A short individual biography of both artists are below. Starting first with… Read Full Bio ↴A short individual biography of both artists are below. Starting first with Eric Burdon and then followed by Jimmy Witherspoon.

BIO Eric Burdon

As the lead singer of the Animals, Eric Burdon was one of the British Invasion's most distinctive vocalists, with a searingly powerful blues-rock voice. When the first lineup of the group fell apart in 1966, Burdon kept the Animals' name going with various players for a few years. Usually billed as Eric Burdon and the Animals, the group was essentially Burdon's vehicle, whom he used to purvey a far more psychedelic and less R&B-oriented vision. Occasionally he came up with a good second-division psychedelic hit, like "Sky Pilot"; more often, the music was indulgent, dating almost immediately. Burdon's real triumphs as a solo artist came at the beginning of the '70s, when he hooked up with a bunch of L.A. journeyman soul/funksters who became his backing band, War. Recording three albums worth of material in the year or two that they were together, the Burdon/War records could ramble on interminably, and would have benefited from a lot of editing. But they contained some spacey funkadelia of real quality, especially their number three hit single "Spill the Wine," which was almost recorded as an afterthought in the midst of sessions dominated by exploratory jams. The band was already big stars on record and stage when Burdon, for reasons unclear to almost everyone, quit the band in 1971. War defied expectations and became even bigger when left to their own devices; Burdon, after recording an album with veteran bluesman Jimmy Witherspoon, cut a series of generally desultory solo albums. He recorded off and on after that, at times with the Animals, but has never come close to reaching the heights of his work with the early Animals and War. © Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

BIO Jimmy Witherspoon

One of the great blues singers of the post-World War II period, Jimmy Witherspoon was also versatile enough to fit comfortably into the jazz world. Witherspoon was born on August 8, 1920, in Gurdon, AR. As a child, he sang in a church choir, and made his debut recordings with Jay McShann for Philo and Mercury in 1945 and 1946. His own first recordings, using McShann's band, resulted in a number one R&B hit in 1949 with "Ain't Nobody's Business, Pts. 1 & 2" on Supreme Records. Live performances of "No Rollin' Blues" and "Big Fine Girl" provided 'Spoon with two more hits in 1950. The mid-'50s were a lean time, with his style of shouting blues temporarily out of fashion; singles were tried for Federal, Chess, Atco, Vee Jay, and others, with little success. Jimmy Witherspoon at the Monterey Jazz Festival (HiFi Jazz) from 1959 lifted him back into the limelight. Partnerships with Ben Webster or Groove Holmes were recorded, and he toured Europe in 1961 with Buck Clayton, performing overseas many more times in the decades to follow; some memorable music resulted, but Witherspoon's best 1960s album is Evening Blues (Prestige), which features T-Bone Walker on guitar and Clifford Scott on saxophone. As the '70s began, Witherspoon decided to take a short break from live performances, settled in Los Angeles, took a job as a disc jockey, and continued making records. In 1971 Witherspoon teamed up with former Animals vocalist Eric Burdon for the album Guilty. Unfortunately it sold poorly. By 1973 his short retirement from live performances was over. Witherspoon was ready to get back on the road and assembled an amazing band featuring a young Robben Ford on lead guitar. Those live shows had received positive reviews, rejuvenating Witherspoon's move toward a definite rock/soul sound. He traveled to London in 1974 to record Love Is a Five Letter Word with British blues producer Mike Vernon. Vernon had produced critically acclaimed British blues albums by John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, and Ten Years After. By the early '80s, Witherspoon was diagnosed with throat cancer. Although he remained active and was a popular concert attraction, the effect of the disease on his vocals was obvious. Witherspoon passed away on September 18, 1997, at the age of 74. © Bob Porter, Scott Yanow & Al Campbell, All Music Guide

Goin' Down Slow
Eric Burdon & Jimmy Witherspoon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(speaks)
Man, you know I've enjoyed things that kings and queens will never have
In fact, things kings and queens can't never get.
And they don't even know about it.

And good times? mmm....

(sings)

I have had my fun
if I never get well no more
I have had my fun
if I never get well no more
Whoa, my health is fadin'
Oh yeah, I'm goin' down slow.

(speaking)
Now looky here.
I did not say I was a millionare.
But I said I have spent more money than a millionare.
Cause if I had kept all of the money I had already spent,
I'd woulda been a millionare a long time ago.
And women? Well, great googly moogly.

(sings)
Please write my mama
Tell her the shape I'm in
Please write my mama
Tell her the shape I'm in

Tell her pray for me
Forgive me for my sins

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Eric Burdon and Jimmy Witherspoon's song, Goin' Down Slow, convey the idea of a man who has lived a full life of pleasure and excess, enjoyed things that are beyond the reach of kings and queens. However, the man's health is now declining, and he knows that he is going down slowly. The singer wanted to say that they are not a millionaire, but they have spent more money than a millionaire could ever do. And then he suggests that if he had saved that money, he would have been a millionaire by now. The man accepts his actions as mistakes, and in the end, he asks his mother to pray for him and forgive him for his sins.

The song seems to reflect on the lifestyle of many performers of the time, who lived extravagant lives, traveling the world and indulging in every pleasure. The song portrays the regret that often comes with that lifestyle as the singer nears the end of his life. The idea of life and death, wealth and poverty, happiness and sadness are common themes that are brought up in the lyrics, which in its entirety, shows the passing of time and life.

Line by Line Meaning

Man, you know I've enjoyed things that kings and queens will never have
I've experienced such pleasures that even the wealthiest people in the world can't even imagine.

In fact, things kings and queens can't never get.
These are unique and out of reach for even royalty.

And they don't even know about it.
These pleasures are beyond their knowledge.

I have had my fun
I've lived my life to the fullest.

if I never get well no more
Even if I don't recover from my current illness.

Whoa, my health is fadin'
My health is deteriorating rapidly.

Oh yeah, I'm goin' down slow.
I'm slowly losing my strength and will soon pass away.

Now looky here.
Let me tell you something important.

I did not say I was a millionare.
I'm not claiming to be a millionaire.

But I said I have spent more money than a millionare.
I've spent so much money that it would make a millionaire envious.

Cause if I had kept all of the money I had already spent,
If I had saved all of the money I had already spent,

I'd woulda been a millionare a long time ago.
I would have become a millionaire many years ago.

And women? Well, great googly moogly.
And when it comes to women, wow, they're something else.