Buddy Guy + Junior Wells

George «Buddy» Guy (born July 30, 1936, in Lettsworth, La) is perhaps the greatest living exponent of classic Chicago electric blues. He is a thrillingly inventive guitarist, a passionately soulful singer and a peerless showman. In the course of a decades-long professional career, he has sold more than 2 million albums, earned five Grammy Awards and 24 W.C. Handy Blues Awards—more than any other single artist.

In the 1960s Guy was a member of Muddy Waters‘ band and as a house guitarist at Chess Records. He can be heard on Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Killing Floor’ and Koko Taylor’s ‘Wang Dang Doodle’ as well as on his own Chess sides and the fine series of records he made with harmonica player Junior Wells.

Guy’s autobiography, When I Left Home: My Story, was released on May 8, 2012.

⇔ Book preview

[Listen] ⇐ «Flower sack» (excerpt) ⇒ [Read]

«I was so far out in the country, man. We didn’t have running water, no electric lights, no radio, and I didn’t know nothing about no electric guitar. We used to get the catalogs, like from Sears, and thats how our mother would order our clothes. Didn’t have no stores there to buy clothes from.»

Today, Guy is an internationally celebrated symbol of the living blues. Owner of Chicago nightclub →Buddy Guys Legends, he continues to tour worldwide, and he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. When not traveling, Guy performs at his Downtown Chicago nightclub, Buddy Guy Legends at 700 S. Wabash Ave.

«I get up at break of dawn. Been doing that my whole life. That’s what happens when you grow up on the farm. Circumstances might change, but if you a country boy like me, you still hear the rooster.

 

 

My house is way on the outskirts of town in the far suburbs of Chicago on fourteen acres of land. Looking out the backyard I see trees everywhere. Got a thing for trees. I like watching how the leaves turn color in the fall, how winter frosts over the branches, how little buds break out in spring and new leaves come to life in summer. The seasons got a rhythm that connects me to the earth.»

♦→  ‘Done Got Old’ ⇑

Δ  ‘My Time After A While’  ⇑

It’s your time right now baby – but oh I got a feeling it’s gonna be my time after awhile
It’s your time right now woman – but oh I got a feeling it’s gonna be my time after awhile
You know  if things don’t change – I got to move on down the line

She stayed out last night – And do you know she just walked in
Lord have mercy – And she’s going back out again
It’s your time right now woman – but oh, Lord have mercy, I got a feeling it’s gonna be my time after awhile
You know  if things don’t change pretty mamma – Lord I’m gonna move on down the line

I got a peep through my window – And what do you think I seen
My baby sat before another man – Lord, in a long black limosine

It’s your time right now woman – but I got a feeling it’s gonna be my time after awhile
You know  if things don’t change pretty mamma – Lord I’m gonna move on down the line

∇→  ‘Leave My Girl Alone’  ⇓

You better leave, Lord, you better leave my little girl alone
Lord, before I get evil, man, and I’m known to do something wrong

You called my house, no later than yesterday
‘Cause I picked up the extension, and I heard every word you said
Now, why don’t you just go on, man, and leave my little girl alone
Lord, before I get evil, man, and I’m known to do something wrong

 

You better leave her alone, now
You call my house, all the hours of the night
But, let me tell you, mister, that’s a sure way to start a fight
Now, why don’t you just go on, man, and leave my little girl alone
Cause, Lord, you know I can get so evil,

and I’m known to do something wrong

◊ ‘Damn Right, I’ve Got The Blues’  ↓

You damn right, I’ve got the blues,  From my head down to my shoes . . .
I can’t win, cause I don’t have a thing to lose

I stopped by my daughter’s house – You know I just want to use the phone . . .

You know my new grand baby came to the door
And said, granddaddy you know ain’t no one at homeI said now look out

You damn right, I’ve got the blues, From my head down to my shoes . . .

You know I can’t win, now people, cause I don’t have a thing to lose
Alright
You damn right, I’ve got the blues  –  You damn right, I’ve got the blues . . .
Yeah

    ∇   ‘I Live the Life I Love’  ⇓

She’s watchin’ me like a hawk – I don’t mind the way you talk
But if you touch me somethin’s got to give – I live the life I love and I love the life I live.

So if you see me and you think I’m wrong – Don’t worry bout me just leave me alone
Sweet life ain’t nothin’ but a thrill – I live the life I love and I love the life I live.

My diamond ring and my money too – Tomorrow night it could be all for you
The girls move me at their will – I live the life I love and I love the life I live.

I may spend a thousand on a hapless time – one minute later I may not have a dime
Tomorrow night I could be over the hill – I just want you to know baby the way I feel.

See me walkin’ as I pass you by – Don’t talk about me cause I could be high
Just forgive me if you will – I live the life I love and I love the life I live.

•→‘Can’t Be Satisfied’ ⇐[2003]

∞  with Jeff Beck . . .

Δ   ‘Let Me Love You’  ↑  [2009]

Well now, oh wee, baby, woman – I declare you sure look fine

Oh, woh wee, baby, honey you sure look fine

Well, if there’s a girl like you – Has made many a-man change his mind

 

I said baby, when you walk, woman – You know you shake up like a willow tree, yeah

Oh baby, when you walk, woman – You know you shake up like a willow tree

Well, if there’s a girl like you, woman – Would just love to make a fool of me

Oh, let me love you, baby . . . Let me love you, baby, I’m telling you

Good love drives me crazy

♦ ◊ ♦ → Buddy Guy takes off  ↓ Clapton, Hendrix & Hooker

∞  with John Mayer  ↓  ‘What Kind of Woman is This?’  [2005]

The gates of Heaven must be open – I think I saw an angel just walk by . . .

I heard a blind man screamin’, say
Now there goes a sight for my sore eyes . . .
What kind of woman is this?

You should be locked up, pretty girl  in my bedroom with me . . .

So we can do the same thing that Adam did under that old apple tree
What he did under that apple tree . . .

 

Well, well, well . . . Choke out – Here I come again

 

There’s always some good lookin’ girls hangin’ ‘round this famous place . . .
…talkin’ bout legends 

Aww, but this particular one
Looked like somethin’ from outer space – She looked like somethin’ from outer space

What kind of woman is this?
Hmm, what kind of woman is this?

 

Look at that, she shakes all over when she walk
She made a blind man see – Made a dumb man talk
What kind of woman is this?
Hmm, shucks

Tell me, hey, what kind of woman is this, man?
Somebody gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta … tell me, tell me
What kind of woman is this?

♣  with Ron Wood & Jonny Lang  ⇓  ‘Five Long Years’←

∞  with B B King  ⇓   ‘Stay Around A Little Longer’

•→Buddy Guy interviewed ⇐

 ⇒ Buddy Guy & Junior Wells ⇐

Blowing a mean harp and singing with a “bad” attitude, the music of Junior Wells evokes the late 50s’ Windy City scene like a seductive Shell. Junior’s powerful harmonica playing and gritty vocal style, often in the company of Buddy Guy’s guitar voodoo, left an indelible rock and soul imprint on Chicago bar band blues.

◊  All Night Long (Rock Me Baby)  ⇓

Buddy Guy on guitar, Jack Meyers bass, Fred Below drums.

I want you to rock me baby  – Rock me all night long 
Rock me baby  – Rock me all night long 
Yes I want you to rock me baby 
Like my back ain’t got no bone 
Roll me baby 
Like you roll your wagon wheel  down in the country
Roll me baby, like you roll your wagon wheel 
You don’t know how good baby

just how good you make me feel
Hear me . . .
Rock me baby, Love me baby . . .  Rock me baby, Love me baby . . .

You’d better love me . . .

What’s this a-here goin’ all around town

The people they say they’re gonna put the kid down

Oh no, oh look at what you did

You can call it what you want to, I call it messin’ with the kid

You know the kid’s no child, and I don’t play

I says what I mean and I mean what I say

Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah, oh look at what you did

You can call it what you want to, I call it messin’ with the kid

 

You know the kid’s no child, and I don’t play

I says what I mean and I mean what I say

Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah, oh look at what you did

You can call it what you want to, I call it messin’ with the kid

We’re gonna take the kid’s car and drive around town

Tell everybody you’re not puttin’ him down

Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah, oh look at what you did

You can call it what you want to, I call it messin’ with the…

 

•→ ‘Cryin’ Shame’  ⇐

♦  ‘Ten Years Ago’  ⇓  [1974]

Just ten years ago
People what I would do, no one would ever know
Just ten years ago
People how I would live my life, no one would ever know
The things that I think I would do
Ooo, no one will never know

I sit down in my dark room sometime – Tears rollin’ down from my eyes
I sit down in my dark room – Tears rollin’ down from my eyes
You know, I began to wonder
Oh, what makes a man like poor me cry

Well I might as well forget all about it, Lord and try to live my life just like it is
Lord I might as well forget all about it and try to live my life just like it is
And you know I want to tell you people
Oh I would like to go back ten years

Play it on down for me now!

Ba dip dibba dibba dibba di dip – Da dt dt dt dt dt dt dt dt dt dt dt

♦  Junior Wells & Otis Rush  ↓  ‘Hoodoo Man Blues’ [1966]

Lord, I wonder what’s has got the matter
Wit’ time, you know, wit’ time – It seems like the hours
Oh, everything done changed

But I hold up my hand – Lord, I’m tryin’ t’ make my baby understand
Lord, you know, everybody tells me
That somebody done hoodooed the hoodoo man

I buzzed your bell this morning, little girl, you had your elevator running slow
I buzzed your bell, little girl, I want you to take me upon the third floor

But I hold up my hand – Lord, I’m trying t’ make my baby understand
Lord, you know, everybody tells me
that somebody done hoodooed the hoodoo man

BI’ll tell you this time little girl, I won’t tell you no more
The next time I’ll tell you more, I have to let you go

But I hold up my hand – Lord, I’m trying t’ make my baby understand
Lord, you know, everybody tells me
that somebody done hoodooed the hoodoo man