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.
dont leave me
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby please don't you drive me away
Now, you know I need you, want you by my side
My love for you I'll never hide
Now if you love you will hear my plea
Put me out and that's the end of me
Baby please don't you drive me away
One more thing honey
You know I want you, I love you so
I never, never, never, never, never let you go
Baby, please don't you drive me away, oh yeah
Oh please, please don't you drive me away
Don't you hear me telling you?
Don't drive me away
Let me tell you
You know I need you, want you by my side
My love for you I'll never hide
Won't you love me, won't you hear my plea?
Put me out and that's the end of me
Baby please don't you drive me away
In Buddy Guy's song "Don't Leave Me," the singer pleads with his lover not to leave him. The repetition of the phrase "Baby please don't you drive me away" emphasizes his anxiety and desperation. The singer expresses a deep love and need for his partner, promising to never hide his love for her. He fears that if she chooses to leave him, it will be the end of him. The repetition of "now" and "you know" in the first stanza underline his certainty of his lover's importance to him.
The verse "One more thing honey / You know I want you, I love you so / I never, never, never, never, never let you go" shows the singer’s unwavering devotion to his lover. He implores her to hear his plea for her to stay and to not drive him away. The repetition of the phrase "please don't you drive me away" in the chorus makes the song emotionally powerful, demonstrating the singer's vulnerability. These lyrics convey the message that when someone truly loves another, they do not take the other person for granted but instead express their desire to have them around.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby please don't you drive me away
I'm begging you, don't push me away and end our relationship
Baby please don't you drive me away
I want you to stay with me because I need you by my side
Now, you know I need you, want you by my side
I can't live without you and I want you around me all the time
My love for you I'll never hide
I'm always going to be open and honest about my love for you
Now if you love you will hear my plea
If you truly love me, you will listen to what I'm saying
Put me out and that's the end of me
If you reject me, it will be the end of our relationship
Baby please don't you drive me away
I'm repeating my plea to you because I don't want you to leave
You know I want you, I love you so
I want to be with you forever because I love you deeply
I never, never, never, never, never let you go
I'll never let you go because I want to be with you forever
Oh please, please don't you drive me away
I'm pleading with you not to reject me and end our relationship
Don't you hear me telling you?
I'm asking if you understand what I'm saying and how I feel
Don't drive me away
Please don't push me out of your life
Let me tell you
I want to explain to you why I need you in my life
Won't you love me, won't you hear my plea?
Can't you love me and listen to what I'm saying?
Put me out and that's the end of me
Rejecting me will have dire consequences for our relationship
Baby please don't you drive me away
I'm desperately hoping you'll stay with me and not leave me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLES MOSE BROWN, JESSE ERWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vlado6555
It is impossible for me to listen to this song without cranking up the volume. Not too many songs have that effect on me. Amazing!
@mitchcole900
I have blown up two good amps and a good set of speakers with this song. Can’t listen to this less than full blast. Neighbors hate me.
@drewbessey5688
When the Hustle&Flow title card hits during this song, chills
@dmcginnis28
Same here. Slays, with a great movie, to boot.
@jtrice6852
Insane reverb, fuzz tone, and overdrive. It sounds like an SOS sent by guitar from the rusty bilge of a sinking ghost ship. As grungy as blues gets.
@wpharrigan
Man, I saw the movie Hustle & Flow for the second time, and third time, because is awesome. A masterpiece. And this track at beggining of the film hitted my heart so hard, that I had to look for it. The groove. That vibe, soul. Amazing! I know that this film was released a long time ago, (2005), but like I say, life fades away sooner or later, but music lives forever. W.P.H.
@Hibbs4Prez
Long time ago? LOL. I saw Hustle and Flow in 2005 and IMMEDIATELY looked for this song.
And, yes, the movie is a masterpiece.
@roderickstockdale1678
I was 20 years old, it wasn’t that long ago to me.
@mikeymike2552
My neighbors unwillingly get to enjoy this song from time to time
@jeffl.8489
Mine too. Just yesterday, in fact.