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 Wind That Never Change
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Although the road don't have no end
Long the road that don't have no end
It's a bad wind for a man that don't never change
Have you ever heard a church bell talk
Have you ever heard a church bell talk
Have you ever heard a church bell talk
When there are eight white horses in a line
When there are eight white horses in a line
When there are eight white horse standing in a line
They gonna take me down to my burial ground
Tell them the lay my grave with a silver spade
Tell them the lay my grave with a silver spade
Tell them the lay my grave with a silver spade
Tell them to lay me down with a golden chain
There's a long road for man don't have no end
There's a long road for man don't have no end
There's a long road for man don't have no end
The lyrics to Howlin' Wolf's song "Poor Wind That Never Change" evoke a sense of loneliness and despair. The repetition of "Although the road don't have no end" emphasizes the endlessness of the road and the feeling of being stuck. The phrase "It's a bad wind for a man that don't never change" suggests that change is necessary to escape this perpetual cycle of despair.
The second verse introduces the image of a church bell, which traditionally signifies death. The repetition of "Have you ever heard a church bell talk" creates an eerie atmosphere, as if the bell is speaking directly to the listener. The line "Then you know the poor boy dead and gone" confirms the connection between the church bell and death.
The third verse mentions eight white horses, another symbol of death. The repetition of "They gonna take me down to my burial ground" suggests that the singer is resigned to their fate. The final verse requests that the singer be buried with a silver spade and golden chain, indicating a desire for luxury even in death.
Line by Line Meaning
Although the road don't have no end
Despite the fact that the road never seems to end
Long the road that don't have no end
The road that never ends is very long
It's a bad wind for a man that don't never change
A constant, unchanging wind is detrimental to a man's well-being
Have you ever heard a church bell talk
If you've ever heard a church bell, you know what it sounds like
Then you know the poor boy dead and gone
The ringing of a church bell is a sign that someone has died
When there are eight white horses standing in a line
A procession of eight white horses signifies a funeral
They gonna take me down to my burial ground
I will be taken to my final resting place
Tell them to lay me down with a golden chain
Requesting to be buried with precious items
There's a long road for man don't have no end
The journey is never done for a man who refuses to change or adapt
Contributed by Isaiah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.