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.
The Wolf Is At Your Door Howlin' For My Baby
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
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Smiles on their faces you remember so well how it was
Nights in the back of that Buick you got runnin'
Your baby by your side told the whole world you're comin'
Work so hard to do what is right
Believed in what you're doin' but so many fights
Trusted too many, believed too much
Workin' your life to the bone
He wants your money, wants your soul
A wolf at your door
You give it all, he wants more
There's a wolf at your door
He says he's playin' for keeps
Breathin' down your neck
Boy, it's sure hard to sleep
With a wolf at your door
They'll take it away when you're not lookin'
Look you in the eyes tell you how good they're doin'
Smiles on their faces are lies to keep you from knowin'
You're not guilty you are the victim
But you still pay for the crime
Don't look for trouble, it'll always find you in time
You work so hard to do what is right
Believed in what you're doin' but so many fights
Trusted too many, believed too much
Workin' your life to the bone
There's a wolf at your door
He says he's playin' for keeps
Breathin' down your neck
Boy, it's sure hard to sleep
With a wolf at your door
I won't be broken, I'll fight 'til I drop
Blood runnin' hot in my veins
But they won't be satisfied
Until they take everything
You work so hard to do what is right
Believed in what you're doin' but so many fights
Trusted too many, believed too much
Workin' your life to the bone
There's a wolf at your door
He wants your money, wants your soul
A wolf at your door
You give it all, he wants more
A wolf at your door
He says he's playin' for keeps
Breathin' down your neck
Boy, it's sure hard to sleep
With a wolf at your door
He wants your money, wants your soul
A wolf at your door
You give it all, he wants more
A wolf at your door
He says he's playin' for keeps
Breathin' down your neck
Boy, it's sure hard to sleep
With a wolf at your door
There's a wolf at your door
He wants your money, wants your soul
A wolf at your door
You give it all, he wants more
There's a wolf at your door
He says he's playin' for keeps
Breathin' down your neck
Boy, it's sure hard to sleep
Wolf at your door
He wants your money, wants your soul
Wolf at your door
Walkin' past the kids comin' back from the party
Smiles on their faces you remember so well how it was
The lyrics to "The Wolf Is At Your Door Howlin' For My Baby" by Howlin' Wolf tell a story of a hardworking person who has faced many struggles and fights in their life but still believes in doing what is right. They have trusted too many people, worked their life to the bone, and given their all. However, there is a wolf at their door, someone who wants their money and soul. This wolf is always breathing down their neck, making it hard to sleep at night. The lyrics emphasize the difficulties of trusting people and the constant struggle to keep what you work hard for.
The opening lines of the lyrics introduce a sense of nostalgia with a past memory of young love and happiness. This sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics, which describe the hardships of life and the people who try to take advantage of others. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "there's a wolf at your door" to emphasize that there is always someone waiting to take what you have worked for.
Overall, the lyrics of the song illustrate the constant struggle of trying to do what is right while also facing people who are untrustworthy and deceitful. The wolf represents these people who try to take advantage of others and take what does not belong to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Walkin' past the kids comin' back from the party
Reflecting on a past time, walking past happy and carefree youth returning from a party
Smiles on their faces you remember so well how it was
Recalling the joyous and happy times from the past through the smiling faces of the youth
Nights in the back of that Buick you got runnin'
Memories of nights spent in the back of a Buick you owned and drove
Your baby by your side told the whole world you're comin'
Sharing the good news with your significant other who accompanied you on your travels and spreading the word of your arrival to the world
Work so hard to do what is right
Striving to work hard and do what is right in life
Believed in what you're doin' but so many fights
Despite belief in one's actions, facing numerous and difficult struggles
Trusted too many, believed too much
Placing trust in too many people and blindly believing in something without questioning
Workin' your life to the bone
Working excessively hard to the point of extreme exhaustion
There's a wolf at your door
Feeling threatened with someone or something constantly at your doorstep
He wants your money, wants your soul
The threat desires both material and immaterial things from you
You give it all, he wants more
Though you have already given what is asked, the threat desires even more
He says he's playin' for keeps
The threat is serious and will not stop until they have achieved their goal
Breathin' down your neck
The threat is constantly present, looming and suffocating
Boy, it's sure hard to sleep
The threat causes immense stress and anxiety, making it difficult to rest
They'll take it away when you're not lookin'
The threat will sneakily steal from you when you are not paying attention
Look you in the eyes tell you how good they're doin'
The threat will confidently and falsely assert positive progress to your face
Smiles on their faces are lies to keep you from knowin'
The threat's friendly demeanor is deceiving and meant to hide their true intentions
You're not guilty you are the victim
Despite being innocent, you are still the target of the threat
But you still pay for the crime
You suffer the consequences and are punished for something you did not do
Don't look for trouble, it'll always find you in time
Avoiding trouble is important, but sometimes it catches up to you regardless of your efforts
I won't be broken, I'll fight 'til I drop
Feeling determined to resist and fight against the threat despite the difficulty
Blood runnin' hot in my veins
Feeling passionate and driven in the face of danger
But they won't be satisfied
The threat will not be content until they have taken everything from you
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CHESTER BURNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind