Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 in White Station, Mississippi, Unite… Read Full Bio ↴Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 in White Station, Mississippi, United States – January 10, 1976 in Hines, Illinois, United States), known as Howlin' Wolf, was an influential American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player.

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.

Ain't Going Down That Dirt Road
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I ain't goin' down, dirty road by myself
Babe I ain't goin' down, this old dirt road by myself
If I don't carry you baby, I'm goin' to carry me somebody else.

Well, darlin' you don't know the day have been,
A long, old lonesome day.

You know the day have been a, long old lonesome day,

That's why I can't go down, the dirt road by myself,
And if I don't carry you baby, I'm oh goin' to carry me somebody else.

Baby shake my hand, if you never see me no more,
Baby shake my hand, if you never see me no more
Jus' tell me what I asked you baby, do you want to go with me
Jus' tell me what I asked you darlin, do you want to go with me
I ain't goin' down, dirt road by myself,
And if I don't carry you baby, I'm goin' to carry me somebody else.

Fare you well darlin', dish (this) here the end for me,
Fare you well babe, dis his the end for me,
I ain't goin down, this old dirt road by myself

(see I got to carry somebody)
I ain't goin down, dirty road by myself

Overall Meaning

The song, Ain't Going Down That Dirt Road by Howlin' Wolf, is a cry for companionship and connection. The singer starts off the song by stating that he refuses to go down the dirt road by himself, and if his lover won't accompany him, he will find someone else to go with. The lyrics suggest that the singer has had a rough day and he needs someone to lean on. The repetition of the chorus, "I ain't goin' down, this old dirt road by myself," emphasizes his loneliness and desperation for companionship.

Later on in the song, the singer asks his lover to shake his hand if she never sees him again. He wants her to acknowledge their bond and show him that their love meant something to her. He then asks her if she wants to go with him, but he makes it clear that he won't be going alone. The line "I'm oh goin' to carry me somebody else" is particularly poignant as it emphasizes the singer's determination to find companionship.

Ultimately, the song ends on a melancholic note as the singer bids farewell to his lover, accepting that this may be the end for him. The line "dis(h) his the end for me" is spelled phonetically, emphasizing the singer's dialect and adding to the soulful nature of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

I ain't goin' down, dirty road by myself
I cannot go on this difficult journey alone, without your companionship

Babe I ain't goin' down, this old dirt road by myself
My love, I cannot bear to travel down this old, rough path alone

If I don't carry you baby, I'm goin' to carry me somebody else.
If you are unable to walk beside me, I will find someone else who can accompany me

You know the day have been a, long old lonesome day
Today has been a difficult and lonely day for me

That's why I can't go down, the dirt road by myself
This is why I cannot brave this challenging path alone

Baby shake my hand, if you never see me no more
My darling, if this is the last time we will see each other, let me feel your touch once more

Jus' tell me what I asked you baby, do you want to go with me
Please answer my question honestly, my love. Will you walk with me?

Fare you well babe, dis his the end for me
Goodbye, my love. This is the end of my journey

I ain't goin down, this old dirt road by myself
I cannot continue down this rough path alone

Contributed by Julia S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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