Crackin' Up

Album: Go Bo Diddley (1959)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Bo Diddley's woman is driving him crazy in this song, so much so that he's crackin' up. He spoiled her long ago, and now she expects royal treatment - he even does her laundry! It's quite a contrast from his 1955 his "I'm A Man."
  • Musicians on this track include Willie Dixon on upright bass and Jerome Greene on maracas.
  • This is a very tricky song to figure out on guitar, according to Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Gibbons, who included it on his second solo album The Big Bad Blues in 2018, told Songfacts: "Bo's upside down/inside out guitar intro required many hours of figuring. When finally accomplished, there was much cause for celebration. You may think you know Bo but you've got to be severely analytical to really know, know, know Bo."
  • Paul McCartney included this on his 1988 covers album CHOBA B CCCP ("Back in the USSR"), which was issued in the Soviet Union. The Rolling Stones included a version performed at a concert in Toronto on their 1977 album Love You Live.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Weezer

WeezerFact or Fiction

Did Rivers Cuomo grow up on a commune? Why did they name their albums after colors? See how well you know your Weezer in this Fact or Fiction.

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.