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.
Smokestack Lightin'
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shinin', just like gold
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo
Whoa, oh, tell me, baby
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo
What's That Line?
Whoa-oh, tell me, baby
Where did ya stay last night?
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo
Whoa, oh, stop your train
Let her, go for a ride
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo
Whoa, oh, fare ya well
Never see, ah, you no more
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo
Whoa, oh, who been here baby, since
Ah, I been gone?
Little bitty boy?
Girl, be on
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo
The song "Smokestack Lightnin'" by Howlin' Wolf is a classic blues track that features captivating and emotive lyrics. The song begins with the line, "Oh-oh, Smokestack Lightnin'. Shining just like gold", which refers to the unmistakable sight of the bright smoke that billows from a train's smokestack. The singer is then left to wonder why nobody hears him crying, a line that could either suggest that he is dealing with heartbreak, or that his cries for help are being ignored.
The next set of lyrics are directed towards a lover, and the singer asks, "Tell me, baby, what's the matter with you?". This question implies that something is not right in the relationship, and the singer is trying to connect with their lover on an emotional level. Throughout the song, the singer continues to ask questions, such as "Where did you stay last night?" and "Who's been here, baby, since I been gone?".
The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, simply features the singer howling "Ah-hoo-hoo, oh" in a way that is both powerful and melancholic. Overall, the song captures the feelings of loneliness and heartbreak that often come with a troubled relationship, and the smokestack is used as a symbol to represent the isolation the singer feels.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh-oh, smokestack lightning
The train's smokestack is emanating lightning, appearing like gold.
Shinin', just like gold
The lightning coming from the train's smokestack shines brightly like gold.
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Why can't you see that I'm upset and crying out for attention?
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
This is a vocalization of pain or sadness.
Whoa, oh, tell me, baby
Addressing a lover, asking them what's going on.
What's the matter with you?
Why are you acting this way?
Whoa-oh, tell me, baby
Asking again what the problem is.
Where did ya stay last night?
Asking where the lover was the previous night.
Whoa, oh, stop your train
Asking the train to stop moving.
Let her, go for a ride
Let the artist's lover go for a ride.
Fare ya well
Goodbye, farewell.
Never see, ah, you no more
The artist and lover will never see each other again.
Whoa, oh, who been here baby, since
Asking who has taken the lovers place since the singer left.
Ah, I been gone?
The time since the singer left.
Little bitty boy?
Is the person who has taken their place young?
Girl, be on
Just move on, girl.
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
A vocalization of sadness or pain.
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
A vocalization of sadness or pain.
Ah-hoo
A vocalization of sadness or pain.
Writer(s): CHESTER BURNETT
Contributed by Skyler T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@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