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.
Don't Laugh At Me
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have I got to let you dog me around?
How many more years
Have I got to let you dog me around?
I'd so rather be dead
Sleeping way down in the ground
If I treat you right
If I treat you right
You would believe what I've said
You [Incomprehensible]
You beg them to let you have your way
I'm going upstairs
I'm gon' bring back down my clothes
I'm goin' upstairs
I'm gon' bring back down my clothes
If anybody ask about me
Just tell 'em I walked out on
you long ago
The song "Dog Me Around" by Howlin' Wolf is a blues classic that speaks to the pain and frustration of being mistreated in a relationship. The lyrics are simple and direct, with the repetition of the phrase "How many more years have I got to let you dog me around?" expressing a sense of weariness and resignation. The singer is questioning why they have to continue enduring mistreatment and betrayal, asking if death might be a preferable alternative.
The second stanza suggests that the singer has tried to make things work by treating their partner well, but their efforts are met with resistance and manipulation. The line "You beg them to let you have your way" suggests that the partner is not content with the singer's love and attention, but seeks to control and dominate them instead. The singer's decision to leave is a final act of self-preservation, as they declare their intention to retrieve their belongings and disappear from their partner's life.
One can interpret the song as a commentary on the power dynamics and emotional turmoil of romantic relationships, particularly those that are unequal or abusive. The repeated use of "dog me around" speaks to a sense of oppression and dehumanization, with the singer being treated like a helpless animal. The final line, "Just tell 'em I walked out on you long ago," implies that the singer has come to a point of clarity and resolution, finding the strength to break free from a harmful situation.
Line by Line Meaning
How many more years
For how much longer must I tolerate you controlling me?
Have I got to let you dog me around?
How much longer do I have to put up with your mistreatment?
How many more years
Again, the idea of being stuck and bound by the other person.
Have I got to let you dog me around?
Another statement reinforcing the artist's feeling of being oppressed and controlled.
I'd so rather be dead
The singer would rather be dead than put up with the situation.
Sleeping way down in the ground
This lyric refers to the comfort of death, as opposed to the struggles of life.
If I treat you right
If I treat you well and with respect.
You would believe what I've said
You would have faith and trust in me as a result of me treating you properly.
If I treat you right
The same line as before, restating the sentiment.
You would believe what I've said
Again, the other person would have faith in what the artist has to say if they were treated well.
You [Incomprehensible]
This line seems to suggest that the other person expects to get their way no matter what.
You beg them to let you have your way
This lyric implies that the other person is so used to getting their way by begging that it's become a habit.
I'm going upstairs
The singer is getting ready to leave and make a change.
I'm gonna bring back down my clothes
The singer is preparing to pack and move out.
If anybody asks about me
In case anyone asks about the singer once they leave.
Just tell 'em I walked out on
The artist has left the other person behind and is starting anew.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHESTER SP ACCT. BURNETT, JULES BIHARI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gus Hutchinson
It's all so good!
love the effortless rock steady jazz beat...
The whacky guitar solos
There is nothing as passionate as this around today I can think of.
That tinkling beat on the ride cymbal search!
And the howl of Howling.
Human beings have to get howling now..
Just look at us fools !
The controlled demolition of the economy OURS not theirs...stay away from each other..stay indoors...wear your muzzle.
We howled down the centuries and millenia when that tiny ruling elite stole 250,000 years of freedom and equality from us .
Transformed our lives from happy healthy gatherer hunters into slaves to the elite and lives of drudgery diseases famine and warfare changing our beautiful intact ecosystems into highly productive monocultures devoid of wild species and only the domesticated versions permitted...including ourselves.
Now the elite have clocked climate change is real and we are no longer required to get rid of us quick we need a series of injections..now we'd better start howling again.
louder than ever !!!
geothon
Really can't get enough of Hubert Sumlin's play!
mavjimbo
Played without a pick
Richard Nano
Oh, thanks. I was wondering who playing lead.
S R
These artists were so talented and so unappreciated. So glad I grew up with this music and my father never banned me from watching and loving it.
PandaMan
I was living in St. Louis in 2009 and would often check the local music calendar out for interesting gigs coming to town. I was shocked when Hubert's name showed up for a show at a tiny little blues dive near the river. I watched him all night in that little place, right there in front of him as he played. He appeared old and tired, but he had the kindest looking eyes as he sat there in his seat and played for over two hours. I knew I was witnessing something special and cherish having seen this legend play.
optionout
WOW!!! What I would've paid for that!
mario7frankielee
you must be from outer space 🪐
you saw him 2009???
in st. louis???
wow!!!!
he left this planet 1976
william higgins
I experienced something similar with Mr.Sumlin here in Ct. I don't really remember what year it was but it was at this little shithole dive bar called the Nightshift Cafe in the armpit of this State,maybe Derby or Naugatuck.Remember naugahyde? it was named after Naugatuck where they made that shit.Like everything in the Valley, a cheap imitation of something real.I digress, Hubert was sadly old and had seen some better days but just like the night you saw him in St.Louis once he got up on stage and started playing all that world weariness and sadness faded away and he put on an awesome show with the house band that I found out later on had a couple of truly great members,a cat by the name of Rocky Lawrence playing guitbox and a bass player BoBo Applewhite if I'm not mistaken.Sometimes you just experience serendipity and walk into something so incredible.Come to think of it I saw Sleepy LaBeef at the same place and Matt"Guitar" Murphy also at the same dive bar.
william higgins
@mario7frankielee He is talking about Hubert Sumlin not Howlin Wolf I would read thoroughly before you make dumb comments, man!
mario7frankielee
@william higgins
ups 🙈
shame on me