He was born in Widener, Arkansas (the 14th of 15 musically gifted children) first connected to the blues at age ten, when he began playing the diddley bow (a wire attached by nails to a wall with rocks for bridges and a bottle to fret the wire). His family migrated to Chicago in 1951, and Luther began soaking in the sounds of Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Robert Nighthawk. He was classmates with Muddy Waters' son and occasionally stopped in the Waters' house to watch the master rehearse. It wasn't until he was 18 already in Chicago for seven years that Luther began playing blues on a real guitar and jamming with his brother Ollie's band. He began hanging outside blues clubs with the hopes of being invited to perform. He played with Howlin' Wolf's band and backed up James Cotton.
By 1957, Allison had dropped out of school and formed a band called The Rolling Stones. Unhappy with the name, they became The Four Jivers, gigging all over the West Side of Chicago. Before long, Luther was jamming with the West Side's best, including Magic Sam, Otis Rush, and Freddie King, who encouraged Allison to sing. "That," said Allison, "was my school." When King began to tour nationally in the early 1960s, Allison took over King's band as well as his weekly gigs at Walton's Corner and became one of the hottest acts on the West Side. For five years, Allison honed his craft. He moved to California for a year and cut sides with fellow Chicagoans Shakey Jake Harris and Sunnyland Slim.
His big break came in 1957 when Muddy Waters invited Allison to the stage. He worked the club circuit throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s and recorded his first single in 1965. Allison was signed to the Delmark Records label in fall 1967. He cut his first two songs as a leader on the now-classic Delmark anthology, Sweet Home Chicago, before releasing his debut album Love Me Mama. He performed a stellar, show stopping, set at the 1969 Ann Arbor Blues Festival and was invited to the next three consecutive festivals. He also toured nation-wide and, in 1972, was signed to Motown Records, one of the few blues artists to do so. By the mid 1970s he began touring Europe, enjoyed the warm reception by the crowds and moved to France in 1977. He wouldn't return to the United States for another fifteen years disgusted by the disco music that started there.
LUTHER ALLISON's manager and European agent Thomas Ruf founded the label Ruf Records in 1994. Since signing with Ruf Records, Allison launched a major comeback in association with Alligator Records. Alligator Records founder, Bruce Iglauer, convinced Allison to return to the States. With the release of Soul Fixin' Man in 1994, Allison's first domestic album in 20 years, he announced his return. "Fever and chills performances," said Guitar Player, "ferocious solos combine the wisdom of a master storyteller with the elegance of B.B. King, the elasticity of Buddy Guy, and the big sting of Albert King."
After three mammoth U.S. tours, America once again was paying attention to LUTHER ALLISON. On his American comeback tour, including his nationally broadcast and typically jaw-dropping set at the 1995 Chicago Blues Festival, LUTHER ALLISON announced to the world that he was not only back, he was unstoppable. And now he has the trophies to prove it, having received every award the blues has to offer. He swept the 1996 W.C.Handy Awards with five statues, won 10 Living Blues Awards and a 1995 Indie Award, and played in front of hundreds of thousands of screaming fans at festivals and clubs all over the world. He appeared on the cover of Living Blues, Blues Revue, Blues Access, and was the subject of major feature stories and reviews in Guitar Player, Guitar World, and Guitar For The Practicing Musician, as well as being featured on National Public Radio's Weekend All Things Considered and The Late Show With Conan O'Brien. "LUTHER ALLISON", proclaimed Blues Revue," is the New King of the Blues."
Allison followed up with Blue Streak, and the praise and accolades poured in. "A sonic roar as soulful as his gospel-shout vocals," raved the Washington Post. "Luther Allison's latest is nothing short of a masterpiece by a master," reported Blues Revue. Continued touring brought Allison before raving fans around the world, as he brought his band from the San Francisco Blues Festival to New York's Central Park Summerstage, with all stops in between. With Reckless, Allison reached even greater heights. Guitar World said, "Reckless in the best sense of the word, dancing on a razor's edge, remaining just this side of out-of-control. Hard-driving, piercing West Side Chicago single-note leads with a soul base and a rock edge."
Luther toured the US and Canada thoroughly and his fan base grew to his mind-blowing performances. Both Allison and Soul Fixin' Man won four WC Handy Awards in 1994. With the James Solberg Band backing him, non-stop touring and the release of Blue Streak (featuring song "Cherry Red Wine"), Allison continued to earn more Handy's and gain wider recognition. Allison scored a host of Living Blues Awards and was featured on the cover pages of major Blues publications. Throughout it all, Allison delivered one show-stopping performance after another. His boundless energy and fierce guitar attack combined to make him a blues superstar who reached rock fans like no bluesmen since Freddie King and Albert Collins. Allison was known for his strong showmanship, ten minute long guitar solos and crowd walking with an extra long cord attached to his Gibson Les Paul.
In the middle of his summer of '97 tour, Allison checked into a hospital for chest pains and breathing problems. Unfortunately, it was discovered that he had a tumor on his lung that was about to metastasize to his spine. In and out of a coma, LUTHER ALLISON died on August 12, 1997, five days before his 58th birthday. His album Reckless had just been released. Without a doubt, LUTHER ALLISON's death robbed music fans of one of the most exciting and popular blues performers ever. With Live In Chicago, Allison lives on, as he tears through the songs with the single-minded desire to give everything he has to his audience. While listening to the album, fans can immerse themselves in the explosive power of LUTHER ALLISON's music and experience the redemptive force of his legendary performances. Not only did he leave his legacy to never be forgotten, but his son Bernard Allison (born 1965) is an exceptional blues guitarist in his own right.
You Don't Know
Luther Allison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now come on baby, can't you stand the test
I'm sick and tried of all your mess
Whatcha gonna do girl when I'm gone
Whatcha gonna do baby when I'm gone
Open your eyes you been crying all night long
Mama treat your daddy really mean
Your the meanest girl that I ever seen, listen
You don't know, like I know
I can't know, you don't know
Yeah babe take me by the hand
Baby take me by my hand
Walk me like you walk your dog I'll understand
Your a mean wowan, mean and mean no good
Your mean mean mean mean your mean no good
You don't treat me baby like you should
Tears in my eyes
I can't lie
Can't say good bye
I don't know why
I love you, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway
I love you, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway now
This I know
You can't go
Yes it's true
I love you
In Luther Allison's song, You Don't Know, the singer is addressing a lover who has mistreated and taken advantage of him. He is tired of her behavior and challenges her to stand the test of their relationship, implying that she has not been putting in the effort needed to make it work. The repeated "whatcha gonna do" suggests that the singer knows that the lover's behavior will ultimately lead to his departure, but he is questioning whether she will be better off without him. The line "open your eyes you been crying all night long" is a moment of empathy, where the singer acknowledges the pain that his partner is experiencing, likely as a result of their toxic relationship.
The singer then addresses the mother of his partner, accusing her of raising a woman who is "mean" and mistreats her partner. The repeated refrain of "You don't know, like I know" suggests that there is a disconnect between the singer's experience and the lover's understanding of their relationship. The singer seems resigned to the fact that his lover will not change her behavior, as he admits that he loves her even though she treats him poorly. The song ends on a sad note, with the singer acknowledging that he cannot let go of his love for her, despite the pain she has caused.
Line by Line Meaning
Now come on baby, can't you stand the test
I'm asking you if you're ready for a real relationship that can survive through tough times.
I'm sick and tired of all your mess
I'm tired of dealing with all of the issues you bring into our relationship.
Whatcha gonna do girl when I'm gone
What are you going to do when I'm not around to put up with you?
Open your eyes you been crying all night long
You need to recognize the pain you cause to others, that even you cry all night long.
Mama treat your daddy mean
You treat me like your mother treated your father, very badly.
Your the meanest girl that I ever seen, listen
I've never come across someone as mean as you, I need you to listen.
You don't know, like I know
You don't understand the pain you cause because you haven't been in my shoes before.
I can't know, you don't know
I don't know what it's like to be you, and you don't know what it's like to be me.
Baby take me by my hand
Let's walk together through this relationship, showing me you care.
Walk me like you walk your dog I'll understand
If you take care of me like you take care of your dog, I will feel loved and understood.
Your mean mean mean mean your mean no good
You're extremely mean, and not good for me.
You don't treat me baby like you should
You don't love me in the way that I deserve to be loved.
Tears in my eyes
I'm emotional and upset about the state of our relationship.
I can't lie
I have to be honest with you about the way I feel.
Can't say good bye
Despite everything, I can't bring myself to leave you.
I don't know why
I don't understand why I continue to love you despite everything.
I love you, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway
Despite your flaws, I love you unconditionally.
This I know
I am certain of this.
You can't go
I don't want to lose you, you can't leave me.
Yes it's true
What I'm saying is true.
I love you
I have deep feelings of love for you that persist despite everything else.
Contributed by Allison I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.