Green started off as a bass player in such bands as The Muskrats. Joining The Peter B's, led by Peter Bardens, later the frontman of Camel, (including drummer Mick Fleetwood) he switched to lead guitar and made his first recordings. He took over the lead guitar spot in John Mayall and the Blues Breakers in 1966 after the departure of Eric Clapton.
After recording on one Mayall album Peter left in 1967 to form Fleetwood Mac.
Green was the guiding force of Fleetwood Mac from 1967 to 1970 when he left for musical and personal reasons. Under Green's guidance, the Mac played a very gritty and authentic version of the electric blues popularized in bars on Chicago's south side. (They even did some fine recordings there--"Blues Jam in Chicago"--which saw release only after his tenure in the band had ended). A prolific song writer also, he penned such hits as Man of the World; Oh Well; Green Manalishi; Albatross and Black Magic Woman. Albatross reached number 1 in the UK charts, Black Magic Woman was also recorded by Santana on their Abraxas album.
From 1970 to 1974, Green played some sessions, and worked with several small bands, as well as releasing two solo singles and an album of extended jams, The End of the Game for Reprise. By the end of 1974, he had withdrawn from the music scene.
By 1979 Green was recording again for PVK records as a solo artist with the debut album In the Skies; 1980 Little Dreamer; 1981 Blue Guitar; 1981 Whatcha Gonna Do; 1981 White Sky; 1984 Kolors; 1987 Katmandu; 1988 Legend; 1992 One Woman Love;
Green again left the music world in 1984, and there followed a very difficult period in his life, which came to an end in the mid 90's, and coincided with renewed interest, partly generated by a biography written by Martin Celmins, and a tribute album recorded by Gary Moore.
Green formed a new group in 1995 with Nigel Watson called the Peter Green Splinter Group. Returning to form the group produced some of Peter’s best playing since leaving Fleetwood Mac. Albums include 1997 Splinter Group; 1998 Robert Johnson Songbook; 2002 Reaching For The Cold 100.
Green left The Splinter Group in 2003. Since then, he has played sporadically, appearing at a Lord's Taverner's benefit at The Royal Albert Hall, and doing some gigs with The British Blues All-Stars.
In February 2009, Green began playing and touring again, this time as Peter Green and Friends. In May 2009 he was the subject of the BBC Four documentary "Peter Green: Man of the World", produced by Henry Hadaway. Green and the band subsequently played a tour of Ireland, Germany and England. They went on to play several dates in Australia during March 2010, including the Byron Bay Bluesfest.
Born Under a Bad Sign
Peter Green Lyrics
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I´ve been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn´t for bad luck
I wouldn´t have no luck at all
Born under a bad sign
I´ve been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn´t for bad luck
Wine and women is all I crave
Big fat woman.
Who is going to carry me to my grave
Born under a bad sign
I´ve been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn´t for bad luck
I wouldn´t have no luck at all
Born under a bad sign
I´ve been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn´t for bad luck
I wouldn´t have no luck at all
Born under a bad sign ...
Peter Green's "Born Under a Bad Sign" is a blues-infused lamentation in which the singer acknowledges their lifelong streak of bad luck. The song's repetitive structure serves to emphasize the feeling of being stuck in a cycle of misfortune. The opening two lines, "Born under a bad sign, I've been down since I began to crawl," suggest that the singer has never known anything other than hardship. The repeated refrain, "If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all," reinforces this sense of hopelessness.
The song's lyrics also touch on the singer's relationship with material possessions and pleasure. The line "Wine and women is all I crave, big fat woman, who's gonna carry me to my grave" suggests a hedonistic streak, but also implies that these indulgences are ultimately unfulfilling. The singer seems to feel that they are trapped in a vicious cycle of craving and dissatisfaction. Overall, "Born Under a Bad Sign" is a powerful expression of the blues ethos in which personal experience and creative output are intimately connected.
Line by Line Meaning
Born under a bad sign
I have had a difficult and unlucky life from the very beginning.
I've been down since I began to crawl
I have been struggling and unhappy from infancy.
If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all
The only kind of luck I ever seem to have is bad luck. If not for that, I would have no luck at all.
Wine and women is all I crave
The only things that bring me any pleasure or comfort are alcohol and the companionship of women.
Big fat woman
I am specifically drawn to overweight women.
Who is going to carry me to my grave
I am resigned to living a hard life and foresee no possibility of improvement. I fear that I will die having never known true happiness or success.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOOKER T. JONES, WILLIAM BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind