisfaction and pleasure in the lover's company and affection.
Don't make me suffer, don't let me (I've got dreams, dreams, dreams to remember)
The singer begs the lover to spare him further pain and heartache.
Listen to me, mama (I've got dreams) bad dreams, rough dreams, oh (dreams to remember) Don't make me suffer, don't let me
The singer is appealing to the lover for empathy and understanding of his emotional turmoil.
I've got dreams, dreams to remember
The singer reiterates his unfulfilled desires and aspirations, implying that the lover is integral to their fulfillment.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group
Written by: JOE ROCK, OTIS REDDING, ZELMA REDDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind