peter green - i.ve got a good mind to give up living

"I’ve Got a Good Mind to Give Up Living" is a soul-wrenching blues standard, often credited to B.B. King, though its origins are murky (some point to Carl B. Adams as a possible writer). Peter Green’s rendition with Fleetwood Mac, particularly the live version from The Warehouse in New Orleans on January 31, 1970, is legendary. Green’s guitar work—described by B.B. King as giving him “cold sweats”—is a four-minute masterclass in raw, aching emotion. His solo, paired with Danny Kirwan’s fiery leads, turns the track into a haunting exploration of despair, backed by the rock-solid rhythm of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie. It’s never been on an official Fleetwood Mac studio album but was a staple of their late ‘60s live sets, with standout recordings like the one from the Boston Tea Party also getting praise.

The song’s lyrics, stark and heavy, speak to giving up on life, with Green’s delivery and guitar tone carrying a weight that’s “achingly beautiful.” Fans on platforms like Reddit call it one of his best solos, with a tone so haunting it’s said to make “eyes sweat.” It’s a cover, with roots in the Butterfield Blues Band’s 1966 version on East-West, but Green’s take is often seen as the most moving, blending technical brilliance with deep sorrow.

Given your love for blues and storytelling (like with Spandau Ballet’s "Through the Barricades" or Cat Stevens’ "Matthew and Son"), you might dig the context here. Green, struggling with fame and mental health, left Fleetwood Mac just months after this performance, making the song’s despair feel eerily personal. If you’re after more, I can dive into:

The song’s chord progression (available on sites like Chordify) for playing it yourself.
Other Peter Green tracks from this era, like "Man of the World" or "The Green Manalishi."
The technical breakdown of his iconic guitar tone (hint: a 1959 Gibson Les Paul with an out-of-phase pickup).

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