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.
That's All Right
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gone to the army
I was gone, ver' long time
Well, when I come back home, my baby
Still says she's mine
She still says she's mine
She still says she's mine
She's all right, she's all right
She's all right, she's all right
Well, I give 'er
Give her all a-my money
Tell me what more, can I do-ooo?
Well now, I really don't
Wanna b'lieve she gon'
She's gon' give it to you
She gon give it to you
She's all right, she's all right
She's all right, she's all right
She's all right, she's all right
Well, I went
Went to the church-house
And I kneeled on my knees to pray
I got to thinkin' about that girl
She drove my
She drove my spirit away
She drove my spirit away
She drove my spirit away
She's all right, she's all right
She's all right, she's all right
Well, I could-a
Could-a had religion
Well, this bad old same day
Tell now, whiskey an' women, won't now
Let the ol' poorboy pray
Let the poorboy pray
Let the poorboy pray
She's all right, she's all right
She's all right, she's all right
She's all right, she's all right.
In "That's All Right," Howlin' Wolf tells the story of a soldier who returned home to find his lover still waiting for him. Despite his time away and worries that she may have moved on, she reassures him that she's still his. He's even given her all his money to prove his love, but he still has doubts. When he turns to prayer for guidance, he finds himself distracted by thoughts of her and feels as though she's taken away his ability to connect with a higher power. In the end, despite his struggles, he comes back to the refrain that she's all right, providing a bittersweet ending to the song.
The lyrics in "That's All Right" offer a commentary on the complexities of love and relationships, and the conflict between worldly desires and spiritual fulfillment. It also reflects on the struggles of returning World War II veterans, who often faced difficulties adjusting back to civilian life and relationships. Like many of Howlin' Wolf's songs, "That's All Right" features his distinctive rough and powerful vocal style. The bluesy guitar riffs and driving drumbeat provide a strong backing, adding to the intensity of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I was gone
I had enlisted in the army and left for an extended period of time
Gone to the army
I had left to serve in the military
I was gone, ver' long time
I had been away for a very long time
Well, when I come back home, my baby
When I returned to my home
Still says she's mine
My partner claimed to still be in a relationship with me
She still says she's mine
My partner reiterated that she is still in a relationship with me
She still says she's mine
My partner continued to claim that she is still in a relationship with me
She's all right, she's all right
Despite my absence, my partner is doing well and is okay
She's all right, she's all right
My partner is still doing well and is still okay
She's all right, she's all right
Once again, my partner is doing well
Well, I give 'er
I had given her
Give her all a-my money
I had given her all of my money
Tell me what more, can I do-ooo?
I had given her everything I could and did not know what else to do
Well now, I really don't
Honestly, I do not
Wanna b'lieve she gon'
I didn't want to believe that she was going to
She's gon' give it to you
She was going to give it to someone else
She's all right, she's all right
Despite her infidelity, my partner is still doing alright
She's all right, she's all right
My partner is still coping well despite her actions
She's all right, she's all right
Once again, my partner is still okay
Well, I went
I visited
Went to the church-house
I went to a church
And I kneeled on my knees to pray
I kneeled to pray
I got to thinkin' about that girl
I couldn't stop thinking about my partner
She drove my
She caused my
She drove my spirit away
Her actions caused me to lose faith or hope
She drove my spirit away
Her actions truly affected me
She's all right, she's all right
Despite her impact on me, my partner is still doing alright
She's all right, she's all right
My partner's wellbeing is continuously emphasized despite my struggles
Well, I could-a
I could have
Could-a had religion
I could have had faith
Well, this bad old same day
However, the struggles of everyday life continue
Tell now, whiskey an' women, won't now
Alcohol and women won't allow me to find solace in my faith
Let the ol' poorboy pray
Even though I am struggling, I still want to pray
Let the poorboy pray
I just want to be able to pray in peace
She's all right, she's all right
Despite my revelations and struggles, my partner is still doing okay
She's all right, she's all right
My partner's wellbeing once again emphasized despite my own struggles
She's all right, she's all right
Despite everything, my partner is okay
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MC KINLEY MORGANFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nickhare1720
ROCK AND ROLL!
@Starjammmer
Good old memphis sound...