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.
Poor Boy (Alternate Lyrics /
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a poor boy, I'm a long way from home
What the others do, the world can't do me no harm
I'm a poor boy, a long way from home
Babe I can't stay here long, babe I can't stay here long
What the others do, the world can't do me no harm
I'm a poor boy, I'm a long way from home
Well my, baby's dead and gone
Well my, baby's dead and gone
Well, well, well, well I'm a long way from home
I'm a poor boy, I'm a long way from home
And the world, can't do me no harm
And the world, can't do me no harm
Oh , no no no no, I'm a long way from home
World can't do me no harm
World can't do me no harm
World can't do me no harm
The lyrics to Howlin' Wolf's "Poor Boy" convey a sense of displacement and loneliness, as the singer identifies himself as a poor boy who is a long way from home. He feels like an outsider, watching as the others do what they do, but not feeling affected by it. There is a sense of independence and resilience in the lyrics, as the singer affirms that the world cannot do him any harm.
The repetition of the refrain "I'm a poor boy, I'm a long way from home" adds to the feeling of distance and isolation that the singer is experiencing. The repetition of the phrase "what the others do, the world can't do me no harm" suggests a sense of detachment from social norms and expectations, as if the singer is above or beyond them. The second stanza introduces the idea that the singer's baby is dead and gone, which adds a layer of grief to the sense of displacement and loneliness.
Overall, the lyrics to "Poor Boy" suggest that the singer is going through a difficult time, but that he is also resilient and independent. He is able to detach himself from the world around him and find strength in his own sense of self.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a poor boy, I'm a long way from home
I am a poor and lonely person, who is far away from my home.
What the others do, the world can't do me no harm
I don't care about the things done by others as they don't harm me or affect me in any way.
Babe I can't stay here long, babe I can't stay here long
I cannot stay here for long; I need to move on.
Well my, baby's dead and gone
Sadly, my beloved baby has passed away.
Well, well, well, well I'm a long way from home
I am far from home, and this circumstance adds to my loneliness and mournfulness.
And the world, can't do me no harm
The world's happenings can't harm me as my life already feels ruined.
Oh , no no no no, I'm a long way from home
I am an unfortunate person far away from my home, which makes me sadder and lonelier.
World can't do me no harm
The world has no influence over me, as I am already going through a time of darkness and pain.
Contributed by Jason O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.