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 Lightning
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
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 Lightning by Howlin' Wolf is a classic example of blues music known for its repetitive guitar riff and Wolf's distinctive voice. The song is about a man who is crying out to his lover, who has left him, hoping she will come back. In the opening lines, Wolf compares the smoke and fumes that come out of the smokestack with the shining of gold, which is a metaphor for the fumes of desire that the man feels for his lover. He then asks his lover why she doesn't hear him crying and hollering for her. The repetition of the word "ah-hoo-hoo" in the chorus signifies his longing and sadness over his lost love.
The second verse of the song continues the theme of the man's longing for his lover, with Wolf asking his lover what's the matter with her, and why she can't hear him crying. In the third verse, he asks her where she stayed last night, again hoping to hear some indication that she will return to him. The fourth verse uses the metaphor of a train to express the man's desire to be with his lover again. He asks the train to stop and let his lover go for a ride with him, but he receives no response. The fifth and final verse is an acceptance that his lover is gone for good, and he will never see her again. He questions who has been with her in his absence, but ultimately accepts that she's moved on.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh-oh, smokestack lightning
The train is moving like lightning, emitting smoke from the stack, which is a symbol of energy and power.
Shinin', just like gold
The train's lights are bright and shining like gold, indicating its importance and grandeur.
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
The singer is asking why the listener is not paying attention to his or her cries, indicating a feeling of neglect.
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo
These sounds are used to convey the raw emotion of the singer's cry.
Whoa, oh, tell me, baby
What's the matter with you?
The singer is concerned and asks what is wrong with the listener, indicating a desire to connect emotionally.
Whoa-oh, tell me, baby
Where did ya stay last night?
The singer is questioning the listener's whereabouts, indicating a sense of suspicion or jealousy.
Whoa, oh, stop your train
Let her, go for a ride
The singer wants to stop the train and let it be free, indicating a desire for liberation and freedom.
Whoa, oh, fare ya well
Never see, ah, you no more
The singer is saying goodbye and accepting that they will never see the listener again, indicating a sense of finality and closure.
Whoa, oh, who been here baby, since
Ah, I been gone?
The singer is asking about what has happened in the listener's life while they were apart, indicating a sense of curiosity and longing.
Little bitty boy?
Girl, be on
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo-hoo, oh
Ah-hoo
These sounds are used to convey the raw emotion of the singer's cry.
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
@indrawanjunaidi5356
Whoa, smokestack lightnin'
Shinin' just like gold
Why don't you hear me cryin'?
A-whoo-hoo, a-whoo-hoo, whoo
Whoa-oh, tell me, baby
What's the matter here?
Why don't you hear me cryin'?
Whoo-hoo, whoo-hoo, whoo
Whoa-oh, tell me, baby
Where did you stay last night?
Why don't you hear me cryin'?
Whoo-hoo, whoo-hoo, whoo
Whoa-oh, stop your train
Let a poor boy ride
Why don't you hear me cryin'?
Whoo-hoo, whoo-hoo, whoo
Whoa-oh, fare-you-well
Never see a you no more
Why don't you 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
A-whoo-hoo, whoo-hoo, whoo
@giusepperesponte8077
I love the blues, it’s my favorite genre, since I was 17 I’ve been completely immersed in all facets of it. This was one of the first blues songs I heard and it’s still my favorite, this is the type of blues I really like, if I could listen to only three blues musicians for the rest of my life they would definitely be:
1. Howlin Wolf
2. Albert King
3. Stevie Ray Vaughan
There a lot of other but if I had to pick three it would be them.
The reason I love those three the most is because their blues has a mean flavor to it, just purely sad blues isn’t as enjoyable to me. If you read this far, leave me a reply telling me your favorite blues musicians.
@avi_s0ncin0
The Small Faces, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones,and literally any blues-based Rockn'Roll band from the 60's and 70's wouldn't exist without this amazing recording...
@fragle3676
Seriously it’s nice to come back to the good shit
@Real_SkyRipper
lol naive, they would have existed anyway, just like Beethoven would have existed even if Mozart didn't.
@TKD1485
@@Real_SkyRipper would a tree form without roots ?
@Heybuditsme
@@Real_SkyRipper who can say for sure. Butterfly effect
@leanamelo2421
Absolutely
@nelsano3
Nobody sang like Wolf. His voice and personality is almost beyond human, like a force of nature... This record is a masterpiece
@dashauncaviness5132
Thats thanks to papa legba
@christophersalinas812
💯
@wagitonga2401
Nina Simone has a similar soulful voice