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.

Howlin` Wolf Boogie`
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It could be a spoonful of coffee
It could be a spoonful of tea
But one little spoon of your precious love
Is good enough for me

Men lie about that spoonful
Some cry about that spoonful
Some die about that spoonful

Everybody fight about a spoonful
That spoon, that spoon, that spoonful

It could be a spoonful of water
To save you from the desert sand
But one spoon of love1 from my forty-five
Will save you from another man
Men lie about that spoonful
Some cry about that spoonful
Some die about that spoonful
Everybody fight about a spoonful
That spoon, that spoon, that spoonful
That spoon, that spoon, that spoonful

It could be a spoonful of sugar
It could be a spoonful of tea
But one little spoon of your precious love
Is good enough for me
Men lie about that spoonful
Some cry about that spoonful
Some die about that spoonful
Everybody fight about a spoonful
That spoon, that spoon, that spoonful
That spoon, that spoon, that spoonful
That spoon, that spoon, that spoonful
That spoon, that spoon, that spoonful

It could be a spoonful of sugar
It could be a spoonful of tea

But one little spoon of your precious love
Is good enough for me

Overall Meaning

"Howlin' Wolf Boogie" by Howlin' Wolf is a blues song that centers around the metaphor of a spoonful, which can represent various things, including love, coffee, tea, water, or sugar, all of which have different meanings to different people. The spoonful becomes a symbol of desire, need, and obsession that can drive men to lie, cry, fight, or even die for it. The song suggests that there is something irresistible and addictive about a spoonful of something that can provide pleasure, sustenance, or salvation.

The lyrics are simple and repetitive, but they convey a powerful message that resonates with the blues tradition of expressing raw emotions and life experiences through music. Howlin' Wolf's rough and raspy voice adds to the authenticity and intensity of the song, as well as his distinctive guitar and harmonica playing. The "boogie" style of the song also contributes to its upbeat and danceable rhythm, making it a popular choice for live performances and radio broadcasts.

Line by Line Meaning

It could be a spoonful of coffee
The singer conveys how a mere spoonful of coffee, as well as tea or sugar, could be enough to satisfy an individual but is trying to communicate how his lover's love, the spoonful they offer, is worth it all.

It could be a spoonful of tea
The singer is describing how a small serving of tea could satisfy an individual, but his lover's love, a single spoonful, is worth more than anything else.

But one little spoon of your precious love Is good enough for me
The singer compares the satisfaction of tea or coffee to that of his lover's love, as one spoonful is all he needs to be content and happy.

Men lie about that spoonful Some cry about that spoonful Some die about that spoonful Everybody fight about a spoonful That spoon, that spoon, that spoonful
The singer notes how a singular spoonful of love is so powerful that some people lie, cry, die or even fight for it, emphasizing the importance and value of love.

It could be a spoonful of water To save you from the desert sand But one spoon of love from my forty-five Will save you from another man
The singer describes how water can save someone in the desert, but his love, represented by his 'forty-five' gun, can save his lover from danger or harm caused by other people.

That spoon, that spoon, that spoonful
The repetition of this line emphasizes the importance of a single spoonful of love in the singer's life and the power it holds.

It could be a spoonful of sugar It could be a spoonful of tea But one little spoon of your precious love Is good enough for me
The singer repeats the idea stated in the first stanza, that a spoonful of sugar or tea is enough to satisfy some people, but his lover's love is all he needs to be happy and content.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Willie Dixon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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