Chenier, a Creole French-speaking native of Opelousas, Louisiana, was an eminent performer and recording artist of Zydeco, which arose from Cajun and Creole music, with rhythm & blues, jazz, and blues influences. He won a Grammy Award in 1983. In 1984 he was honored as a National Heritage Fellow and in 1989 he was inducted posthumously into the Blues Hall of Fame.
He was known as the 'King of Zydeco', and also billed as the 'King of the South'.
Chenier began his recording career in 1954, when he signed with Elko Records and released Clifton's Blues, a regional success. His first hit record was soon followed by "Ay 'Tite Fille (Hey, Little Girl)" (a cover of Professor Longhair's song). This received some mainstream success. With the Zydeco Ramblers, Chenier toured extensively. He also toured in the early days with Clarence Garlow, billed as the 'Two Crazy Frenchmen'. Chenier was signed with Chess Records in Chicago, followed by the Arhoolie label.
In April 1966, Chenier appeared at the Berkeley Blues Festival on the University of California campus and was subsequently described by Ralph J. Gleason, Jazz critic of the San Francisco Chronicle, as "... one of the most surprising musicians I have heard in some time, with a marvelously moving style of playing the accordion .. blues accordion, that's right, blues accordion."
Chenier was the first act to play at Antone's, a blues club on Sixth Street in Austin, Texas. Later in 1976, he reached a national audience when he appeared on the premiere season of the PBS music program Austin City Limits.[8] Three years later in 1979 he returned to the show with his Red Hot Louisiana Band.[9]
Chenier's popularity peaked in the 1980s, and he was recognized with a Grammy Award in 1983 for his album I'm Here.[1] It was the first Grammy for his new label Alligator Records. Chenier followed Queen Ida as the second Louisiana Creole to win a Grammy.
Chenier is credited with redesigning the wood and crimped tin washboard into the frottoir, an instrument that would easily hang from the shoulders. Cleveland Chenier, Clifton's older brother, also played in the Red Hot Louisiana Band. He found popularity for his ability to manipulate the distinctive sound of the frottoir by rubbing several bottle openers (held in each hand) along its ridges.
During their prime, Chenier and his band traveled throughout the world.
Chenier suffered from diabetes which eventually forced him to have a foot amputated and required dialysis because of associated kidney problems.
He died of diabetes-related kidney disease in December 1987 in Lafayette, Louisiana, and was buried in All Souls Cemetery in Loreauville, Iberia Parish, Louisiana.
Since 1987 his son, C. J. Chenier, has carried on the Zydeco tradition by touring with his father's band and recording albums.
In 1989, Chenier was inducted posthumously into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Rory Gallagher wrote a song in tribute to Chenier entitled "The King of Zydeco". Paul Simon mentioned Chenier in his song "That Was Your Mother", from his 1986 album Graceland. John Mellencamp refers to "Clifton" in his song "Lafayette", about the Louisiana city where Chenier often performed. The song is on Mellencamp's 2003 album Trouble No More. Zachary Richard mentioned Chenier in his song "Clif's Zydeco" (on Richard's 2012 album Le Fou).
The jam band Phish often covers Chenier's song "My Soul" in live performances.
Chenier is the subject of Les Blank's 1973 documentary film, Hot Pepper.
I'm Coming Home
Clifton Chenier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I feel, you know I feel oh so all alone
I'm coming back home and meet my dear old mother
'Cause that's where I belong
You know all, all of my friends
They all saying it's not a bad choice for me
I'm coming back home, yes I'm coming back home
You'll remember, before I come home
I wanna start, I wanna start all over again
That's why I'm coming home, I'm coming back home
'Cause that's where I belong
One more thing I wanna tell you
You know all, all of my friends
They all saying it's not a bad choice for me
That's why I'm coming home and meet my dear old mother
That's one woman, I know she loves me
I know she do, I know she do
I'm, I'm coming home
I feel, feel so all alone
I'm coming back home and meet my dear old mother
'Cause that's where I belong
In this song, Clifton Chenier sings about returning home. He feels lonely and wants to be back with his old friends and family. He mentions that his friends think it's a good choice for him to come back home, which suggests that he had left for some reason. He wants to start over and make things right, and he knows that his mother will always love him. The song is a heartfelt and emotional plea to return to his roots.
The lyrics of this song express a sense of homesickness and disconnection from his past. The singer longs for the comfort and familiarity of home, where he knows he will be accepted and loved. The theme of returning to one's roots is universal and relatable, and reflects the human desire for connection and belonging.
One interesting fact about this song is that Clifton Chenier is considered the "King of Zydeco," a style of music popular in Louisiana that combines Cajun and Creole influences. Another fact is that the song was originally recorded and released in 1956 by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five, a popular R&B band of the time. Chenier's version of the song was released in 1962 and became a hit in the zydeco community.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm, I'm coming home
I am returning to my place of origin.
'Cause I feel, you know I feel oh so all alone
I feel very lonely and isolated.
I'm coming back home and meet my dear old mother
I am returning to see my beloved mother.
'Cause that's where I belong
I feel that my true place is at home.
You know all, all of my friends
My entire group of acquaintances.
They all saying it's not a bad choice for me
Each one of my friends thinks my decision to return home is wise.
I'm coming back home, yes I'm coming back home
I am definitely returning to where I come from.
'Cause that's where I belong
My true home is where I need to be.
You'll remember, before I come home
I want to remind you that I plan to start anew before returning home.
I wanna start, I wanna start all over again
I desire to renew my life and have a fresh start.
That's why I'm coming home, I'm coming back home
That is why I am taking the journey home.
'Cause that's where I belong
I am confident that my true place is therefore at home.
One more thing I wanna tell you
There is one more thing I would like to say before I close.
That's why I'm coming home and meet my dear old mother
For the mentioned reasons, I am returning home to see my mother.
That's one woman, I know she loves me
There is one woman I am certain loves me wholeheartedly, and that is my mother.
I know she do, I know she do
There is no doubt within me that she loves me.
I'm, I'm coming home
I am indeed coming home.
I feel, feel so all alone
Being alone is what I feel.
I'm coming back home and meet my dear old mother
I want to return home to see my beloved mother.
'Cause that's where I belong
My true place is definitely at home.
Writer(s): Clifton Chenier
Contributed by Nathan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.