In 1957, Buchanan made his recording debut, playing the solo on Dale Hawkins' "My Babe" for Chicago's Chess Records. Three years later, Buchanan headed north to Canada, where he took charge of the guitar role in Ronnie Hawkins' band (a group later to gain fame as The Band). The group's guitar player, Robbie Robertson, studied guitar under Buchanan, and took over the lead guitar spot when Buchanan left the group.
The early 60's found Buchanan performing numerous gigs as a sideman with multiple rock bands, and cutting a number of sessions as guitarist with musicians such as Freddy Cannon and Merle Kilgore.
Buchanan's 1962 recording with drummer Bobby Gregg, "Potato Peeler", first introduced the trademark Buchanan pinch harmonics. An effort to cash in on the British Invasion caught Buchanan with The British Walkers. In the mid-'60's, Buchanan settled down in the Washington, DC area, playing as a sideman before starting his own groups. One of these groups was called The Snakestretchers, an allusion to Buchanan's disdain for the vagaries of the band experience. The Snakestretchers became a semi-permanent combo for Buchanan starting in this period, with whom he made his first acclaimed recording as a front man, Roy Buchanan & the Snakestretchers. Danny Gatton was another respected Telecaster master who lived in Washington, D.C. at that time. Both musicians gained reputations as under-appreciated guitarists.
In 1971, riding on word-of-mouth reputation that included praise from John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Merle Haggard, and an alleged invitation to join the Rolling Stones, Buchanan gained national notoriety as the result of an hour-long Public broadcasting television documentary. Entitled "The Best Unknown Guitarist In The World", the show rejuvenated a contract with Polydor and began a decade of national and international touring. He recorded five albums for Polydor (one went gold) and three for Atlantic Records (one gold), while playing most major rock concert halls and festivals. Finally, Buchanan quit recording in 1981, vowing never to enter a studio again unless he could record his own music his own way.
Four years later, Buchanan was coaxed back into the studio by Alligator Records. His first album for Alligator, When a Guitar Plays The Blues, was released in the spring of 1985. It was the first time he was given total artistic freedom in the studio. It was also his first true blues album. Fans quickly responded, and the album entered Billboard's pop charts and remained on the charts for 13 weeks. Music critics, as well as fans, applauded Roy's efforts with favorable reviews.
His second Alligator LP, Dancing on the Edge, was released in the fall of 1986. The album, featuring three songs with special guest, rock'n'soul vocalist Delbert McClinton, won the College Media Journal Award for Best Blues Album of 1986.
He released the twelfth LP of his career and his third for Alligator, Hot Wires, in 1987. In addition to Donald Kinsey (formerly with Albert King and Bob Marley), keyboardist Stan Szelest, and Larry Exum (bass) and Morris Jennings (drums), this album includes guest vocals by veteran soul singer Johnny Sayles and blues singer Kanika Kress.
Buchanan died August 14, 1988 in the Fairfax County, Virginia jail while being held after an arrest for public drunkeness. His death was ruled a suicide, although that finding has been disputed by friends and family.
Haunted House
Roy Buchanan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Moving was hard but I got squared away
When bells starting rings and chains rattled loud
I knew I'd moved in a haunted house
Still I made up my mind to stay
Nothing was a-gonna drive me away
When I seen something that give me the creeps
Had one big eye and two big feet
It did the stroll right up to me
Made a noise with its feet that sounded like a drum
Said "You gonna be here when the morning comes?"
"Say yes, I'll be here when the morning comes
I'll be right here, I ain't gonna run
I bought this house, now I am boss
Ain't no haint's gonna run me off"
In my kitchen my stove was a blazing hot
Coffee was a-boiling in the pot
Grease had melted in my hand (pan?)
I had a hunk of meat in my hand
From out of space there sat a man
On the hot stove with the pots and pans
"Say that's hot" I began to shout
He drank the hot coffee right from the spout
He ate the raw meat right from my hand
Drank the hot grease from the frying pan
And said to me "You better run and don't be here
When the morning comes"
Say yes I'll be here when the morning comes
I'll be right here now, I ain't gonna run
I bought this house now I am boss
Ain't no haint's gonna run me off.
The lyrics of Roy Buchanan's "Haunted House" describe the singer's experience of moving into a new house and realizing that it is haunted. Despite encountering various eerie events such as ringing bells and rattling chains, the singer resolves to stay and claims ownership of the house, boldly declaring that no ghost or haint will be able to make them leave. However, the second half of the song takes a surreal turn as the singer encounters a strange entity in their kitchen - a creature with one big eye and two feet, who nonchalantly drinks hot coffee and devour raw meat. The creature warns the singer to leave the house before morning, but they refuse to back down, once again reaffirming their control over the situation.
The song can be interpreted as a metaphor for the way in which we sometimes deny or ignore our own fears when confronted with something unfamiliar or discomforting. The singer's insistence on staying in the haunted house, despite all the strange and unsettling things they witness, reflects the way in which we sometimes try to assert our dominance over challenging situations, rather than simply acknowledging our vulnerability and accepting that we have limits. The surreal appearance of the one-eyed creature can be seen as a representation of the subconscious or the unknown, which we often try to repress or deny in order to maintain a sense of control over our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I just moved in my new house today
I recently shifted to a new residence
Moving was hard but I got squared away
Although the move was tiring, I finished settling in
When bells starting rings and chains rattled loud
The sound of ringing bells and clattering chains startled me
I knew I'd moved in a haunted house
I realized that my new home was inhabited by ghosts
Still I made up my mind to stay
Despite the presence of ghosts, I decided to stay
Nothing was a-gonna drive me away
I was determined not to be frightened and leave the house
When I seen something that give me the creeps
Something I saw made me feel nervous
Had one big eye and two big feet
I saw a creature with a large eye and two long feet
I stood right there and I did the freeze
I stopped moving and stood motionless
It did the stroll right up to me
The creature moved towards me with a steady gait
Made a noise with its feet that sounded like a drum
The creature's footsteps created a drumming sound
Said "You gonna be here when the morning comes?"
The creature questioned if I would stay there till morning
"Say yes, I'll be here when the morning comes
I'll be right here, I ain't gonna run
I replied to the creature that I would stay there and not flee
I bought this house, now I am boss
Ain't no haint's gonna run me off"
I affirmed that I was the owner of the house and no ghost could force me out
In my kitchen my stove was a blazing hot
Coffee was a-boiling in the pot
Inside the kitchen, the stove was blazing hot, and coffee was boiling in the pot
Grease had melted in my hand (pan?)
I had a hunk of meat in my hand
I was holding a piece of meat, and the grease had melted in my cooking utensil
From out of space there sat a man
On the hot stove with the pots and pans
A strange man appeared out of nowhere and sat on the hot stove with the cookware
"Say that's hot" I began to shout
I exclaimed that the stove was hot
He drank the hot coffee right from the spout
He ate the raw meat right from my hand
Drank the hot grease from the frying pan
The stranger drank hot coffee directly from the pot, ate the raw meat from my hand, and drank the hot grease from the frying pan
And said to me "You better run and don't be here
When the morning comes"
The stranger warned me to leave before morning arrived
Say yes I'll be here when the morning comes
I'll be right here now, I ain't gonna run
I bought this house now I am boss
Ain't no haint's gonna run me off.
I reiterated that I would stay and that no ghost could frighten me away from my own house
Contributed by Chloe B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.