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.

Going Back Home
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics

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First I planned to stay but I can't live this way
I'm going back home where I was born
Try to understand I think this city's grand
But with all its charms give me a little country farm
I'm going back home where I was born

Oh yeah now, oh yeah, oh yeah now, oh yeah
I tell you all about it, I think you ought to know

Tell you all about it why I wanna go

I miss the country preacher and the house of prayer
I miss the bootlegger smelling in the air
Miss friendly faces and the country smiles
The crickets singing, you can hear it for miles
I miss the rooster crowing at the break of dawn

Yes it all happens where I was born
Miss the fried chicken, colored greens
Miss the hot biscuits and the Lima beans
Miss the prayer meetings where people pray
With the drum beating till the break of day

You can have it, you can have it
You can have it, you can have it
You can have the town, I won't be around
This here life's too fast but 'll never, never last
I'm going back home where I was born
I got to go home, got to go home

Where the people are real, where people can feel
Got to go down, got to go down
Leave here today on my way so long, so long
Going back home, going back home
Got to go home, got to go home
Got to go home, got to go home
Where I, where I was born

First I planned to stay but I can't live this way
I'm going back home where I was born

Overall Meaning

Howlin' Wolf's "Going Back Home" is a blues song that talks about the singer's decision to return to his place of birth. The singer explains that he initially intended to stay in the city but realized that he could not cope with its fast-paced life. He yearns for the peace and simplicity of his country farm and the familiar faces and traditions of his hometown. The singer misses the country preacher, house of prayer, friendly faces, and the sound of crickets. He also yearns for the food of his hometown, the fried chicken, collard greens, hot biscuits, and Lima beans. The singer concludes that he cannot continue living in the city and that he has to go back home.

The song depicts the universal experience of individuals who leave their place of birth in search of a better life but eventually realize that they prefer the familiarity and comfort of their hometown. Howlin' Wolf's soulful voice and masterful guitar playing perfectly capture the emotions of the song. The repetition of the lyrics, "Got to go home" drives home the central message of the song and creates a sense of urgency and conviction.

Ultimately, the song is a celebration of the values and traditions of rural life and a reminder that sometimes the most profound happiness can be found in the simple things.

Going Back HomeHowlin' Wolf Lyrics

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Going Back Home
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics