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 Love My Baby
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now, I'll search this town
I declare, I wouldn't lie
From do' to do'
I've got to find my baby
And the love that I crave
I declare, I wouldn't lie
I can't find no mo'
Since that girl said, good-bye
I got to find my baby
I declare, I wouldn't lie
Now, if I was the Good Lord
I ain't had no real good lovin'
Pretty woman would never die
Since that gal said, good-bye
You may look good, baby
But you got to hang yo' head an cry
If I was the, Good Lord
Pretty women's would never die
I got to find my baby
You may be good lookin', baby
I declare, I wouldn't lie
But it's hang yo' head an cry
I ain't had no real good lovin'
Since that girl said, good-bye
I got to find my baby
I declare, I wouldn't lie
I ain't had no real good lovin'
Since that girl said, good-bye
Now, I'm gonna walk the flo', baby
'Till my mustache drag the ground
I'm gonna find my baby
I'm gonna find my baby
I declare, I wouldn't lie
And see what she puttin' down
I ain't had no real good lovin'
I declare, I wouldn't lie
Well, I know if it's the last thing
I ain't had no real good lovin'
I ever do in my life
Since that gal said, good-bye
I wanna find my big-leg brownskin
And make her my wife
I've got to find my baby
Well, I hate to see the sun
I declare, I wouldn't lie
Hurry to the west
I ain't had no real good lovin'
I know my whole night
Since that gal said, good-bye
Gonna be a solid mess
The lyrics to “I Love My Baby” by Howlin’ Wolf express the deep longing and overwhelming desire to find the singer’s lost love. He searches high and low, declaring that he cannot find any real good loving since she left him. He even goes as far as to say that if he were the Good Lord, pretty women would never die, indicating that his woman is the most beautiful to him. He implores his baby to return to him, that he wouldn’t lie, as he’s desperate to hold her in his arms once more. The lyrics are a testament to the power of love and longing, and the pain that can come when it is gone.
The lyrics also showcase the raw emotion and unique vocal style of Howlin’ Wolf. His throaty growls and soulful cries bring a sense of urgency and desperation to the song. He repeats the line “I declare, I wouldn’t lie” multiple times, emphasizing his sincerity and dedication to finding his baby. The repeated statement that he hasn’t had any real good loving since his girl left him shows that he is emotionally and physically drained, and only she can fill that void. The final lines of the song suggest that he will continue to search for her until he finds her, even if it means his whole night will be a solid mess.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got to find my baby
The singer is determined to find his lover.
Now, I'll search this town
He will search the entire town in his quest to find his lover.
I declare, I wouldn't lie
The singer is asserting that he is not lying.
From do' to do'
He will search every door to find his lover.
And the love that I crave
The singer is desperately in need of his lover's love.
I can't find no mo'
The singer has been looking for his lover for a while, but still hasn't found her.
I ain't had no real good lovin'
The singer has not had satisfying love since his lover left him.
Since that girl said, good-bye
The singer is referring to the moment his lover left him, when he lost all happiness.
Now, if I was the Good Lord
The singer is expressing his wish to be God.
Pretty woman would never die
If he were God, beautiful women would never die.
You may look good, baby
The singer acknowledges that his lover is attractive.
But you got to hang yo' head an cry
Her beauty is not enough to make up for the heartbreak she has caused him.
I got to find my baby
The singer's desire to find his lover is still strong.
But it's hang yo' head an cry
The pain of losing his lover still haunts him.
Now, I'm gonna walk the flo', baby
The singer is restless and will pace around in search of his lover.
'Till my mustache drag the ground
He will search for her tirelessly, to the point of exhaustion.
And see what she puttin' down
He wants to know what his lover is doing and why she left him.
Well, I know if it's the last thing
Finding his lover is his top priority, even if it's the last thing he does.
I ever do in my life
His search for his lover is the most important thing he will ever do.
I wanna find my big-leg brownskin
The singer has a specific image of his lover in mind.
And make her my wife
If he finds her, he wants to marry her and keep her with him.
Well, I hate to see the sun
The singer feels down and doesn't want to see the sun rising.
Hurry to the west
He wants time to move faster and the day to end sooner.
I know my whole night
The singer's night will be miserable and restless without his lover.
Gonna be a solid mess
Without his lover, the singer's life will be chaotic and unmanageable.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIE DIXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tony Freeman
the Wolf at his finesr
Tony Freeman
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