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.
Take Out Some Insurance
Jimmy Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That would be the end of me, 'cause I'd have a heart attack
You better get some insurance on me, baby, take out some insurance on me, baby
'Cause if you ever, ever say goodbye, I'm gonna haul right off and die
Darlin', how I love you, long as I got breath
If we part, I know sweetheart, it would worry me to death
You better get some insurance on me, baby, take out some insurance on me, baby
Don't get no sick and accident, 'cause I'm healthy as can be
Now, if ya got any sense, you'd take the hint and get a Penn Life, on me
You don't know me, baby, like I know myself,
I couldn't live if you should give your love to someone else
Better get some insurance on me, baby, take out some insurance on me, baby
'Cause if you ever, ever say goodbye, I'm gonna haul right off and die
In Jimmy Reed's "Take Out Some Insurance," the singer is pleading with his partner to not leave him. He describes the love he has for them and how he couldn't bear the thought of them leaving. The singer tells their partner that if they leave, it would be the end of him and that he would have a heart attack. The idea of his partner leaving him is so devastating that he suggests that they take out some insurance on him so that if they ever do leave, he can be taken care of financially. Throughout the song, it's clear that the singer is desperate to keep his partner and is willing to do anything to make that happen.
The repetition of the phrase "take out some insurance on me, baby" serves as a metaphor for the singer's fear of losing his partner. By asking his partner to take out insurance on him, he is essentially asking them to guarantee that they won't leave him. The fear of abandonment is so strong that it drives the singer to suggest something as extreme as taking out insurance.
The song is a classic example of Jimmy Reed's blues style. He was known for his simple chord progressions and straightforward lyrics, often depicting the struggles of everyday life. "Take Out Some Insurance" is no exception to this rule. The song is a reminder of the power of love and how it consumes us when we're in its grip.
Line by Line Meaning
If you leave me, baby, say you won't be back
If you decide to leave me, please let me know for sure, because it would greatly affect my health
That would be the end of me, 'cause I'd have a heart attack
If you leave me, I won't be able to handle it, and it might lead to a heart attack
You better get some insurance on me, baby, take out some insurance on me, baby
It would be wise for you to get some sort of insurance on me, in case of any unexpected events
'Cause if you ever, ever say goodbye, I'm gonna haul right off and die
If you ever did decide to leave me, I would be completely devastated
Darlin', how I love you, long as I got breath
I love you so much, for as long as I am alive
If we part, I know sweetheart, it would worry me to death
The thought of us breaking up would cause me great anxiety and distress
Don't get no sick and accident, 'cause I'm healthy as can be
I don't usually get into accidents or get sick, so there would be no reason for any extra insurance coverage in those areas
Now, if ya got any sense, you'd take the hint and get a Penn Life, on me
If you're smart, you'll understand the importance of getting some sort of life insurance for me
You don't know me, baby, like I know myself,
You may think you know me well, but I know myself better than anyone else
I couldn't live if you should give your love to someone else
If you were to love someone else, it would be too much for me to handle
Better get some insurance on me, baby, take out some insurance on me, baby
Once again, it would be wise for you to get some sort of insurance on me, just in case
'Cause if you ever, ever say goodbye, I'm gonna haul right off and die
The thought of you leaving me is so devastating, it might as well be the end of me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jesse Albert Stone
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
youcanttunafish
If you leave me baby
And say you won't be back
That would be the end of me
'Cause I'd have a heart attack
CHORUS:
You'd better get some insurance on me baby
Take out some insurance on me baby
'Cause if you ever ever say goodbye
I'm gonna haul right off and die
Darling I will love you
As long as I got breath
If we should part I know sweetheart
It would worry me to death
(chorus)
Bridge--I can't really tell what he's saying except for ..."sick".... ":accident 'cuz I'm healthy as can be" The rest I can make out.
You don't know me baby
Like I know myself
I couldn't live if you should give
All your love to someone else
(chorus)
captaindingo13
When I was a kid in the early 70s, I used to listen to Jimmy Reed records that my dad had in his collection. I knew then that my dad was cool. 😎
Blayne B
Great song, the definition of cool. And the rhythm section, bass/drums are just killer. What a groove.
MrJabo1944
One of the greatest Blues singers/writers EVER!
Michael Dore
No argument
Leftie
One of my favorites. Just happened to buy a marked down album without knowing how good he was (wow). Love the way he says those words.
Edward Phifer
One of the all-time greats singing a winner!!!
Carlos Nells
Some of the first music I fell in love with...and it may be the last I listen to as my days run out.
T.T. Stern
masterful!!! harmonica skill while playing guitar is stellar!!!
Lisa Walker
This is a really great song and it always will be I also think they should make it the theme song for The True Crime show Snapped because it just seems like there's always a big insurance policy involved in it usually doesn't end real well for the person who had the policy taken out on them
marcelo jimenez
Jimmy Reed un Grande Maestro del blues también influenció a los Stones! !!!!