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.
Forty Four
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wore my forty-four so long, I done made my shoulder sore
Well, I'm wondrin' everybody, where'd my baby go?
Well, I'm so mad this mornin', I don't know where in the world to go
Well, I'm so mad this mornin', I don't know where in the world to go
Well, I'm lookin' for me some money, pawned gun to have some gold
The lyrics to Howlin' Wolf's song "Forty Four" express a sense of frustration and desperation. The song begins with the singer stating that they have been carrying their "forty-four" for so long that it has caused physical pain in their shoulder. A "forty-four" refers to a .44 caliber pistol, which is a powerful gun. The pain caused by carrying it for so long suggests that the singer has been carrying this burden for a long time, perhaps in a literal or figurative sense. The repetition of this line emphasizes the burden and weight of carrying this gun.
The second half of the first verse introduces a sense of loss and confusion. The singer wonders where their "baby" has gone, which could refer to a romantic partner or perhaps more broadly to a sense of purpose or direction in life. This line suggests that the burden the singer has been carrying may have been related to protecting or searching for this missing person, and without them, the weight of the forty-four feels even heavier.
The second verse continues this sense of desperation and anger, with the singer stating that they are so mad they don't know where to go. The repetition of "well" at the beginning of each line emphasizes the singer's frustration and increasing desperation. The final line suggests that the singer has pawned their gun for money, perhaps to survive or to find their missing person.
Line by Line Meaning
I wore my forty-four so long, I've made my shoulder sore
I have carried my gun for such a long time that it has caused physical discomfort and pain to my shoulder
Well, I'm wondrin' everybody, where'd my baby go?
I am questioning and wondering about the whereabouts of my significant other
Well, I'm so mad this mornin', I don't know where in the world to go
I am feeling intense anger and frustration, unable to decide on what I should do or where I should go
Well, I'm lookin' for me some money, pawned gun to have some gold
I am in search of financial resources, and in order to acquire some gold, I have resorted to pawning my gun
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHESTER BURNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@letmesing6868
This was the last song my great-grandmother asked me to play before left this Earth. Her other favorite was Further on up the road.
@craighurley8031
I’ve loved this song since I was a kid !
Thanks Wolf !!
@greggyeggy1
Powerful singing, powerful music. Absolute classic. Only one Wolf!
@mr.bonesbbq3288
Only one Wolf, Indeed, Sir!
@Kingjamu120
Thank you Mr. Wolf!!...Incredible piece of art!!
@user-hn3bx6zm9y
Damn, that is a long.ss time!
@christiannantel2037
Lowell George and Little Feat do this with absolute respect, Lovin the Wolf,
@danielvertino8126
Derek Trucks cover is also absolute respect
@phillipph9882
nothing this deadly, phillips & sumlin on ONE wolf on TWO, cooper 4/4 & spann honkytonk, recorded on a dirt floor
@darcellwells9010
FORTY FOUR 😁😁