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' Blues
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm gonna leave you, I'm goin' away
I'm gonna leave, I'll be back someday
Oh well I can't stay here, no need in me stayin'
Here's nothin' for me to lose
Woooo, woooo,
Woooo, I'm goin' away,
Well I can't stay, 'til you hurt my feelings
I'm goin' away

I'm going to New Orleans, I'm worried about you
I be so broken hearted, I won't know what to do

So good bye babe, I hate to go
Here's nothin' to lose

Overall Meaning

The song "Howlin' Blues" by Howlin' Wolf is a blues classic that symbolizes the pain and heartache of leaving someone you love. The lyrics portray the singer leaving his lover behind and heading to New Orleans. The singer has no other option but to leave as there is nothing left for him where he is. The singer is convinced that he won't find anything to regret in his present location. Previously, the singer's love have wronged him so badly that he can't remain and needs to get away. However, he remains worried about his beloved, as he is not sure whether he is strong enough to deal with a final break.

The song is traditionally blues-based and highlights Wolf's singing expertise in telling a story of love gone bad. The song's emotion is communicated by the repetition of lyrics like "I'm going away" and "Woo, woo" as the singer packs his bags and boards the train. The hurt played out in the song comes across as authentic, and Wolf's vocalization is the ideal representation of emotions. Like so many blues classics, the simplicity of the song is what makes it special.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm gonna leave you, I'm goin' away
I am planning to go away from you, leaving everything behind.

I'm gonna leave, I'll be back someday
I will come back to you someday, leaving everything behind.

Oh well I can't stay here, no need in me stayin'
There is no need to stay here as there is nothing for me to lose.

Here's nothin' for me to lose
There is nothing left for me here that I can lose.

Woooo, woooo,
An expression of sadness or anguish.

Woooo, I'm goin' away,
I am expressing my sadness as I am leaving.

Well I can't stay, 'til you hurt my feelings
I am leaving before you hurt my feelings anymore.

I'm goin' away
I am leaving.

I'm going to New Orleans, I'm worried about you
I am worried about you as I am going to New Orleans.

I be so broken hearted, I won't know what to do
I will be heartbroken and I will not know what to do about it.

So good bye babe, I hate to go
I am leaving with a heavy heart.