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.
Smoke Stack Lightnin'
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
UH-UH
UH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH
You-you-you-UH-UH-UH
YEE
yeah
HEY SMOKESTACK LIGHTNIN'
CAN'T YA HEAR ME CALL-CALLIN' YOUR NAME
SOMEBODY CALL YO' MAMA
SOMEBODY CALL YA DAD
SOMEBODY CALL YOUR MAMA
YOU'RE DADDY'S LITTLE BABY
why-why-why-YEAH YOU'RE DADDY'S LITTLE BALL AN' CHAIN
YOU AN' I'S GOIN' OVER THERE
YOU AN' I'S GOIN' OVER THERE
YOU AN' I
Whoa whoa whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
Cha cha
HUH
Cha cha cha
Hey Kimball turn that down
she ain't really gone
I'm a-callin' her name
WHOO-OO OO OO
WHOO-OO OO OO
WHOO-OO OO OO
Oh yeah
WHOO-OO OO OO
Aaw well well
Well smokestack
Well smokestack
Well well smokestack
Well well smokestack
YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAAAH
WELL SMOKESTACK LIGHTNIN'
CAN'T YA HEAR ME CALLIN'
AH CAN'T YA HEAR ME CALL-CALLIN' YOUR NAME
WELL SMOKESTACK LIGHTNIN'
AH CAN'T YA HEAR ME CALLIN'
See-see-CAN'T YA HEAR ME CALL-CALL-CALLIN' YOUR NAME
YEAH AH WHOO-OO YEAH AH WHOO-OO
YEAH AH WHOO-OO
YEAH AH WHOO-OO YEAH AH WHOO-OO
YEAH AH WHOO-OO
YEAH AH WHOO-OO YEAH AH WHOO-OO
YEAH AH WHOO-OO
YEAH AH WHOO-OO YEAH AH WHOO-OO
YEAH AH WHOO-OO
YEAH AH WHOO-OO
Yeah yeah
Ha ha ha ha ha
Did you get that?
Whoo Joanie, I want that for Christmas! Ha-ha
Is that on the tape?
Ready Tom?
Wait
It's on
Oh
The song "Smokestack Lightnin'" is a blues classic performed by Howlin' Wolf. The song tells the story of the singer's longing for his lover's return, with the smokestack serving as a metaphor for his emotional state. The opening lines of the song, "Ah-oh, smokestack lightnin', shinin' just like gold, why don't ya hear me cryin'?" set the tone for the rest of the song, with the smokestack light representing the singer's intense emotional pain.
The chorus of the song is haunting, with the repeated "whoo-hooo, whoo-hooo" creating a sense of desperation and longing. The singer begs his lover to tell him what's wrong and where she's been, but is met with silence. The final verse, "Who been here baby since, I-I been gone, a little, bitty boy? Girl, be on" suggests that the singer has been away for a long time and that his lover has possibly moved on.
The song is notable for its raw, gritty sound and Howlin' Wolf's powerful vocals. Its influence can be heard in many later blues and rock songs. Its lyrics have been interpreted in different ways, with some suggesting that the smokestack light represents the industrialization of America and the struggles of the working class.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah-oh, smokestack lightnin'
The train's smokestack is letting off steam, shining like gold.
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
The singer is crying out for attention from their lover who seems to be ignoring them.
Tell me, baby, what's the matter with you?
The singer is asking their lover what is wrong with them or what is causing them to be distant.
Where did ya, stay last night?
The artist is questioning their lover about their whereabouts the previous night.
Stop your train, let her go for a ride
The artist is pleading with the train conductor to stop the train so they can leave and go on a journey with their lover.
Fare ya well, never see, a you no more
The singer is saying goodbye to their lover, acknowledging that they will never see them again.
Who been here baby since, I-I been gone, a little, bitty boy?
The singer is questioning whether there has been anyone else with their lover since the singer was a young boy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chester Burnett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@itsjussaariii9131
Ah-oh, smokestack lightnin'
Shinin' just like gold
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
A-whoo-hooo, oooo
Whooo
Whoa-oh, tell me baby
What's the matter with you?
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo-hooo, whoo-hooo
Whooo
Whoa-oh, tell me baby
Where did ya stay last night?
A-why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo-hooo, whoo-hooo
Whooo
Whoa-oh, stop your train
Let her go for a ride
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo-hooo, whoo-hooo
Whooo
Whoa-oh, fare ya well
Never see a you no more
A-why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Oooo, whoo-hooo, whoo-hooo
Whooo
Whoa-oh, who been here baby since
I-I been gone, a little, bitty boy?
Girl, be on
A-whoo-hooo, whoo-hooo
Songwriter: Howlin' Wolf
@MelancoliaI
My dad loved this kind of music. I was indifferent to it until life knocked me around a bit. Now I love it.
@j.vinton4039
Usually how it happens bro. My old man is a Texas blues man. Couldn’t stand it as a kid, now in my 30’s the shit sounds like butter and gold.
@dantesderivatives
I'll admit I actually liked music like this growing up.....but WAY more after the great humbling of my 20's...Music with pain always sounds better
@cliffmorrison3568
It's been said many times, you don't understand the blues until you experience some blues.
@jukejoint523jordan6
I got into blues on a road tríp from Florida to South Carolina with my Uncle and his friend, the whole 7 hr trip was full of Blues tracks, that was back in 1994, Unc passed thst ssme year and we burried him on my 17th Birthday. Before he died he gave me his Fender Stratocaster Guitar and I've been playing it ever since. R.i.P Unc
@andyknowles772
@@dantesderivatives
"The flowers of hell"
@billboswaggins1610
Played this for my huskie he is now a grey wolf.
@drislady
Nice. ☺️
@sagvjc2525
Ah hueso lolol
@denniswarren4019
Lol