He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in Arkansas. Wells moved to Chicago in 1948 and first made his mark at age 18 playing in Muddy Waters' band. He later worked with Buddy Guy in the 1960s and recorded for Delmark Records. His most memorable songs are "Messin' With the Kid" and "Little by Little," and his best-known album, 1965's Hoodoo Man Blues, which evokes the smoky atmosphere of the era's Westside Chicago blues bars.
Wells made an appearance in the 1998 movie Blues Brothers 2000, the sequel to The Blues Brothers. The movie was released less than a month after his death.
On his passing in 1998, Junior Wells was interred in the Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago.
Use Me
Junior Wells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They keep trying to tell me all you want to do is use me
Well my answer said all that use me stuff
Is I wanna spread the news
That if it feels this good getting used
Oh you just keep on using me
Until you use me up
Uh huh, until you use me up
Well my brother, you know he sit me right down and he talked to me
Well he told me, that I ought not let you just walk on me
(Well, you too big for that boy)
Well I'm sure he meant well
You know but when our talk was through
I just said now brother if you only knew
You'd wish that you were in my shoes
Oh you just keep on using me
Until you use me up
Uh huh, until you use me up
Well sometimes, it's true you really do abuse me
Well you get me in a crowd of high class people
And then you act real rude to me
But oh baby, baby, baby, baby
When you love me I can't get enough
And I said I wanna spread the news
That if it feels this good getting used
Oh you just keep on using me
(Come on now)
Until you use me up
Until you use me up.
Talking 'bout you using me
well it all depends on what you do
it ain't too bad the way you're using me
cause I sure am using you to do the things you do
Uh huh, until you use me up
Oh no, Oh no, until you use me up
Until you use me up
Until you use me up
Baby, just keep on using
Oh no, until you use me up
Until you use me up
Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Until you use
me up
Funky, Funky, Funky, Funky, Funky, Funky, Funky, Funky, Funky, Funky,
Funky
Until you use me up
The lyrics of Junior Wells's song "Use Me" appear to be directed towards someone who the singer believes is only using them for their own benefit. The tone is somewhat ambivalent, with the singer acknowledging that they are being used and yet still finding pleasure and satisfaction in the arrangement. The singer's friends and family are apparently concerned that they are being taken advantage of, but the singer is either unwilling or unable to extricate themselves from the relationship. Instead, they seem content to be used and to keep coming back for more. The lyrics suggest that the singer is aware of the power dynamics at play in the relationship, but is willing to accept them as long as they are getting something in return. The repeated refrain of "until you use me up" seems to suggest that the singer is willing to go along with this arrangement for as long as it continues to feel good.
Overall, the song seems to be about the complexities of power dynamics in relationships, particularly when one person is more invested or more dependent on the other. The lyrics suggest that the singer is aware that they are being used but is choosing to go along with it because of the pleasure they find in the relationship. This complicates the idea of consent and raises questions about what constitutes a healthy, equal relationship. At the same time, the song's upbeat, funky groove suggests that the singer is enjoying themselves despite any potential downsides.
Line by Line Meaning
Well my friends feel it's their appointed duty
My friends believe that it is their responsibility to warn me that all you want to do is use me.
They keep trying to tell me all you want to do is use me
My friends are warning me that you only want to take advantage of me and my resources.
Well my answer said all that use me stuff
I responded to their warnings regarding your intentions to take advantage of me and my resources.
Is I wanna spread the news
What I really want to do is spread the word or make an announcement.
That if it feels this good getting used
If it feels good to be taken advantage of or used by you.
Oh you just keep on using me
Please don't stop taking advantage of me or using me.
Until you use me up
Please use me until my resources are completely drained or depleted.
Well my brother, you know he sit me right down and he talked to me
My brother sat me down and had a conversation with me about you.
Well he told me, that I ought not let you just walk on me
My brother advised me to not let you take advantage of me or use me without consequences.
Well I'm sure he meant well
I believe he had good intentions and was trying to help me out.
You know but when our talk was through
After our conversation ended.
I just said now brother if you only knew
I replied to my brother by saying that if he only knew what it feels like to be used by you.
You'd wish that you were in my shoes
He would understand how good it feels to be used by you and wish he were in my position.
Well sometimes, it's true you really do abuse me
Sometimes, it's true that you take advantage of me and mistreat me.
Well you get me in a crowd of high class people
When you bring me around high class people.
And then you act real rude to me
You start acting rude toward me, which is humiliating.
But oh baby, baby, baby, baby
Despite your mistreatment, when you show me affection.
When you love me I can't get enough
I can't get enough of your love and attention even if you are using me.
Talking 'bout you using me
Referring to the fact that you are taking advantage of me.
Well it all depends on what you do
It depends on how you use me and for what purpose.
It ain't too bad the way you're using me
Being used by you isn't too bad or unpleasant.
Cause I sure am using you to do the things you do
Because I am also using you for certain things.
Baby, just keep on using
Keep on using me please.
Funky, Funky, Funky, Funky, Funky, Funky, Funky, Funky, Funky, Funky, Funky
Expressing a funky musical interlude as the song continues on.
Contributed by Adam B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jamie Leivers
This is purely amazing! What a cool, funky as version!
RW Jazz
this is the gold standard.
Steve Cournane
Had to find this one. Tough song to cover. Almost impossible to change the feel I imagine
Elektronik Tasarımlar Rayman
Perfect
rd1550
sorry Bill......