Bell learned to play the harmonica in his hometown of Macon, Mississippi and was playing professionally with his uncle Lovie Lee's band by the age of 13. In 1956, Lee convinced Bell to move to Chicago.
Struggling to find work as a harmonica player, Bell learned to play bass from Hound Dog Taylor and played with Big Walter Horton while honing his blues harp chops.
Bell played harp and bass with other blues icons for decades, including Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Earl Hooker, Robert Nighthawk, Lowell Fulson, Eddie Taylor, Louisiana Red, Junior Wells, James Cotton, Billy Branch, Jimmy Dawkins and his son, blues guitarist Lurrie Bell.
In 1998, Carey Bell was awarded the Blues Music Award for Traditional Male Artist Of The Year.
Carey Bell died of heart failure on May 6, 2007 in Chicago.
I'm Ready
Carey Bell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm ready, ready as anybody can be
I'm ready for you, I hope you're ready for me
I got an axe handle pistol on a graveyard frame
That shoot tombstone bullets wearin' balls and chain
I'm drinkin' TNT, I'm smokin' dynamite
I hope some screwball start a fight
'Cause I'm ready, ready as anybody can be
I'm ready for you, I hope you're ready for me
All you pretty little chicks with your pretty little hair
I know you feel like I ain't nowhere
But stop what your doin' baby come over here
I'll prove to you baby that I ain't no square
Because I'm ready, ready as anybody can be
I'm ready for you, I hope you're ready for me
I been drinkin' gin like never before
I feel so good I want you to know
One more drink I wish you would
It takes a whole lotta lovin' to make me feel good
'Cause I'm ready, ready as anybody can be
I'm ready for you, I hope you're ready for me
The song "I'm Ready" by Carey Bell is a classic blues jam that showcases the artist's gritty and edgy sound. The song speaks about how the singer is ready for anything that comes his way, and he is well equipped for any battle. The opening stanza repeats the phrase "I'm ready, ready as anybody can be" twice; this highlights the singer's confidence and readiness. He is always prepared, and he is urging the listener to be ready to face him, stating that he is ready for them. The repetition of this line is also a common theme in many blues songs, highlighting the simplicity of the genre.
The second stanza of the song talks about how the singer has an axe-handle pistol on a graveyard frame that shoots tombstone bullets, wearing balls and chains. This reference is a metaphor for the challenges that the singer has faced, that have toughened him and made him unbreakable. He further says that he is drinking TNT and smoking dynamite, hoping someone would start a fight with him. This line resonates with the themes of masculinity and toughness that are common in the blues genre.
The last stanza of the song is an attempt by the singer to persuade women into being with him. He addresses women as "pretty little chicks," telling them to stop what they are doing and come over to him. He assures them that he is not a square and will prove his worth to them. The song ends with the singer stating that he needs more love to feel good, reinforcing the themes of masculinity and toughness.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm ready, ready as anybody can be
I am fully prepared and able to handle any situation that comes my way
I'm ready for you, I hope you're ready for me
I am eager and willing to engage in any activity with you and anticipate that you are feeling the same way
I got an axe handle pistol on a graveyard frame
I am well-armed and equipped with a powerful weapon that can take down any adversary
That shoot tombstone bullets wearin' balls and chain
My weapon is deadly and can cause significant harm to anyone who crosses me
I'm drinkin' TNT, I'm smokin' dynamite
I am consuming highly explosive substances that give me an invincible feeling
I hope some screwball start a fight
I am looking for a conflict or altercation to unleash my aggression
'Cause I'm ready, ready as anybody can be
Because of my readiness and preparation, I am confident in my abilities to handle any challenge
All you pretty little chicks with your pretty little hair
I am addressing attractive women and implying that their beauty may make them underestimate me
I know you feel like I ain't nowhere
I suspect that these women may see me as weak or insignificant due to their own biases or prejudices
But stop what your doin' baby come over here
I am inviting these women to get a closer look at me and my abilities in order to prove them wrong
I'll prove to you baby that I ain't no square
I am confident in my identity and I want to show these women that I am not dull or uninteresting
I been drinkin' gin like never before
I have been consuming a large quantity of alcohol that has made me feel more confident and energetic than usual
I feel so good I want you to know
My current state of mind and body make me feel extremely positive, and I want others to share in that feeling
One more drink I wish you would
I want to continue my current level of intoxication because it contributes to my sense of invincibility
It takes a whole lotta lovin' to make me feel good
It requires a significant amount of attention and admiration to satisfy me emotionally
Writer(s): MCKINLEY MORGANFIELD
Contributed by John L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.