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.
Tell Me
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me, what in the world can be wrong
Woke up this morning
Trouble knocking on my door
I wonder what the trouble
Big trouble at my door
I wonder what the trouble
Real troubles at my door
Don't want me anymore
I'll have to forget it, and let this trouble pass
I'll have to forget it, and let this trouble pass
Well, I wonder sometimes, how long my troubles gonna last
All night long, somebody knocking on my door
All night long, somebody knocking on my door
There ain't nothing but my troubles
Can't be worried here anymore
Ooh, good bye, good bye baby, got to go
Ooh, good bye, good bye baby, got to go
I can't lay around here, be worried with this trouble no more
Trouble is knocking
Trouble is knocking
Trouble is knocking
Trouble is knocking
Howlin’ Wolf's "Tell Me" is a blues song about a man who is having trouble in his relationship with his lover. The lyrics express his frustration and confusion as he tries to figure out what has gone wrong in their relationship. The song opens with the singer asking "Tell me, what in the world can be wrong." He then describes how he woke up to trouble knocking on his door, and wonders what this trouble could be. The second verse provides more insight into his particular trouble, as he talks about how his partner no longer wants him.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "trouble is knocking" multiple times throughout the song. This repetition emphasizes the singer's feeling of being beset by difficulties and problems that he cannot control. In the final verse, the singer bids adieu to his lover, stating that he must leave in order to put an end to his worries with this "trouble".
Overall, the lyrics of the song convey a deep sense of melancholy and frustration. In exploring the reasons for his heartache, the singer is also revealing the universality of his sadness, which is likely to resonate with listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me, what in the world can be wrong
Asking for an explanation of the problems and issues going on
Woke up this morning
The trouble started early today
Trouble knocking on my door
The problems and difficulties are affecting him personally
I wonder what the trouble
Curiosity about the cause of the issues
Big trouble at my door
The problems are significant and difficult to deal with
Real troubles at my door
The issues he's facing are authentic and substantial
Thursday morning my baby's making
His partner is causing additional problems and heartache
Don't want me anymore
She's ending the relationship, adding to his troubles
I'll have to forget it, and let this trouble pass
He needs to move on and not let this situation control him
Well, I wonder sometimes, how long my troubles gonna last
Feeling uncertain about when these issues will end
All night long, somebody knocking on my door
The problems are persistent and relentless
There ain't nothing but my troubles
His problems are the only thing occupying his thoughts and attention
Can't be worried here anymore
Needs to step away and find a solution
Ooh, good bye, good bye baby, got to go
His relationship is over, and he must move on
I can't lay around here, be worried with this trouble no more
He has to stop feeling helpless and take action
Trouble is knocking
The problems keep coming, and he has to find a way to deal with them
Trouble is knocking
The issues he's facing are severe and affecting his life
Trouble is knocking
His problems are persistent, and he can't avoid them
Trouble is knocking
He needs to find a way to overcome his difficulties and move forward
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CHESTER BURNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@psazani
Woke up this morning!
@tinydog8910
Oooohhhhhhh!!!
@Beerning
Got yourself a gun
@sprague49
I love the sound of the back beat. Sounds like its played on a suitcase with slap back echo.
@planepantsgames1791
Woke up this mornin!
@barbarastraw2704
Man my mother father would get downi
@85Calhoun
you can't help but pat your foot to that one..classic!
@LordKenebutch
Stevie Ray Vaughan's version brought me here, I luv' both version's.
@redriverbluesman
Wow! I always remember in Martin Scorceses, "Nothing but the Blues". Eric Clapton tells of his meeting Howlin' Wolf. Something along the lines of " This guy, this massive guy, starts telling me to play it this way and he's grabbing my arm and moving my arm up and down the frets!!! " The sense was Eric would do whatever this giant asked : D So cool!!
@EduSouza
Great song, thanks for sharing