Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 in White Station, Mississippi, Unite… Read Full Bio ↴Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 in White Station, Mississippi, United States – January 10, 1976 in Hines, Illinois, United States), known as Howlin' Wolf, was an influential American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player.

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 Lightning
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

UH-UH
UH-UH
UH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH
You-you-you-UH-UH-UH
YEE

yeah
HEY SMOKESTACK LIGHTNIN'

AH CAN'T YA HEAR ME CALLIN'
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

Overall Meaning

Howlin' Wolf's song "Smoke Stack Lightning" is a blues classic that was released in 1956. The song's opening features a distinctive howling that sets an eerie, intense tone for the rest of the song. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but they are generally believed to describe a train that is blasting its whistle as it passes through the night. The train whistle is said to resemble the howling of a wolf, which is the source of the singer's nickname.

The repetition of the phrase "Can't ya hear me callin'" might suggest loneliness and longing. The lyrics also mention someone's mama and daddy, which could be a plea for comfort, support, and connection. The line "You're daddy's little ball and chain" could be a reference to the burdens and responsibilities that come with family and relationships. The call and response between the singer and the background vocals adds texture and urgency to the song.

Overall, "Smoke Stack Lightning" is a haunting, evocative song that captures the primal energy and emotion of the blues.

Line by Line Meaning

UH-UH
The singer is using an interjection to imply a negative response

UH-UH
The singer continues using the same interjection to imply a negative response

UH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH
The singer is using an exclamation to express excitement or surprise

You-you-you-UH-UH-UH
The singer is addressing someone or something and then using the interjection to imply a negative response

YEE
The singer is using an exclamation similar to 'yay!' to express enthusiasm or excitement

HEY SMOKESTACK LIGHTNIN'
The singer is calling out to something called 'smokestack lightnin''

AH CAN'T YA HEAR ME CALLIN'
The singer is asking if 'smokestack lightnin'' can hear them calling out

CAN'T YA HEAR ME CALL-CALLIN' YOUR NAME
The singer is repeating their question, asking 'smokestack lightnin'' if they can hear them calling their name

SOMEBODY CALL YO' MAMA
The singer is asking someone to call 'smokestack lightnin''s mother

SOMEBODY CALL YA DAD
The singer is asking someone to call 'smokestack lightnin''s father

SOMEBODY CALL YOUR MAMA
The singer repeats their request to call 'smokestack lightnin''s mother

YOU'RE DADDY'S LITTLE BABY
The singer is implying that 'smokestack lightnin'' is someone's child

why-why-why-YEAH YOU'RE DADDY'S LITTLE BALL AN' CHAIN
The singer is repeating their implication that 'smokestack lightnin'' is someone's child while adding that they are a burden or nuisance

YOU AN' I'S GOIN' OVER THERE
The singer is indicating that they and someone else are moving to a different location

Whoa whoa whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
The singer is using an exclamation to express surprise or excitement

Cha cha
The singer is using an interjection to indicate a rhythmic beat or dance

HUH
The singer is using an interjection to express confusion or surprise

Cha cha cha
The singer repeats their earlier interjection indicating a rhythmic beat or dance

Hey Kimball turn that down
The singer is addressing someone named 'Kimball' and asking them to lower the volume of something

she ain't really gone
The singer is indicating that someone or something is still present, despite being thought to have left or disappeared

I'm a-callin' her name
The singer is indicating that they are trying to get someone's attention by calling their name

WHOO-OO OO OO
The singer is using an exclamation to express excitement or enthusiasm

WHOO-OO OO OO
The singer repeats their earlier exclamation

Oh yeah
The singer is using an exclamation to express enthusiasm, agreement, or satisfaction

Aaw well well
The singer is using an interjection to express surprise or disappointment

Well smokestack
The singer is addressing 'smokestack lightnin''' directly

Well smokestack
The singer repeats their earlier address to 'smokestack lightnin'''

Well well smokestack
The singer repeats their earlier address to 'smokestack lightnin''', with added emphasis

YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAAAH
The singer is using an exclamation to express enthusiasm or excitement

WELL SMOKESTACK LIGHTNIN'
The singer is addressing 'smokestack lightnin''' directly

AH CAN'T YA HEAR ME CALLIN'
The singer is asking if 'smokestack lightnin'' can hear them calling out

AH CAN'T YA HEAR ME CALL-CALLIN' YOUR NAME
The singer is repeating their question, asking 'smokestack lightnin'' if they can hear them calling their name

See-see-CAN'T YA HEAR ME CALL-CALL-CALLIN' YOUR NAME
The singer is repeating their question, with added emphasis, asking 'smokestack lightnin'' if they can hear them calling their name

YEAH AH WHOO-OO YEAH AH WHOO-OO
The singer is using an exclamation to express excitement