In Britain in 1964, Pye International Records issued "Smokestack Lightning" as a single and it reached the Top 50. In 1999, the record was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award honoring its lasting historical significance. The song is ranked #285 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
In 1998, Hubert Sumlin, who played guitar on Wolf's original version of the song, released the album I Know You which featured a song called "Smokestack". It features the same riff as "Smokestack Lightning", but with different lyrics. The lyrics on "Smokestack" were done in the style of John Lee Hooker, which is more of a spoken word than singing with a rhyme scheme.
The song has been covered numerous times by various artists including Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, John Mayer, The Animals, Mike Harrison, The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, The Who, The Electric Prunes, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Soundgarden, Lester Butler, Quicksilver Messenger Service and George Thorogood. Soul Coughing's song "Down to This" features a sample of the original version. Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Susie Q" uses the riff from this song. The Kaleidoscope (US band) used the riff and distinctive howl on the tune 'A Beacon From Mars' on their 1967 album of the same name.
Because the original lyrics did not feature much of a rhyme scheme and included a howl by the Wolf, it was often reworked.The Yardbirds first covered it on their debut, Five Live Yardbirds with slightly rewritten lyrics, not including the howl. On The Yardbirds' BBC Sessions, the lyrics were rewritten completely.
Smokestack Lightnin'
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shinin', just like gold
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo hoo
Whoo hoo
Whoo
What's the, matter with you?
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo hoo
Whoo hoo
Whoo
Whoa oh, tell me, baby
Where did ya, stay last night?
A-why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo hoo
Whoo hoo
Whoo
Whoa-oh, stop your train
Let her, go for a ride
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo hoo
Whoo hoo
Whoo
Whoa-oh, fare ya well
Never see, a you no more
A-why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo hoo
Whoo hoo
Whoo
Whoa-oh, who been here baby since,
I-I been gone, a little, bitty boy
Girl, be on
Whoo hoo
Whoo hoo
Whoo
The song "Smokestack Lightnin'" by Howlin' Wolf is a blues song that has been interpreted in many different ways by music critics and fans alike. The lyrics of the song are relatively simple, but they pack a lot of emotion and meaning into their brevity. The song begins with the lines "Ah oh, smokestack lightnin' / Shinin', just like gold / Why don't ya hear me cryin'?" These lines evoke a powerful image of a smokestack, which is frequently associated with the Industrial Revolution and the rise of modern industry. The smokestack is a symbol of both progress and pollution, and it seems to shine like gold in the darkness of the city. But despite its magnificence, the singer can't help but feel like no one is listening to his cries of pain and desperation.
As the song progresses, the singer continues to ask his lover what is wrong with her and why she doesn't hear his cries. He also asks her where she stayed last night, implying that she may have been unfaithful. Toward the end of the song, the singer seems resigned to the fact that his lover is gone forever: "Fare ya well / Never see, a you no more / A-why don't ya hear me cryin'?" Throughout the song, we get the sense that the singer has been left behind by the very progress that the smokestack represents. He is a man struggling to make sense of a changing world and a relationship that has fallen apart.
Overall, "Smokestack Lightnin'" is a powerful example of the blues genre. It captures the sadness, confusion, and longing that many people feel when they are left behind or left behind by someone they love. At the same time, it acknowledges the beauty and power of modern industry, even as it critiques its effects on individual lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah oh, smokestack lightnin'
The smokestack is emitting smoke, which looks like lightning, visually striking and impressive.
Shinin', just like gold
The smokestack is shining beautifully, just like gold, highlighting its beauty and grandeur.
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
The singer is heartbroken and crying out for help and attention, wondering why no one seems to notice.
Whoa oh, tell me, baby
What's the, matter with you?
The singer is asking their lover what's wrong, wondering why they aren't responding or acknowledging their feelings.
Where did ya, stay last night?
A-why don't ya hear me cryin'?
The singer is suspicious and upset about their lover's whereabouts, wondering why they aren't paying attention to their cries of distress.
Whoa-oh, stop your train
Let her, go for a ride
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
The singer is pleading with their lover to stop and listen to them, to take the time to understand their feelings and give them the chance to express themselves.
Whoa-oh, fare ya well
Never see, a you no more
A-why don't ya hear me cryin'?
The singer is saying goodbye, knowing that they won't see their lover again, wondering why they never paid attention to their cries of despair.
Whoa-oh, who been here baby since,
I-I been gone, a little, bitty boy
Girl, be on
The singer is suspicious that their lover has been seeing someone else while they were away, urging them to move on if that's the case.
Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing
Written by: Chester Burnett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind