"The Things I Used To Do" is a blues song originally recorded by Guitar Slim in 1953, but Buddy Guy's version is also widely known. The lyrics depict a narrator who reflects on past actions and emotions in a failed relationship. The song begins with the narrator acknowledging that they have changed and will no longer engage in certain behaviors. They state, "The things that I used to do, Lord I won't do no more." This implies that they have learned from their mistakes and are making a conscious decision to move on. The second verse talks about the narrator's efforts to keep their partner from leaving. They confess to sitting with them, holding their hand, and begging them not to go. The line, "And cry baby do not go," suggests desperation and a plea for the relationship to remain intact. The third verse reveals that despite the narrator's efforts, their search for their loved one at night was in vain. They were aware that their partner was seeing someone else, as they mention being "hid out wit' some other man." In the final verse, the narrator decides to end the relationship. They mention sending their partner back to their mother while they go back to their own family. This suggests a desire to separate themselves from the toxic dynamic and seek solace in their own support system. The lyrics convey feelings of resignation, heartbreak, and a realization that their efforts to please their partner have been futile. The narrator comes to terms with the fact that they cannot continue in a relationship where they constantly feel unfulfilled and unappreciated. Overall, "The Things I Used To Do" explores the pain and introspection that accompanies the end of a troubled relationship, highlighting the emotional growth and self-realization that can come from walking away.
