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.
Saddle My Pony
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Saddle my pony, saddle up my brown mare
I'm gonna find my baby, out in the world somewhere
Samething to tell you, when I get a chance
Samething to tell you, when I get a chance
I don't wanna marry, just wanna be your mare
Come here baby tell dad, how you feel
Saddle up my pony, saddle up my brown mare
I'm gonna find my baby, out in the world somewhere
The lyrics to Howlin' Wolf's song Saddle My Pony describe a man's determination to find his lover, even if it means traveling through difficult terrain on horseback. He instructs someone to saddle up his brown mare so he can set out on his journey. He repeats this line twice emphasizing the importance of his mission. His purpose is clear, he is searching for his lost love who he believes is "out in the world somewhere." He wants to convey a message to the woman that he cares about her, but he doesn't want to marry her, he just wants to be committed to her the same way a mare commits to her rider.
The lyrics suggest that the woman he's looking for has moved on without him and has a new home by the railroad but the man is undeterred. He is determined to find her and reconnect. He implores her to come to him when he finally finds her, so they can talk about their feelings. The man's determination and resilience are emphasized by the repetition of the chorus and the intense instrumentals in the background.
Line by Line Meaning
Saddle my pony, saddle up my brown mare
I need to get going and find my love, so I need to saddle up my horse.
Saddle my pony, saddle up my brown mare
I need to be doubly sure that my horse is ready to take me wherever I need to go.
I'm gonna find my baby, out in the world somewhere
I know that my love is out there, and I am driven to find them no matter what it takes.
Samething to tell you, when I get a chance
I have some important news or words to share with you, but I need to find the right time to do so.
Samething to tell you, when I get a chance
I don't want to waste any opportunity to express myself to you.
I don't wanna marry, just wanna be your mare
I am not interested in traditional marriage, but I do want to ride alongside you and be your equal.
Since my baby got a house, by that railroad steel
I know exactly where my love has been living, and it's near the railway line.
Come here baby tell dad, how you feel
I want my beloved to open up to me and share their deepest feelings with me.
Saddle up my pony, saddle up my brown mare
I am reminding myself to get ready for the journey ahead and to be prepared for anything.
I'm gonna find my baby, out in the world somewhere
My determination and drive to reunite with my love will not let me rest until I have found them.
Writer(s): Chester Burnett
Contributed by Matthew R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
David Duru
Legend 👍
Dennis Willmott
Direct connection to Charlie Patton!
Everett Oehlschlaeger
Diamond in the rough !
sprague49
Ike Turner directed and played on this session.
phillip ph
w/ willie johnson gtr, willie steel drm, but who's on bass?
Smooth Operator
@phillip ph good chance it was willie dixon
A.T. Oliver
...😃😃😃