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.
I've Been Abused
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All of my life, I have caught it hard
I've been abused, and I've been scorned
I feel so bad, it ain't gonna last
I feel so bad, this ain't gonna last
I've been scorned, and I've been kicked out
I've been abused, I've been talked about
I've been abused, I've been talked about
I'm so mad, I can shout
I'm so mad, I can shout
I've been abused, and I've been kicked out
In "I've Been Abused," Howlin' Wolf expresses the hardship and pain he has endured throughout his life. The repetition of "I've been abused and I've been scorned" emphasizes the magnitude of the abuse and makes it clear that it is a major theme that has followed him throughout his life. The lyrics convey the idea that this abuse has caused him great emotional turmoil, and that he is struggling to cope with the feelings of anger and disappointment that arise as a result.
The lines "I feel so bad, it ain't gonna last" and "I'm so mad, I can shout" express the intensity of his emotions and indicate that he is not willing to suffer silently any longer. The repetition of "I've been kicked out" further emphasizes the indignity and hurt he has experienced. Overall, the song is a powerful expression of the pain and struggle that can result from being abused.
Line by Line Meaning
All of my life, I have caught it hard
The singer has faced many difficult circumstances throughout their entire life.
I've been abused, and I've been scorned
The singer has suffered mistreatment and disrespect from others.
I feel so bad, this ain't gonna last
Despite the pain the singer has experienced, they believe it will not last forever.
I've been scorned, and I've been kicked out
The singer has been both disrespected and physically removed from certain situations.
I've been abused, I've been talked about
Not only has the singer been mistreated, but they have also been the subject of negative gossip.
I'm so mad, I can shout
The singer is extremely angry about their mistreatment and feels compelled to express it loudly.
I've been abused, and I've been kicked out
The singer emphasizes that they have suffered both emotional and physical abuse throughout their life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHESTER BURNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A Lot of Bottle
Wow, I have a British Blues Rock, Steamhammer-style idea for a cover of this song. Basically, I would keep that harp "riff" the same, but I'd change sometning on the guitars. I would have a reverb and overdrive on the guitar. Vocals and hrap would also have a bit of reverb, to add that kind of "space" effect. I would add classic boogie-woogie piano to that very progressive take on blues. Wow! Inspired musician here!
omarmerle
Freddie King sitting in on guitar!
Peter Molin
Wow--true? As if Hubert Sumlin wasn't good enough....
sean kolednik
The Wolf was the coolest cat of all.
ALAIN DEWAELE
it moves Bill of manners thank you
Shakey Jake and The Blue Vibrations
Uploaded on Wolf's birthday! Ask me how I knew.... cuz it's mine too! :-)
tguk1965
even sonny boy took notice of this
Blues Sevenfold
Musically, this track is quite uptempo and not that depressing sounding - but, lyrically, I think this is his autobiographical song. Chester Burnett actually sounds a bit weepy in parts of this song. I wonder if they had to do several takes before he could hold himself together enough to get through the whole song.
David Whiteis
Yes, it's largely autobiographical -- young Chester Burnett spent most of his childhood and youth either being mistreated or wandering through the world alone. His mother put him out of the house when he was very young, and for the rest of his life she refused to make peace with him or even speak to him (supposedly because of his interest in the blues which she, as a church-going Christian, couldn't countenance -- she even refused to speak to him over the phone when he was on his deathbed in Chicago, many years later); the man he ended up living with, his uncle Will Young, was an abusive sadist (there's really no other way to put it) who repeatedly whipped the boy, beat him severely, and psychologically humiliated him (he'd force him to eat his meals alone, separate from the rest of the family). He finally ran away from Will Young's place when he was about thirteen.
A.T. Oliver
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