"Spoonful" has a one-chord, modal blues structure found in other songs Willie Dixon wrote for Howlin' Wolf, such as "Wang Dang Doodle" and "Back Door Man", and in Wolf's own "Smokestack Lightning". It uses eight-bar vocal sections with twelve-bar choruses and is performed at a medium blues tempo in the key of E.
Backing Wolf on vocals are longtime accompanist Hubert Sumlin on guitar, relative newcomer Freddie Robinson on second guitar, and Chess recording veterans Otis Spann on piano, Fred Below on drums, and Dixon on double-bass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoonful
Spoonful
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could be a spoonful of gold
Just a little spoon of your precious love
Satisfy my soul
Men lies about little
Some of 'em cries about little
Some of 'em dies about littles
That spoon, that spoon, that sp-
It could be a spoonful of coffee
Could be a spoonful of tea
But a little spoon of your precious love
Good enough for me
Men lies about that
Some of 'em dies about that
Some of 'em cries about that
But everything fight about a spoonful
That spoon, that spoon, that
Ooh ooh, fight about a spoonful
Ooh-ooh, fight about a spoonful
It could be a spoonful of water
Save you from the desert sand
But one spoon of lead from forty-five
Save you from another man
A men lies about that
Some of 'em cries about that
Some of 'em dies about that
Everybody fightin' about a spoonful
That spoon, that spoon, that
The song "Spoonful" by Howlin' Wolf is a blues classic that was released in 1960. The lyrics revolve around the idea that a little bit of something precious can go a long way in satisfying one's soul. The song begins by stating that it could be a spoonful of diamond or gold, but what really matters is a little spoonful of the person's "precious love" that will satisfy his soul. The lyrics also state that men fight, lie, cry, and die for just a spoonful of what they desire, whether it be wealth, love, or power.
The second verse sings about the idea that a spoonful of coffee or tea could be good enough to satisfy the singer's soul. The lyrics continue to emphasize that men fight and die for just a spoonful of what they desire. The final verse of the song expands the theme to suggest that a spoonful of water can save someone from the desert but a spoonful of lead can save someone from another man. The lyrics ultimately have a layered meaning, implying that people are willing to risk their lives for even the smallest bit of something precious.
Line by Line Meaning
It could be a spoonful of diamond
This could be something valuable and rare
Could be a spoonful of gold
This could also be something valuable and precious
Just a little spoon of your precious love
All I need is a small amount of your affection
Satisfy my soul
This will fulfill my deepest desires and needs
Men lies about little
People will deceive and manipulate for even the smallest things
Some of 'em cries about little
Others feel desperate and helpless when they don't have much
Some of 'em dies about littles
The fight for even the smallest amount can sometimes lead to violence and death
Everything fight about a spoonful
People will go to great lengths to obtain even a little bit of something valuable
It could be a spoonful of coffee
This could also be a satisfying and desirable substance
Could be a spoonful of tea
This, too, could be something that brings comfort or pleasure
But a little spoon of your precious love
Ultimately, a small amount of affection from you is all that's truly needed
Good enough for me
This is all I need to feel content and fulfilled
Ooh ooh, fight about a spoonful
The struggle for even a small amount of something valuable can be intense and fierce
Ooh-ooh, fight about a spoonful
The fight for even a little bit can become all-consuming
It could be a spoonful of water
Something as simple as water can also be incredibly valuable in certain circumstances
Save you from the desert sand
It has the power to save and sustain life in harsh conditions
But one spoon of lead from forty-five
A small amount of something dangerous, like a bullet, can also be highly valued in certain situations
Save you from another man
It has the power to protect and defend against others who may seek to harm or oppress
Everybody fightin' about a spoonful
Even the smallest amount of something highly valued can cause conflict and strife
That spoon, that spoon, that
The repeated mention of the spoon emphasizes its symbolic importance and value
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Willie Dixon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stephyo
It could be a spoonful of diamond
Could be a spoonful of gold
Just a little spoon of your precious love
Satisfy my soul
Men lies about little
Some of 'em cries about little
Some of 'em dies about littles
Everything fight about a spoonful
That spoon, that spoon, that sp
It could be a spoonful of coffee
Could be a spoonful of tea
But a little spoon of your precious love
Good enough for me
Men lies about that
Some of 'em dies about that
Some of 'em cries about that
But everything fight about a spoonful
That spoon, that spoon, that
Ooh ooh, fight about spoonfuls
Ooh ooh, fight about a spoonful
It could be a spoonful of water
Save you from the desert sand
But one spoon of lead from forty-five
Save you from another man
A Men lies about that
Some of 'em cries about that
Some of 'em dies about that
Everybody fightin' about a spoonful
That spoon, that spoon, that
@barbaracoxbey1011
I'm so Grateful for this Music !
My Father , Mother , Grandfather,
Brothers were and are Musicians.
Blues was Our Anthem. Harmonicas was my Grandfather and Great Uncle favorite Instruments.Piano , Saxophone ,
Base & Lead Guitars was we
Heard. Blues is so Enligting for the Spirit. So many of them didn't
receive the Recognition that was
Due ! Screaming Jay Hawkins song " I Put a Spell On You " now
it's a regular people Sing. I knew
this at a very Early Age ! Researching Blues is a good
Teacher !!!!
@chipmiller9163
Howlin' Wolf's music will boost your testosterone levels 💪🗣
@owhite3003
This was a song on my uncle's list to listen to after loosing the battle with cancer. Here to you uncle Bubba!
@clusterwound4818
R.I.P to his soul
@thomasnotafrancesco6378
I hope his soul is resisting peacefully in heaven.
@harperhellems3648
Your Uncle was a cool dude. Ever thought about listing his playlist? We all can learn something new every day.
@Gabe94dotcom
I heard it on entourage
@modsquad20
“I’m pretty sure, I’m not a doctor, but I’m pretty sure if you die, the cancer dies at the same time.
That’s not a loss. That’s a draw.” ~ Norm Macdonald
@butcherbay186
Here because of TV series "REACHER"....great music....I never knew
@MrMuzikProductions
Greatest single blues song ever. There would never have a Zeppelin or Cream if not for this giant. Makes me cry when I play this song.
@SS-gx7tg
I watched Cadillac Records for the first time last week and have been addicted to Howlin Wolf ever since. It's unreal how much his material (especially this song in particular) affects me. Not to sound too hippie but this guy's entire 'aura' just feels so unique and authentic, even amongst other bluesmen at the time. An original and true trailblazer with an undeniable vision. Junior Kimbrough is another blues musician I've discovered recently that strongly resonates with me.