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.
Chocolate Drop
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chocolate drop
I got a long tall woman
They all call, the chocolate drop
I've got a long tall woman
We all call, the chocolate drop
She's a long tall woman
She's a brown-skinned woman
She look like somethin' fit to eat
Look-a-there!
She's a brown skinned woman
She look like somethin' fit to eat
She's a chocolate drop woman
She sho' looks good to me
Blow!
Come 'mere, baby
Sit down on my knee
Come 'mere, baby
Sit down on my knee
You the chocolate drop woman
Baby, you worry me
Blow!
The lyrics to Howlin' Wolf's song "Chocolate Drop" are full of sexual innuendos that liken a woman to a piece of chocolate. The song starts with the repetition of the phrase "Chocolate drop" which suggests that the singer has dubbed his love interest with that moniker. The next lines reveal that the subject of the song is a long and tall woman who is irresistible to the men who know her. The singer is also obsessed with her and can't get enough of her.
The chorus then repeats with the addition of the phrase "She's a long tall woman, Boys she just won't stop," emphasizing the woman's beauty and her power to hold the attention of men around her. The next verse likens her to something that's good to eat, with the emphasis on the idea of chocolate, which is often associated with sweetness and desire. The final verse sees the singer inviting the woman to sit on his knee, and despite his assertions that she worries him, it's clear that his desire outweighs any concerns he may have.
Overall, "Chocolate Drop" is a song that celebrates the beauty of a woman and highlights the singer's desire for her. It's a classic blues song that uses metaphor and innuendo to convey the singer's feelings of lust.
Line by Line Meaning
Whoa-ooh!
Expressing excitement and admiration for what is to follow.
Chocolate drop
Referring to the woman in question and emphasizing her attractiveness.
I got a long tall woman
The singer has a woman in his life.
They all call, the chocolate drop
The woman is well-known and admired in the community.
I've got a long tall woman
Reiteration of the artist's possession of a woman.
We all call, the chocolate drop
Reiteration of the woman's widespread popularity.
She's a long tall woman
Description of the woman's physical attributes.
Boys, she just won't stop
Emphasizing the woman's beauty and irresistible qualities.
She's a brown-skinned woman
Describing the woman's skin tone.
She look like somethin' fit to eat
Complimenting the woman's appearance in a flirtatious manner.
She's a chocolate drop woman
Reiteration of the woman's physical appearance and nickname.
She sho' looks good to me
Expressing the artist's attraction to the woman.
Come 'mere, baby
Inviting the woman to come closer.
Sit down on my knee
Asking the woman to sit beside the singer in a flirtatious manner.
You the chocolate drop woman
Reminding the woman of her nickname and emphasizing her attractiveness.
Baby, you worry me
Expressing the artist's emotional attachment and concern for the woman.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHESTER BURNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
cora Visser
Brilliant is this one for ever a great legend in my heart.Thank you Sun Records.
Ivan Bazant
Thank You Sun Records
Timothy Ducey
Willie Johnson es -“La Bomba”.