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.
Moanin' At Midnight
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, somebody knocking on my door
Well, I'm so worried, don't know where to go
Well, somebody calling me, calling on my telephone
Well, somebody calling me, over my telephone
Well, keep on calling, tell them I'm not at home
Well, do not worry, Daddy has gone to bed
The lyrics of "Moanin' at Midnight" reflect a sense of restlessness and anxiety experienced by the singer. He hears someone knocking on his door and calling him on the telephone, but he is unsure about who they are and what they want. The repetition of the lines "Well, somebody knocking on my door / Well, somebody calling me, calling on my telephone" reinforces the sense of urgency and the need to respond.
The singer's response to these calls is a mix of desperation and evasion. He says he is worried and doesn't know where to go, which suggests that he feels trapped and is looking for a way out. At the same time, he asks the caller to leave him alone and not to disturb him, saying that he is not at home. The phrase "do not worry, Daddy has gone to bed" at the end of the song may indicate that the singer is trying to find some peace and quiet in his own home, but is unable to do so because of the constant interruptions.
Overall, the lyrics convey a mood of uncertainty and unease, which the singer expresses through his bluesy moaning and howling.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, somebody knocking on my door
I hear a strange sound at my door, someone is trying to get in
Well, somebody knocking on my door
The knocking at my door continues and it worries me
Well, I'm so worried, don't know where to go
I'm anxious and fearful, unsure of how to handle this situation
Well, somebody calling me, calling on my telephone
The phone is ringing, someone is trying to reach me through it
Well, somebody calling me, over my telephone
The phone call is persistent, it keeps coming through
Well, keep on calling, tell them I'm not at home
I want whoever is calling to believe that I am not available to speak
Well, do not worry, Daddy has gone to bed
I am reassuring myself that everything is alright, I'll rest now
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHESTER SP ACCT. BURNETT, JULES BIHARI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@maldoror1702
the sheer relentless paranoia that burns right through this primal dance blues masterpiece is overwhelming... tears in eyes electric in spine ...those mad overloaded hums like some nightmare incantation ...thrilling ! p.s luvin TTs Faustian exegesis!!
@phillipph9882
and at 0:24 don van vliet became cpt beefheart
@lydiabanjo
one of the few perfect recordings i've ever heard. really amazing.
@rwk1013
This is way ahead of his time. Love it!!!
@boatstrips
I can't stop listening to this song!
@MrYowen88
it's true you can't. you're not allowed I won't let you. Friends don't let friends stop listening to this song.
@davidwilliamson8315
That guitar , holy fuck!
@nickerdsedar4544
Motion seconded
@ATREYHBE
Why would you stop??
@perryamberson
Recorded by Sam Phillips at his Memphis Recording Service in May 1951. Licensed to Chess Records in Chicago and released as The Wolf's first 78 RPM single.