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.

Come Back Home
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You're a mean mistreater, mama, you don't mean me no good
You just a mean mistreater mama, you don't mean me no good
I can't blame you, baby, I'd be the same way if I could

You know in the mornin', baby, when I come in, knocked on your door
You had a nerve to tell me that you don't want me no more
And then also baby, when I knocked upon your door
You had a nerve to tell me, don't want me no more

Didn't you say you was gonna leave me, did you say you was goin' away?

Did you say you was gonna leave me, didn't you say you was goin' away?
That's alright baby, you gonna come back home someday

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Howlin' Wolf’s song “Come Back Home” detail the singer’s relationship with a woman who mistreats him. He refers to her as a “mean mistreater” and acknowledges that she does not mean him any good. However, he admits that he cannot blame her, as he understands that he would also behave in a similar manner if he had the chance. The lyrics express a sense of resignation and acceptance of the situation, rather than anger or resentment.

The second verse of the song depicts the singer coming to the woman’s door in the morning, only to be told that she does not want him anymore. The repetition of the phrase “you had a nerve to tell me” emphasizes the hurt and betrayal that the singer feels. The last verse repeats the question of whether the woman is leaving him, but the singer seems to have come to terms with the possibility. He acknowledges that she may leave, but tells her that it’s okay because she will eventually come back home.

Overall, the lyrics of “Come Back Home” describe a tumultuous and complicated relationship between two people who seem to be unable to live without each other. The singer’s acceptance of the woman’s mistreatment and his belief that she will eventually return suggest a complex and perhaps even co-dependent dynamic.

Line by Line Meaning

You're a mean mistreater, mama, you don't mean me no good
You mistreat me and don't have good intentions towards me, mama.

You just a mean mistreater mama, you don't mean me no good
You only mistreat me and have bad intentions towards me, mama.

I can't blame you, baby, I'd be the same way if I could
I can't hold it against you, baby, as I might act the same way if I could.

You know in the mornin', baby, when I come in, knocked on your door
In the morning, baby, when I knocked on your door, wanting to come in,

You had a nerve to tell me that you don't want me no more
You had the audacity to inform me that you don't want me around anymore.

And then also baby, when I knocked upon your door
Even when I knocked on your door at another time, baby,

You had a nerve to tell me, don't want me no more
You still had the audacity to tell me that you no longer want me around.

Didn't you say you was gonna leave me, did you say you was goin' away?
Didn't you previously say that you were going to depart from me, and that you were heading elsewhere?

That's alright baby, you gonna come back home someday
That's alright, baby, as you will return home someday.

Contributed by Kaelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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