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 Better Go Now
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I better go now baby
I better go now 'fore I get out my blade
You done spend my money, throwed it all away
I had that money, to buy us a home
Yes I had that money, to buy us a home
When I come home, the money was gone
I better go now, 'fore I get out my blade
Yes so many people, dead and in the grave
I better leave ya now darlin', 'fore I get out my blade
I had that money, to buy you a diamond ring
I had that money, to buy you a diamond ring
I found out, you give it to your other man
I better go now, I better go now
The lyrics to Howlin' Wolf's "I Better Go Now" portray the frustration and anger of a man who has had enough of his partner's spendthrift ways. The song opens with the singer stating that he needs to leave before he harms his partner, as he is on the verge of drawing a blade in anger. The verse then goes on to lament the fact that his hard-earned money has been wasted by his partner, leaving him without the means to provide for them both.
The second verse takes a more ominous tone, as the singer laments the many people who have died and are now buried. This could be interpreted in one of two ways - either as a warning to his partner that if she doesn't shape up, she could end up dead like the many others he has seen, or as a call to action for himself, as he realizes that he needs to get out of this situation before it causes him harm. The verse ends with the singer once again threatening to harm his partner with a blade, demonstrating his impatience and willingness to resort to violence.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Better Go Now" are a reflection of the frustration and impatience felt by someone who has been let down too many times. The singer has given his partner numerous opportunities to change her ways, but she has continued to waste his money and betray his trust. He realizes that, for his own safety and sanity, he needs to leave before things escalate further.
Line by Line Meaning
I better go now
I must depart at this moment
I better go now baby
I must leave immediately, my dear
I better go now 'fore I get out my blade
I should depart before I am compelled to resort to violence
You done spend my money, throwed it all away
You have squandered all of the money I had given you
I had that money, to buy us a home
The money was intended for us to purchase a residence
Yes I had that money, to buy us a home
Indeed, I possessed the funds to acquire a house for us
When I come home, the money was gone
Upon my return, I discovered the money was missing
I better go now, 'fore I get out my blade
I must leave before resorting to the use of a weapon
So many people, dead and in the grave
Countless individuals have passed away and are buried
Yes so many people, dead and in the grave
Truly, there are an abundance of deceased individuals interred
I better leave ya now darlin', 'fore I get out my blade
I must bid you farewell, sweetheart, before I resort to violence
I had that money, to buy you a diamond ring
The money was specifically for purchasing a diamond ring for you
I found out, you give it to your other man
I learned that you gave the money to another man
I better go now, I better go now
It is imperative that I leave immediately
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHESTER BURNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind