I'm Ready
Muddy Water Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am ready, ready as anybody can be
I am ready for you, I hope you ready for me
I got an axe handle pistol on a graveyard frame
That shoot tombstone bullets, wearin' balls and chain
I'm drinkin' TNT, I'm smokin' dynamite
I hope some screwball start a fight
I am ready for you, I hope you're ready for me
All you pretty little chicks with your pretty little hair
I know you feels like I ain't nowhere
But stop what you're doin' baby come over here
I'll prove to you baby, that I ain't no square
Because I'm ready, ready as anybody can be
I am ready for you, I hope you're ready for me
I been drinkin' gin like never before
I feel so good, I want you to know
One more drink, I wish you would
I takes a whole lotta lovin' to make me feel good
'Cause I'm ready, ready as anybody can be
I am ready for you, I hope you're ready for me
In Muddy Water's song "I'm Ready," the singer is boldly declaring his readiness for anything and everything that comes his way. He repeats this declaration throughout the song, asserting that he is ready as anybody can be. The context of the song suggests that the singer is ready for his lover or anyone else who wants to come his way.
The second verse of the song reveals that the singer has an "axe handle pistol on a graveyard frame," which he claims can shoot "tombstone bullets" while wearing "balls and chain." He also notes that he's been "drinkin' TNT" and "smokin' dynamite," and is hoping that someone will start a fight with him. This verse sets up a dangerous and menacing tone for the song, which is then interrupted in the next verse when the singer addresses "all you pretty little chicks with your pretty little hair." He seems to be imploring them to come closer so he can prove that he's "no square."
The last verse of the song reveals that the singer has been "drinkin' gin like never before," which has put him in a good mood. However, he claims that it takes a "whole lotta lovin'" to make him really feel good. Through the song, the singer seems to be posturing and trying to prove his toughness, while also expressing his vulnerability and desire for love.
Overall, "I'm Ready" is a song full of contradictions and complexity, with the singer vacillating between toughness and vulnerability, bravado and insecurity.
Line by Line Meaning
I am ready, ready as anybody can be
I am fully prepared and confident, more than anyone else could possibly be
I am ready for you, I hope you ready for me
I am prepared to face you, and I hope you can handle me as well
I got an axe handle pistol on a graveyard frame
I am armed and dangerous with a pistol made from a coffin handle
That shoot tombstone bullets, wearin' balls and chain
My bullets can shatter headstones, and I wear chains as a symbol of my toughness
I'm drinkin' TNT, I'm smokin' dynamite
I am consuming explosive substances, reflecting my daring and wild nature
I hope some screwball start a fight
I am eager for a conflict with a crazy and unpredictable opponent
'Cause I'm ready, ready as anybody can be
I am announcing my readiness and confidence, more than anyone could imagine
All you pretty little chicks with your pretty little hair
To all the attractive women in the audience, you may think I'm no good
I know you feels like I ain't nowhere
I know you believe that I am worthless and insignificant
But stop what you're doin' baby come over here
But come over here and witness my true worth and strength
I'll prove to you baby, that I ain't no square
I will demonstrate that I am not weak and boring, but rather daring and exciting
I been drinkin' gin like never before
I have been drinking an excessive amount of gin, perhaps to fuel my confidence and boldness
I feel so good, I want you to know
I am feeling euphoric and powerful, and I want to impress others with my good mood
One more drink, I wish you would
I am daring the audience to challenge me to drink more, as I am unafraid of the consequences
I takes a whole lotta lovin' to make me feel good
It requires a lot of intensity and passion to satisfy me and make me happy
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: WILLIE DIXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dillantaylor6716
I got a axe handle pistol on a graveyard frame
That shoots tombstone bullets, wearing balls and chain
I'm drinking TNT
I'm smoking dynamite
I hope some screwball start a fight
Because I'm ready
Ready as anybody can be
I'm ready for you
I hope you ready for me
Those have to be the best lines in a blues tune EVA!!!
Muddy and Willie Dixon were definitely masters. rip to the both of them
@lindatoosaucy8625
I am ready, as ready as anybody can be
I am ready, ready as anybody can be
I am ready for you, I hope you ready for me
I got a axe-handled pistol on my graveyard frame
That shoot tombstone bullets, wearing balls and chain
I'm drinking TNT, I'm smoking dynamite
I hope some screwball start a fight
Cause I'm ready, ready as anybody can be
I am ready for you, I hope you ready for me
All you pretty little chicks with your curly hair
I know you feel like I ain't nowhere
Well, stop what you're doing, baby, come over here
I'll prove to you baby that I ain't no square
Because I'm ready, as ready as anybody can be
I am ready for you, I hope you ready for me
I been drinking gin like never before
I feel so good I want you to know
One more drink, I wish you would
I takes a whole lotta loving to make me feel good
Cause I'm ready, as ready as anybody can be
I am ready for you, I hope you ready for me
@xpmark1
This song takes me back to 1954,we white guys in our teens would cruise north Tulsa's colored town,the smoke filled bars and joints were jumpin with live rhythm and blues music,huge black dudes lighting up outside keeping watch.Muddy might have slipped into town,largely un-noticed by the white media,unless you heard he was coming in or got your hands on the Greenwood Eagle, the black newspaper.
@xgum
this guy has stories to tell
@francineandrews206
Wow I wish I were there
@danielorr7627
We're you in a Buick?
@monkeytown1000
Great drumming by Muddy Waters band unsung star Fred Below on the off beat, drives the whole song along.
@ralphraucci
I first heard this Great Song in early 1987 on the Blue Monday Show from the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, CT. I still remember the Host's words to this Day, Muddy Waters 1954 version of I'm Ready with Willie Dixon on Bass, Little Walter on Harmonica, Otis Spann on Piano, Jimmy Rogers on Guitar, and Fred Below on Drums.
It was only through listener supported Collage Radio that we heard these Great Original Artists. I was 27 at the time, it saddens me that almost all the original Great Artist are gone and most Americans don't know about them.
@philwear
Ralph Raucci Sheet what a line up !!!
@alangonzalez7665
Ralph Raucci
@deannayoung1612
Ralph Raucci it's really sad that younger people won't ever even know this music!! all the greats & best of all times! I'm glad I'm able to hold near & dear all the greats & what they stood for! this is just great music!!
@donnaleblanc3726
I know what you mean. There is so much great music in America that most people don’t hear. Thank God for college radio and the progressive radio stations! I heard lots of blues, jazz, zydeco, bluegrass, Cajun and rhythm and blues on these stations, WHCN in the 1970s and University of Hartford radio.