Reed was born in Dunleith, Mississippi, in 1925, learning the harmonica and guitar from Eddie Taylor, a close friend. After spending several years busking and performing in the area, Reed moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1943 before being drafted into the US Navy during World War II. In 1945, Reed was discharged and moved back to Mississippi for a brief period, marrying his girlfriend, Mary "Mama" Reed, before moving to Gary, Indiana to work at an Armour & Co. meat packing plant. Mama Reed appears as an uncredited background singer on many of his songs, notably the major hits "Baby What You Want Me to Do", "Big Boss Man" and "Bright Lights, Big City".
By the 1950s, Reed had established himself as a popular musician and joined the "Gary Kings" with John Brim, as well as playing on the street with Willie Joe Duncan. Reed failed to gain a recording contract with Chess Records, but signed with Vee-Jay Records through Brim's drummer, Albert King. At Vee-Jay, Reed began playing again with Eddie Taylor and soon released "You Don't Have to Go", his first hit record. This was followed by a long string of hits.
Reed maintained his reputation despite his rampant alcoholism; sometimes his wife had to help him remember the lyrics to his songs while recording. In 1957, Reed developed epilepsy, though the condition was not correctly diagnosed for a long time, as Reed and doctors assumed it was delirium tremens.
In spite of his numerous hits, Reed's personal problems prevented him from achieving the same level of fame as other popular blues artists of the time, though he had more hit songs than many others. When Vee-Jay Records closed down, Reed's manager signed a contract with the fledgling ABC-Bluesway label, but Reed was never able to score another hit.
In 1968 he toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival.
Jimmy Reed died in Oakland, California in 1976, of respiratory failure, eight days short of his 51st birthday. He is interred in the Lincoln Cemetery in Worth, Illinois.
In 1991 Reed was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Rolling Stones have cited Reed as a major influence on their sound, and their early set lists included many of Reed's songs, including tracks like "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby", "The Sun is Shining" (also played at the Stones' 1969 Altamont concert), "Bright Lights, Big City" and "Shame, Shame, Shame" ; the B-side of their February 1964 hit single "Not Fade Away" was a pastiche of "Shame, Shame, Shame" entitled "Little by Little". Their first album, The Rolling Stones, (subtitled England's Newest Hit Makers in America), released in April 1964, featured both "Little by Little" and their cover of Reed's "Honest I Do".
The Yardbirds recorded an instrumental dedicated to him entitled "Like Jimmy Reed Again", which was released on the "definitive edition" of their album Having a Rave Up.
Van Morrison's group Them covered "Bright Lights, Big City" and "Baby, What You Want Me To Do", both of which can be found on The Story of Them Featuring Van Morrison.
"Big Boss Man" was sung regularly by Ron "Pigpen" McKernan with the Grateful Dead during the 1960s and early 1970s and appears on their live album Skull and Roses. It was revived a few times by Jerry Garcia with the Dead during the 1980s. Bob Weir of the Dead also played it a few times with Kingfish in the mid 70s, and more recently with Ratdog. Phil Lesh also plays it with Phil & Friends. The Grateful Dead have also performed Baby What You Want Me to Do with Brent Mydland on vocals.
Elvis Presley recorded several of Reed's songs, scoring a 1967 hit with "Big Boss Man" and recording several performances of "Baby, What You Want Me to Do" for his 1968 Comeback TV Special. (However, Presley's 1964 hit, "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" is a different song than that recorded by Reed.) The song "Baby, What You Want Me to Do" was also covered by Wishbone Ash on their 1972 live album, Live Dates. "Baby What You Want Me to Do" was also frequently performed by Etta James and Hot Tuna. Johnny and Edgar Winter performed the song live in 1975 and included it on Johnny and Edgar Winter Together.
Reed's recordings of "Big Boss Man" and "Bright Lights, Big City" were both voted onto the list of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
Noted Austin, Texas musicians, Omar Kent Dykes and Jimmie Vaughan released an album entitled On the Jimmy Reed Highway as a tribute to Reed.
Bill Cosby covered 4 of Reed's songs – "Bright Lights, Big City", "Big Boss Man", "Hush Hush" and "Aw Shucks, Hush Your Mouth" – on his 1967 album Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings.
Steve Miller Band covered 5 of Reed's songs – "You're So Fine" on his 1968 album Sailor; "I Wanna Be Loved (But By Only You)", "Big Boss Man", "Caress Me Baby" and "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" on his 1986 album Living in the 20th Century.
Neil Young historically plays Reed's music to his audience before his shows.
British punk pioneer Billy Childish and his band Thee Headcoats released an EP of Reed covers entitled The Jimmy Reed Experience on Get Hip Records in 1997.
Christmas Present Blues
Jimmy Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna climb down your chimney, baby, I'm gonna put a present on your tree
I want to show the whole world, baby, oh, what you mean-a me
I think about you baby, honey, on ev'ry holiday
Know that I think about you baby, honey on ev'ry holiday
I'd make Christmas come twice a year, darlin'
If I only had my way
(I have mine)
I want to be your Santa Claus, baby, if it's the last thing I'll be
I want to be your Santa Claus, baby, if it's the last thing I'll be
Hang a present on your tree, darlin', show you what you mean-a me
(I hear ya, Jimmy)
The lyrics to Jimmy Reed's "Christmas Present Blues" are a prime example of blues music's ability to communicate heartfelt emotions through simple lyrics and raw, soulful delivery. In this song, Reed expresses his desire to be with his loved one on Christmas and how much he thinks about her on every holiday. He wants to climb down her chimney and put a present on her tree, not only to express his love for her but also to show the world how much she means to him.
The repetition of the lines "I want to show the whole world, baby, oh, what you mean-a me" and "I'd make Christmas come twice a year, darlin', if I only had my way" emphasizes how deeply Reed feels for his loved one and how much he wishes he could be with her on this special day. The line "I want to be your Santa Claus, baby, if it's the last thing I'll be" shows the extent of his desire to make his loved one happy, even if it means putting his own needs and desires aside.
Line by Line Meaning
want to climb down your chimney, baby, I want to put a present on your tree
I want to be with you, my love, during this festive season and gift you something special
I'm gonna climb down your chimney, baby, I'm gonna put a present on your tree
I am eagerly waiting to spend Christmas with you and leave a surprise gift for you under the Christmas tree
I want to show the whole world, baby, oh, what you mean-a me
I want to express my love for you to the world and demonstrate how much you mean to me
Know that I think about you baby, honey on ev'ry holiday
I remember you, my honey, on all holidays and cherish the moments we have spent together
I'd make Christmas come twice a year, darlin', If I only had my way
If it were in my control, I'd make Christmas a year-round celebration to enjoy it with you even more, my dear
I want to be your Santa Claus, baby, if it's the last thing I'll be
I want to fulfill your desires and be your Santa Claus, even if it's the last wish of mine
Hang a present on your tree, darlin', show you what you mean-a me
I want to leave a gift wrapped with love on your Christmas tree to show you how much you mean to me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JIMMY REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Budway moeller
Love it,,thanks.
Renee L.
Christmas in Jamaica. Irie...Reggae, Blues and Rock. I love it!
Deana Williams
Awesome. Thanks!
Bony Moronie
Something different from The Big Boss Man.