Paul Vaughn Butterfield (December 17, 1942 – May 4, 1987) was an American b… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Vaughn Butterfield (December 17, 1942 – May 4, 1987) was an American blues singer and harmonica player. After early training as a classical flautist, Butterfield developed an interest in blues harmonica. He explored the blues scene in his native Chicago, where he was able to meet Muddy Waters and other blues greats who provided encouragement and a chance to join in the jam sessions. Soon, Butterfield began performing with fellow blues enthusiasts Nick Gravenites and Elvin Bishop.

In 1963, he formed the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, who recorded several successful albums and were a popular fixture on the late-1960s concert and festival circuit, with performances at the Fillmores, Monterey Pop Festival, and Woodstock. They became known for combining electric Chicago blues with a rock urgency as well as their pioneering jazz fusion performances and recordings. After the breakup of the group in 1971, Butterfield continued to tour and record in a variety of settings, including with Paul Butterfield's Better Days, his mentor Muddy Waters, and members of the roots-rock group the Band.

While still recording and performing, but in poor health, Butterfield died in 1987 at age 44. Music critics have acknowledged his development of an original approach that places him among the best-known blues harp players. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, both who noted his harmonica skills as well as his contributions to bringing blues-style music to a younger and broader audience.

Read more here: Paul Butterfield - Wikipedia

Born Under a Bad Sign
The Butterfield Blues Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've been down since i began to crawl
If it was'nt for bad luck i wouldn't have no luck at all

Bad luck and trouble
Been my only friends
Been on my own since i was ten

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

I can't read and i can hardly even write
My whole life has been one big fight
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

Bad luck child...
If it wasn't for bad luck i wouldn't have no luck at all

Bad luck and trouble
Been my only friends
Been on my own ever since i was ten

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

Well, now wine and women is all i crave
A big legged woman is gonna carry me to the grave
I've been down since i began to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck i wouldn't have no luck at all
Bad luck boy...

If it wasn't for bad luck, i mean real bad luck i wouldn't have no luck at all.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Butterfield Blues Band's "Born Under a Bad Sign" speak to a lifetime of hardship and misfortune: the singer suggests that he has been struggling since he began to crawl, and that bad luck and trouble are his only friends. He has been on his own since he was ten, and can barely read or write. The chorus repeats the titular phrase that he was born under a bad sign, and that without bad luck, he wouldn't have any luck at all. The final verse brings up the singer's desire for wine, women, and a woman with big legs to take him to the grave.

At its core, "Born Under a Bad Sign" is a blues song that speaks to the hardship of life, particularly life in poverty or without privilege. The titular "bad sign" might be a reference to astrology, folklore, or superstition, and the song overall has a fatalistic, resigned tone. However, the repetition of "if it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all" suggests that the singer is capable of finding some humor or irony in his situation.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been down since i began to crawl
I've had a difficult life from the very beginning

If it was'nt for bad luck i wouldn't have no luck at all
My life has always been full of misfortune

Bad luck and trouble Been my only friends Been on my own since i was ten
Difficult situations and adversity have been constant companions since childhood

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
My life has been marked by persistent bad luck and hardship

I can't read and i can hardly even write My whole life has been one big fight
I've faced educational and life challenges that have been ongoing, continuous battles

Bad luck child... If it wasn't for bad luck i wouldn't have no luck at all
My life is a series of unfortunate events and I'm a victim of circumstance

Well, now wine and women is all i crave A big legged woman is gonna carry me to the grave I've been down since i began to crawl If it wasn't for bad luck i wouldn't have no luck at all Bad luck boy...
I cope with my bad fortune through vices and indulgences, and my poor luck will ultimately see me through till the end

Contributed by Hailey L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Comments from YouTube:

@arthurhuppert8752

5y↑21

I was in a deep sleep on the turf on Yasgur's Farm, August, 1969. I awoke to hear "the Butterfield Blues Band," they launched into this...they were not on the bill, but there they were opening with this...heaven on earth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@MrJasonbushey

4y↑5

Cool story man!

@markellis6668

3y↑3

Thats cool

@murattaner7384

5y↑23

ı was blessed with his friendship in the last 2 yrs of his life. and yesterday (dec. 1st 2018 !!) ı bought my first blues harp

@52barney

@CrasherXtreme Xoxoxo maybe he was incarcerated

@melshort6614

8y↑38

one of the best blues bands ever , was lucky and saw them in frisco, with the mike bloomfield band, and elvin bishop band, what a show, one of the best I ever saw

@j.sabatino1198

I know the Drummer From the Bloomfield band. Duffy Hoffman great guy!

@j.sabatino1198

5y↑1

Still drummin too!

@ericholdsworth6611

that must have been one hell of a show.

@sandragriffiths9692

Lucky b*****😁

@johnjeffery6638

2y↑1

This is PRIME BUTTERFEILD. REALLY TIGHT!!

@sdxn8117

6y↑32

I told Charlie Musselwhite that him and Paul made me lay down my harp...I couldn't do what they do....and he said, "We all bring something, keep playing." Thanks, Paul's been my hero for ever.

@jlow4214

5y↑2

Steve Dixon yep, got close once in a while. Found out he played with the harp flipped over (ten hole in left hand) and it bent my mind. Never did recover!lol. Little Walter is what did me in

@blondbowler8776

4y↑1

He influenced me early (sideman with John Hammond, and Mike Bloomfield on piano on that album) as did Butterfield and Mayall, and that cat that solos on Steve Miller's first album in Fannie Mae. 25 - some years ago on a snowy, stormy Monday night in Missoula, MT, Charlie and his band had a gig at a bar, and no one showed up but me and this drunk chick. Charlie sent the band back to the hotel and sang, played harp and acoustic guitar for me like it was Woodstock. A true gent, he even let me sit in and jam along with my old Special 20. Never forget that. Helluva nice guy.

@lizajanejohanneson7558

4y↑2

@@blondbowler8776 norton buffalo played with steve miller.

@blondbowler8776

@@lizajanejohanneson7558 Thank you for that. Ol' Nort. I shoulda known.

@maxromero2903

4y↑1

I interviewed Charlie Musslewhite when I was going to UCSC back in '80, when I was a Sociology major. He was playing at the High Country in Santa Cruz.

@johnwescott9008

2y↑2

Another superb band put together by the Ledgendary Paul Butterfield. Another brilliant Paul Butterfield solo in this superb track. Great playing from the rest of the band.

@mrvibe9957

4y↑10

Ralph Wash was so underrated as a guitarist..He came into the band after Buzz Feiten left and immediately added a severe funky blues character that Butter hadn’t had..I saw every incarnation of the PPBB..My favorite being the Pig Boy Crabshaw band...but I loved what Buzz Feiten brought as well..

@brotzmannsax

6y↑31

Butter's harp solo at 5:00 is incredible, my favorite harp player of all time, smokin' version!

@MrRezillo

I think he's playing 3rd position cross harp here.

@santifoster1741

I think he's just out of Key

@checkandraise1

don't you just know it

@debheise7158

30w

Butter back was the best!!

@9aaaoo185

2y↑1

かっこいいです。いい時代のいいブルース。

@robertthole695

2y↑1

this was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@sandrahammond5566

4y↑4

bad ass bass line, Rod Hicks!

@nenajohnson3676

3y↑2

I still live to listen to all his sounds! I'm blessed! They are sooo awesome

@glen7695

8y↑8

The rhythm guitar on this track is awesome--right in the pocket.
It makes the whole track. In classical music, they call these vocal runs "melismas". Butterfield's phrasing here is superb--and the drummer is right in the pocket. Great, great post!!!

@JoeyBnamlrp

Glen Cummings a

@JoeyBnamlrp

Glen Cummings and a

@BarryMiller2956

Glen Cummings Melismas, nice!

@JoeyBnamlrp

RT Thanks

RLTW

@richardthompson3104

I must agree Ralph's comping is uplifting. He goes from one great idea to another while as you say keeping it in the pocket. As jimbosity007 said it cooks. I say it's more like simmering tho.

@guitarnickbluealgroovyrus

1y↑1

Nice version with slight funky flavor...

@olly8

16w

🤚🏼ME !!
Always loved this!
It's my Sign.
~ Paul Butterfield KILLS!!
❤💯💥

@Aslantic7

6y↑9

i have always loved this band, although it did change over the years, but my greatest regret is that I never saw them in a live gig, not even sure if they came to the uk.However I did have all their albums and learned to play harmonica along with them, absolutely brilliant. Paul Butterfield has no equals.

@ninoldar

11y↑4

Gene Dinwiddie was responsible for many of the arrangements. Gotta love Dinwiddie!

@NicolletIslandSlim

9y↑15

A simply stunning and sublime, jazzy version of the old blues classic with wonderful horns....impeccable sound. What a great representation of the later Butterfield band!

@Dogheadj

9y↑4

Man, what a fucking groove!

@zenzen1916

1y↑1

Love and miss you Paul💔 you left me and your THREE sons way too soon, not by choice🥀

@maryrice3760

10y↑14

The man's soul was in heaven even before he passed out of this mortal coyle...

@Gwynbuck

coil

@rayberkin1079

9y↑15

That's How The Blues are Delivered!

@Dogheadj

9y↑2

Ray Berkin If I could give you 1,000 "Thumbs Up" for that remark, I would.

@elizabethbutterfield5453

11y↑4

Great photos!!! Not one of these incrediable musians were there for themselves...they gave blood ,100%...listen... and shame on the people who do not induct the Butterfield Band into the Rock & Roll and Roll Hall Of fame, 'cause these monsters paid thier dues from bein' to END! Still alive, tho.

@Stevenbalee

11y↑5

Best version I've heard in my opinion!

@Stevenbalee

3y↑1

My favorite version of this song. So good so soulful. The drums, bass guitar just drive the machine while then other accents of the harmonica and sax take it over the edge. So good.

@roberttemple2521

12y↑2

thank you thank you thank you. butter is my favorite harp, so heavy, like a harley tattoo come alive.

@bers9593

4y↑1

One collection of very fine musicians. The brothers laying it down.You gotta dig it.

@MrRezillo

4y↑1

I was lucky to see the original Butterfield Band at the height of their glory in Cambridge, can't remember the name of the famous club.

@robertschwartz9660

9y↑16

One of the best blues performances. As below - stunning...

@donbiancamano5663

10y↑6

Thanks - I appreciate Paul much more after hearing this.

@rodgarnay51

8y↑1

+Don Biancamano I'm telling you Don, I'm 64 years old, I've been a musician for 50 years, and I've never heard a band that could touch Butterfield in concert.

@ptong226

10y↑4

just love the sound of this. don't know exactly how to describe it, its just understated cool. these guys are too talented for the commercial music scene.

@JoeyBnamlrp

11y↑2

Paul did it all, and with the best around.....his music will always inspire those who listen KOH Joey B

@tomdeyoung4975

10y↑8

love this version,cool funky and mind blowing all at once

@grahamhilder2879

8y↑2

it cannot get any better than this

@navigator3744

11y↑2

I saw him in Las Vegas in 1973 with the "Better Days" band and he sounded in top form. One of my all time favorite bands was the Paul Butterfield Blues Band with Mike Bloomfield; (the album where they are standing in front of the incense shop), with Look Over Yonder's Wall, and Got My Mojo Workin. Great harp and guitar playing on that album.

@jlow4214

The Peace Project that’s the first album, Bloomfield’s guitar run on Mellow Down Easy is my all time. Peace brother.

@frettfrenzzey

9y↑5

Master in blues

@CrossBonesAlex

10y↑2

A true gem

@dosanchoas

7y↑4

LIFE CHANGING!!! had TREMENDOUS good fortune to see & hear this tune performed w/this line-up!!
i'll keep searching for vid of live performance, but in meantime, THX MUCH for posting!!

@mwngw

5y↑14

This era was a big disappointment for me when I finally got to see Butterfield on the west coast. I'd first heard Butter in '68 on LP, started playing harp, and Butter really became for me the penultimate harmonica icon...my musical hero of the late 60's. But what I could have never guessed was the straight ahead blues and the superlative East-West, Pigboy Crabshaw releases were to be left in Butter's past. He had already begun his jazz fusion era...and I didn't know it. When I walked thru the doors of the Golden Bear in HB, I could barely contain my excitement. By the time the band (which had already had a big turnover) was into the first number, I was mystified with the jazz I was hearing. After the 2nd number, I was crushed. Yes, my musical vision was limited...but I was so raveled by what I'd heard, I think I was depressed for awhile. Not many years later I heard on L.A. morning news Paul had died. His passing was a big lesson in change. Things don't stay the same, no matter how one's youthful, innocent desire wants things remain the same.

@robertanderson7049

3y↑2

They often got into fusion in live performances. In the studio they kept mostly to simple blues. They were one of the best jam bands from mid 60s to early 70s. Paul died age 44- heroin is bad mojo.

@robertanderson7049

3y↑1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qikZZ6YX2H4

@HaniJIsmail

3y↑4

@@robertanderson7049 Yes that is true. Just listen to the title track on 'East-West' a few times and Work song also on that album. They were always into Jazz even with Bloomfield

@Randysinger

12y↑2

omg, what a version.......

@ptong226

11y↑1

oh that harmonica and that groove.............it's like an evil spell that corrupts you!

@radicalradioOz

I love it.

@nlmoss

10y↑16

Who even needs a guitar? Paul Butterfield blowing the blues. Damn.

@kevinskychuck

7y↑1

Needs Elvin

@jonnybeck6723

6y↑3

Ralph Wash was cookin' with a style all his own...

@jonsteelman6871

6y↑3

absolutely the case. he didn't follow the mold of Bloomfield, Bishop, Feiten, et al. Wash is kind of a fusion of blues, R&B, jazz and himself. on this cut he made his mark.

@sandragriffiths9692

3y↑1

Oh yeah

@intuneorange

Buzz Feiten guitar was a good fit with Butter

@magnificumimperium8392

9y↑6

Great band !!!!

@rhauf55

9y↑6

Great arrangement. Very musical. And that's sayin' something!

@bensblues

4y↑1

Only two players who can play that much like albert king

@AFaceintheCrowd01

5y↑4

Hey, now this is something -- right from that holy mu-shu beef, chicken and shrimp of an opening groove. This is my second-fave Butter lineup.

@waltermanjeje5485

11y↑1

great band, perfect ambiance. Sweet smoke spirit.....

@checkandraise1

12y↑3

among the best live sets of any song, any where, any time. Butterfield survives, indeed flourishes without Bloomfield, Bishop; but he just keeps refining that harp technique while he pushes that horn section like nobody ever has or will again.

@jimbosity007

9y↑20

Oh Good Lord this cooks!

@DuneAquaViva

11y↑2

RIP The Great Rod Hicks...who you hear here on Bass...!

@MarkSmith-dp2qe

4y↑1

Had their shit toooogther!!!!!!😎

@MrBluesFool

10y↑10

Really nice take on this blues classic! One of the great Vocalists / Harp players of his (or any time) Nice Post!

@timlanger1785

5y↑1

Holy shit, this is great....

@ResevoirDogg7

6y↑1

paul is just KILLING IT with that got damn harp!

@JoeyBnamlrp

9y↑5

I think this is a great tune that the PBB really put their souls into it..That's where it has to come from....
KOH

@chinzebo

8y↑3

FABULOUS~ Thank you SO much for sharing.

@bjgrant1234

9y↑15

this is a bad ass line-up...

@georgegonzalez1996

5y↑1

I saw this band the summer of ‘71 in Seattle, probably with this same band. It was an awesome show. The opening band was a band i had never heard of, they were promoting their first album... the name of the band is Earth Wind and Fire! Unbelievable show!!!

@ralphphillips2803

5y↑1

I bet it was!!

@jeromeburoker1770

39w

Eagles Auditorium?

@craigmccauley3972

6y↑1

Love the blues!

@NewHarmonica

12y↑2

Freakin' Awesome !

@mothandrust1

9y↑14

really between blues and jazz, somewhere...great sounds! I still have the harmonica poster that came with the Better Days album...

@brettbaxter4860

5y↑2

I had no idea this even existed before this morning. Thank you, slightly weird coworker.

@Kris2985

8y↑3

ohh man, pleasure, in this lyric. in this verse

@frogeregis

11y↑1

J'adore!!!

@sandragriffiths9692

With knobs on!

@CrossBonesAlex

10y↑3

Fantastic guitar solo around 10:30 - wow!

@giovannicorsino921

9y↑5

david sanborn....wow

@sheilamayren9672

5y↑1

WOW !

@blaudrogist

12y↑1

Butterfield did this as his opening track at Woodstock but it was the one that got away- no footage exists although this must have been pretty close. Butter was the only guy who had electric guitars and a horn section in tow to work. Others tried, badly. This is a great posting, well done!

@Aslantic7

8y↑3

This is one band I never saw in the UK, don't even know if they ever came but wish I had seen them live.He was my all time favourite musician.

@AFaceintheCrowd01

I lived in London during the good years and probably would've noticed if they'd come over.

@zombiegator1

9y↑3

David Sanborn, I did not know that, cool! I like this uptempo beat to what is usually a rather slow blues!

@northbayguitar

10y↑5

HELL yes!

@Dogheadj

9y↑10

I do believe that this is the first time in my YouTube history that I haven't seen at least one single hater on the message thread. That says a WHOLE lot!

@ericholdsworth6611

if you hate this then you can't type your dead,at least from the neck up

@jeffreykocher8941

Yes but there are at least 21 morons or deaf individuals listening to this.

@misissippicadillacbluesban2569

10y↑3

Thanks for posting! This is killer!

@bobburroughs6241

7y↑1

Magic, thanks!

@butterfielddocumentary6262

There's a Butterfield doc premiering soon: Horn from the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story. Find us on Facebook & Twitter @ButterfieldDoc or at www.hornfromtheheart.com ❤️ Sanborn, Madaio, Lawrence all playing here are in it, among many others.

@ireneruthfox

8y↑3

The drummer Dennis Whitted went on to play with Bonnie Raitt after this. This is one of Paul's many great bands.

@reverendwalter

9y↑4

DAMN......!!

@christianboddum8783

7y↑3

I love me some Buzzy but this is great too!!

@bpillers

10y

This is how i remember it live!!!! Thanks so much for posting!

@angelosgarioto5878

5y↑1

Magnifica performance

@nobinpradhan7646

1y↑1

Bluesy blues....

@tassuad

10y↑4

un des grands harmonicistes blancs

@elizabethbutterfield5453

11y↑1

YES, I think this is the way it was suppos'to be done!

@raymondsemper5161

5y↑1

Hi Liz, hope you don't mind me calling you Liz. Are you Paul Butterfield's daughter?

@stevecaldwell5416

Blues masters, Paul BUTTERFIELD, CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE! BLUES WITH A FELLIN! BASSMAN🎼🎸

@Feedurehed

9y↑4

Its in the grooooooooove

@jkajje2945

Best band ever

@kimmartin7024

Love it the blues

@JasonHi

11y

Major thanks for posting this.

@yebouti

8y↑1

What a great track! Butters is entering Little Walter territory!

@BarryMiller2956

7y↑1

Bopity Funk the pupil surpassed the master!

@DuneAquaViva

12y↑1

Rod Hicks the best bass player until Jaco came along...Rod played bass for Aretha on Respect also Ray Charles...that's the first thing Paul Told me when I met him..I was speechless something rare for me...

@beep1484

very cool guitar

@MrMayarama

10y

thanks nice share...

@checkandraise1

11y↑1

Crabshaw and later horns probably arranged by Dinwiddie/Sanborn collaboration, i saw the post Bloomfield Butterfield live about 8 -10 times from about '68 to '70 in California at various venues and have the hearing loss to prove it. (and i guess this makes me old too!) i have never heard ANY live music that was more of a turn on and satisfying than Butterfield and his various configurations. however, after this cut his sort of dwindled - too much wine and women, carried him to his grave.

@michaelgregory2500

11y

Just YEAH!

@peterden9076

11y↑3

That would be Dm, but I think you're right, thank you! Tried it out with a little bit more conviction and it seems to fit. By the way, In my opinion: in one single performance two of the greatest harmonica solo's ever.