B.B. King, the legendary blues guitarist and singer, immortalized his iconic guitar with the song “Lucille.” Released in 1968, this instrumental track showcases King’s deep connection with his beloved guitar, named Lucille.
“Lucille” is a masterclass in blues guitar, featuring King’s signature vibrato and soulful playing. The song’s melody is rich with emotion, each note conveying the depth of the blues. The backstory is equally compelling: during a 1950s performance, a fire broke out due to a fight over a woman named Lucille. King risked his life to save his guitar from the flames, and from then on, every guitar he owned was named Lucille.
The song features a simple yet powerful arrangement, with King’s expressive playing at the forefront. The backing band provides a subtle rhythm, allowing the guitar to shine. “Lucille” is more than just a song; it’s a testament to King’s talent and emotional depth, making it essential listening for both longtime fans and newcomers to his music.
The sound that you’re listening to Is from my guitar that’s named Lucille I’m very crazy about Lucille Lucille took me from the plantation Oh, and you might say Brought me fame I don’t think I could just talk enough about Lucille Sometime when I’m blue, seem like Lucille try to help me call my name I used to sing spirituals and I thought that this Was the thing that I wanted to do
But somehow or other when I went in the army I picked up on Lucille, and started singing blues
Well Now when I’m paying my dues Maybe you don’t know what I mean when I say “Paying dues” I mean when things are bad with me I can always, I can always You, you know, like um, depend on Lucille Sort of hard to talk to you myself I guess I’ll let Lucille say a few words and then
You know I doubt if you can feel it like I do But when I think about the things that I’ve gone through Like, well for instance if I have a girlfriend And she misuses me, and I go home at night Maybe I’m lonely, well, not maybe, I am lonely I pick up Lucille, and it bring out those funny sounds that sound good to me, you know Sometime I get to the place where I can’t even say nothing (Look out)
Sometimes I think it’s crying
You know, if I could sing pop tunes like Frank Sinatra Or Sammy Davis Junior I don’t think I still could do it ‘Cause Lucille don’t wanna play nothing but the blues I think I’m, I think I’m pretty glad about that ‘Cause don’t nobody sing to me like Lucille Sing, Lucille
Well, I’ll put it like this Take it easy, Lucille I like the way Sammy sings, and I like the way Frank sings But I can get a little Frank, Sammy, a little Ray Charles In fact all the people with soul in this
A little Mahalia Jackson in there
One more, Lucille
Take it easy now, ah
You know I imagine a lot of you wanna know A lot of you wanna know why I call the guitar Lucille? Lucille has practically saved my life, two or three times No kidding, it really has I remember once I was in an automobile accident And when the car stopped turning over, it fell over on Lucille And it held it up off me, really, it held it up off me So that’s one time it saved my life The way, the way I came by the name of Lucille, I was over in Twist, Arkansas I know you’ve never heard of that one, have you?
And one night the guys started a ball over there, you know They started brawling, you know what I mean And the guy that was mad with his old lady When she fell over on this gas tank that was burning for heat The gas ran all over the floor And when the gas ran all over the floor The building caught on fire, and almost burned me up trying to save Lucille Oh I, I imagine you’re still wondering why I call it Lucille? The lady that started that brawl that night was named Lucille And that’s been Lucille ever since to me
One more now, Lucille
Sounds pretty good to me Can I do one more?
Look out, Lucille
Sounds pretty good I think I’ll try one more All right
