With a booming voice and looming physical presence, Burnett is commonly ranked among the leading performers in electric blues; musician and critic Cub Koda declared, "no one could match Howlin' Wolf for the singular ability to rock the house down to the foundation while simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its wits." A number of songs written or popularized by Burnett—such as "Smokestack Lightnin'", "Back Door Man", "Killing Floor" and "Spoonful"—have become blues and blues rock standards.
At 6 feet, 6 inches (198 cm) and close to 300 pounds (136 kg), he was an imposing presence with one of the loudest and most memorable voices of all the "classic" 1950s Chicago blues singers. This rough-edged, slightly fearsome musical style is often contrasted with the less crude but still powerful presentation of his contemporary and professional rival, Muddy Waters. Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), Little Walter Jacobs, and Muddy Waters are usually regarded in retrospect as the greatest blues artists who recorded for Chess in Chicago. Sam Phillips once remarked, "When I heard Howlin' Wolf, I said, 'This is for me. This is where the soul of man never dies.'" In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him #51 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
Burnett died at Hines VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois on January 10, 1976 and was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Hillside, Cook County, Illinois in a plot in Section 18, on the east side of the road. His large gravestone, allegedly purchased by Eric Clapton, has an image of a guitar and harmonica etched into it.
The Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival is held each year in West Point, Mississippi. Wolf's Juke Joint Jam is another annual Howlin' Wolf tribute festival held in West Point. Some of the artists who have played 'Wolf Jam' include Wolf's lead guitarist Hubert Sumlin, Muddy Waters' back band of Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Calvin "Fuzz" Jones and "Steady Rollin" Bob Margolin, Willie King, Blind Mississippi Morris, Kenny Brown, Burnside Exploration, etc. The festival is held at the 500-acre (2.0 km2) festival grounds known as Waverly Waters Resort.
A popular music venue in New Orleans, Louisiana was named The Howlin' Wolf when it opened in 1988.
Burnett was portrayed by Eamonn Walker in the 2008 motion picture Cadillac Records.
– Back Door Man
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am, a back door man
Well the, men don't know, but the little girls understand
When everybody's tryin' to sleep
I'm somewhere making my, midnight creep
Yes in the morning, when the rooster crow
Something tell me, I got to go
I am, a back door man
I am, a back door man
Well the, men don't know, but little girls understand
They, take me to the doctor, shot full o' holes
Nurse cried, please save the soul
Killed him for murder, first degree
Judge's wife cried, let the man go free
I am, a back door man
I am, a back door man
Well the, men don't know, but little girls understand
Stand out there, cop's wife cried
Don't take him down, rather be dead
Six feets in the ground
When you come home you can eat, pork and beans
I eats mo' chicken, any man seen
I am, a back door man
I am, a back door man
Howlin' Wolf's "Back Door Man" is a blues song that has become a classic. The opening lines of "I am a back door man" establish the theme of the song. It suggests that while the men are in the front door, the singer is coming in the back door. The line "men don't know, but the little girls understand" emphasizes that women have a better understanding of what the singer means. The lyrics suggest that the singer is having an affair with someone who doesn't want to be discovered.
The first two lines of the second verse suggest that the singer is sneaking out at night. The third and fourth lines imply that the singer has a sense of urgency to leave, despite it still being early in the morning. The fourth verse is about the legal consequences of having an affair. The doctor is called to save the partner's soul, and the judge's wife cries to release the singer from jail.
The last verse describes the consequences of being caught. The cop's wife threatened to shoot the singer, but death might be preferable to going to jail. The singer concludes with the line, "I eats mo' chicken than any man seen," which suggests that the singer is comfortable with who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
I am, a back door man
I am a man who sneaks in through the back door to have clandestine sexual affairs with married women.
I am, a back door man
I am a man who sneaks in through the back door to have clandestine sexual affairs with married women.
Well the, men don't know, but the little girls understand
Though men might not understand my intentions, young women do.
When everybody's tryin' to sleep
While everybody is asleep and there's nobody to catch me, I go out for my trysts.
I'm somewhere making my, midnight creep
I sneak around late at night, trying not to be seen.
Yes in the morning, when the rooster crow
Once morning comes and the rooster crows, I feel like I need to leave and go back to my regular life.
Something tell me, I got to go
I have a sense that I need to leave before I'm discovered.
They, take me to the doctor, shot full o' holes
Eventually I get caught having one of my affairs and end up being shot multiple times.
Nurse cried, please save the soul
The nurse was begging for my life, hoping to save my soul.
Killed him for murder, first degree
I was convicted of first-degree murder.
Judge's wife cried, let the man go free
The judge's wife pleaded for my release.
Stand out there, cop's wife cried
The cop's wife stood outside, begging for mercy.
Don't take him down, rather be dead
She would rather die than see me be taken into custody.
Six feets in the ground
I am buried six feet under the ground.
When you come home you can eat, pork and beans
After my death, my family could only afford to feed themselves with beans and pork.
I eats mo' chicken, any man seen
Before my demise, I had enjoyed eating plenty of chicken more than any man anyone had ever seen.
I am, a back door man
I am a man who sneaks in through the back door to have clandestine sexual affairs with married women.
I am, a back door man
I am a man who sneaks in through the back door to have clandestine sexual affairs with married women.
Well the, men don't know, but little girls understand
Though men might not understand my intentions, young women do.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT
Written by: Willie Dixon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@paultwiss199
Howlin' Wolf was top end. You can hear Led Zep, Clapton and countless others when you listen to him. An absolute titan of music
@AbuSous2000PR
true... but u have forgotten rolling stones.. actually Jagger himself said that he was inspired by Mr Wolf🙋♂️
@christressel9952
@@AbuSous2000PR i wonder if he influenced and inspired George Thorogood
@stevezee5568
@@christressel9952 I’m sure he was, as was the Doors who remade this song but nothing beats the Wolf!
@arnoldwayne6775
You mean that or you just trying to get hits?(far as YouTube)
@FearTheOldB
100%
@SkelterRed
My grandpa drove a 66 coupe deville when i was a kid and he used to play this shit, he would ride with cigar in his mouth, elbow out the window leanin mean as hell with gold rings on every finger, he passed the cadillac down to me and 20 years later every friday night i ride doin the same shit playin this song in memory of my oldhead. Miss you grandpa goldie
@alfredoveiga
Respect man!
@QuakertownChick
+TheGhost030 great story!
@TanMcQueen
+TheGhost030 Grandpa lives on through you and the music. He sounds like a cool cat.