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.
Nature
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
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Ah that is nature, won't let me treat you right
I'm out lookin', on the other side
You know I love you, want to stay with you day and night
You know I love you, I want to stay with you day and night
I'm just out lookin', I'm usin' my sight
I'm workin', babe day and night
I'm workin', baby day and night
I'm sorry baby, I'm sorry baby
I'm sorry baby, I'm sorry baby
I'm sorry baby, nature caused me to mess up my life
The song "Nature" by Howlin' Wolf explores the idea of nature as a force that is beyond human control. The lyrics suggest that the singer is trying to treat someone (presumably a romantic partner) well, but is unable to do so because of the power of nature. The repeated refrain of "Ah that is nature, won't let me treat you right" highlights the sense of helplessness that the singer feels in the face of this force.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses his love and desire to be with his partner, but is constantly thwarted by nature. He is "out lookin', on the other side" and "usin' my sight," suggesting that he is searching for a way to overcome this barrier. However, he ultimately realizes that he cannot control nature, and apologizes to his partner for the mess that it has caused in his life.
Overall, "Nature" is a poignant exploration of the limits of human control and the power of nature to shape our lives in unexpected ways. Through its evocative lyrics and soulful blues sound, it captures the sense of frustration and resignation that comes with facing forces beyond our control.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah that is nature, won't let me treat you right
It's just the way things are, I can't seem to make things good between us
I'm out lookin', on the other side
I'm searching for something else, but I don't really want to lose you
You know I love you, want to stay with you day and night
I care for you deeply and never want to be away from you
I'm just out lookin', I'm usin' my sight
I'm trying to find something, but I'm not sure what it is or where to look
I'm workin', babe day and night
I'm putting in the effort to make things work between us, but it's not easy
Ah, that's nature, won't let me come to your side
There's something keeping me from being close to you, even though I wish I could be
I'm sorry baby, I'm sorry baby
I know I've hurt you and I regret it deeply
I'm sorry baby, I'm sorry baby
I know I've messed up and I feel terrible about it
I'm sorry baby, nature caused me to mess up my life
I can't fully control my actions and I've made some mistakes as a result
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHESTER BURNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind