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.
Rodney's Song
Roy Buchanan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And she looked dead at me
She was with some other man
But I said she'd rather be free
Now that crazy little woman
She got next to me that night
I had to control myself
But I got by
Woah yes I did
Said I got by
Now listen
She was sittin' with her man
When the band was beginnin' to wail
He was playin' such a fool
I knew I could not fail, now
I'm not the kind of mule
To go kickin' in another man's stall
But why should a woman be sittin' around
When she could be havin' a ball
I had to get by
Woah, yeah
I had to get by
Woah, yes I did
Her old man passed out
And then I made my move
I walked on up, set myself down
And we began to groove
When she told me that she wanted
She wanted to be with me
I bought her man two more drinks
And people, I was home free
And I got by
Woah, yeah
Well, I got by
Oh, yes I did
The lyrics of Roy Buchanan's "Rodney's Song" tell a story about a woman who catches the attention of the singer while she is out with another man at a bar. He is tempted to start a fight but ultimately manages to control himself. As the band starts playing, the woman's partner is acting a fool, making it clear to the singer that the woman would rather be with him. He hesitates, not wanting to cross a boundary, but ultimately decides to approach the woman after her partner passes out. They begin to dance and connect, and she expresses a desire to be with him. In an act of generosity, the singer buys the now-intoxicated partner two more drinks, freeing himself to be with the woman. The song's story is one of passion, temptation, and ultimately, seizing the moment without causing harm to others.
Line by Line Meaning
Well she walked into the bar
A woman entered the bar
And she looked dead at me
She stared at me directly
She was with some other man
She came to the bar accompanied by someone else
But I said she'd rather be free
I believed she didn't want to be with him
Now that crazy little woman
I referred to her as an unpredictable person
She got next to me that night
She came closer to me
I had to control myself
I needed to restrain my emotions
I almost started a fight
I nearly engaged in a physical altercation with someone
But I got by
I managed to avoid trouble
Woah yes I did
I did it successfully
Said I got by
I affirm that I avoided any conflict
Now listen
I'm about to share a critical part of the story
She was sittin' with her man
She was sitting with her companion
When the band was beginnin' to wail
Musicians started to perform
He was playin' such a fool
The man she was with made a fool out of himself
I knew I could not fail, now
I was confident I could win her over
I'm not the kind of mule
I don't behave like a stubborn and stupid animal
To go kickin' in another man's stall
I don't intrude in other people's affairs
But why should a woman be sittin' around
I questioned the woman's choice to be idle
When she could be havin' a ball
I suggested she'd have a better time with me
I had to get by
I had to succeed
Woah, yeah
I felt enthusiastic
I had to get by
I had to prevail and achieve my goal
Woah, yes I did
I managed to succeed
Her old man passed out
The man she was with became unconscious
And then I made my move
I acted when the opportunity arose
I walked on up, set myself down
I walked towards her and sat down
And we began to groove
We started to dance and enjoy the music together
When she told me that she wanted
She expressed her desire to me
She wanted to be with me
She desired my company
I bought her man two more drinks
I ordered more drinks for the man she was with
And people, I was home free
I was free to do as I pleased without any hindrance
And I got by
I succeeded in achieving my goal
Woah, yeah
I felt triumphant
Well, I got by
I succeeded in what I wanted to do
Oh, yes I did
I did accomplish what I aimed for
Contributed by Katherine J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.