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.
The Sun Is Shining
Jimmy Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on baby, help me defend this gold
There's a band down in
Really, really rock and roll
Well the sun is shinin' on both sides of the street
Ahh, the sun is shinin' on both sides of the street
I got a smile on my face for every little girl I meet
Well my pocket's filled up to the top with dough
Yeah, my pocket's filled up to the top with dough
Well I'm all dressed up but ain't got no place to go
Got a brand new suit, a new pair of shoes
You can't lose, no? by you, baby
Help me defend this gold
Well I'm all dressed up, ain't got no place to go
The first line of the song "Come on baby, help me defend this gold" sets the tone for the entire song, which seems to be about a man who has hit it big in some way, but is now trying to protect what he has earned. The second line repeats the plea for help, but brings in the image of a band that is playing really rock and roll. It's as if the man is trying to convince the woman to join him in protecting his riches by tempting her with the allure of music and excitement.
The next verse shifts to a description of the sunny weather and the joyful attitude of the singer. He has a smile on his face for every little girl he meets, suggesting that he is enjoying his wealth and success. However, the repetition of the phrase "sun is shinin' on both sides of the street" also implies that there is a dark side to this sunny facade, perhaps suggesting that the man is not as happy as he seems.
The final verse brings in the image of the man being all dressed up but having nowhere to go. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the emptiness that can come with material success, or it could simply be a literal description of the man's situation: he has money and nice clothes, but he is alone and without purpose. Overall, the lyrics seem to be exploring the complicated emotions that can come with wealth and success, and how those things can both elevate and isolate an individual.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on baby, help me defend this gold
I need your help to protect and keep this valuable possession safe.
There's a band down in really, really rock and roll
There's an awesome band playing great music down there.
Well the sun is shinin' on both sides of the street
The weather is beautiful and sunny on both sides of the street.
Ahh, the sun is shinin' on both sides of the street
The sun is shining and it's a good day for everyone.
I got a smile on my face for every little girl I meet
I am happy and friendly to every girl I come across.
Yeah, my pocket's filled up to the top with dough
I have a lot of money in my pocket.
Well I'm all dressed up but ain't got no place to go
I have made an effort to dress up nicely, but I have nowhere to go.
Got a brand new suit, a new pair of shoes
I bought new clothes and shoes, and I feel good about them.
You can't lose, no? by you, baby
I am confident that I won't fail because you are with me, baby.
Help me defend this gold
Once again, I'm asking for your help to protect this valuable thing I have.
Well I'm all dressed up, ain't got no place to go
I still have nowhere to go despite looking good.
Contributed by Alexis D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@frankkromkowski6909
Corrected lyrics:
Come on baby, help me to spend this gold
Come on baby, help me spend this gold
There's a band down the street where we can
Really, really rock and roll
Well the sun is shinin' on both sides of the street
Ahh, the sun is shinin' on both sides of the street
I got a smile on my face for every little girl I meet
Well my pocket's filled up to the top with dough
Yeah, my pocket's filled up to the top with dough
Well I'm all dressed up but ain't got no place to go
Got a brand new suit, a new pair of shoes
You can't lose, [??... ... ??]
Help me to spend this gold
Well I'm all dressed up, ain't got no place to go
@chazhernandez6933
Been listening to Jimmy since i was 4. 1963. My family always had music playing in the house. Still listen now 64 years old. 🎶🎶🎶
@marcellanorfleet4438
Who's listening in 2019??
@hereIam1965
One of Jim Morrison favourite artists
@theshods5679
Jimmy reed is one of my all-time favorite songwriters. Great songs.
@ddoeser5830
Hest zain ?
@chazhernandez701
Ah so good. I grew up listening to Jimmy Reed at Carnegie Hall. I met a lot of bluesman throughout the years from muddy to John Lee Hooker James Cotton but I never met Jimmy one of my favorite because he died in the middle 60s but I still listen to him so good
@charlesduckettjr.800
Jimmy Reed died on August 29, 1976. NOT THE "middle 60's". Jeez.
@snsharbaby81
Love this Song and Many more by Jimmy Reed!!!!
@bobaldo2339
Still sounds fresh after all these years.
@formaface
....my favourite Jimmy Reed number....great upload!!