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.
You'll Be Mine
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
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How I wish, you was mine.
Honey, I'll be your love,
You'll be mine. You'll be mine. You'll be mine.
You so nice, you so true,
I'm so glad, I love you.
Honey, I'll be your love,
You'll be mine.
You'll be mine.
Tell me pretty, pretty baby,
Is you gonna try?
If you said, maybe,
Hang on baby til the day I die.
It is true, I love you.
I don't care, what you do.
Honey, I'll be your love, You'll be mine.
You'll be mine.
You'll be mine.
Tell me pretty, pretty baby,
Is you gonna try?
If you said, maybe,
Hang on baby til the day I die.
That is true, I love you.
I don't care, what you do.
Honey, I'll be your love,
You'll be mine.
You'll be mine.
You'll be mine.
The lyrics to Howlin' Wolf's song "You'll Be Mine" express the singer's longing for a particular woman. The song begins with the singer describing how sweet and fine the woman is and how much he wishes he could have her for himself. He then declares his love and promises to be her love, in turn. The repetition of the phrase "You'll be mine" reinforces the singer's desire to have the woman with him.
In the second verse, the singer further praises the woman, describing her as nice and true, and expressing his joy at loving her. The rest of the song is a plea to the woman to give him a chance, asking her if she'll try to be with him. He promises to remain steadfast in his love for her, even if she doesn't reciprocate.
Overall, "You'll Be Mine" is a simple yet heartfelt expression of love, with the singer using repetition and earnest lyrics to convey his feelings. The song speaks to the universal experience of longing for someone and the hopefulness that comes with the possibility of love.
Line by Line Meaning
You so sweet, you so fine,
The person being addressed is attractive and lovely.
How I wish, you was mine.
The singer is attracted to the person being addressed and desires a romantic relationship with them.
Honey, I'll be your love,
The singer is offering love and affection to the person being addressed.
You'll be mine. You'll be mine. You'll be mine.
The artist is expressing the desire for the person to reciprocate their feelings and become romantically involved.
You so nice, you so true,
The person being addressed is kind and genuine.
I'm so glad, I love you.
The singer is happy and in love with the person being addressed.
Tell me pretty, pretty baby,
The singer is addressing the person they love with affection.
Is you gonna try?
The artist is questioning whether the person being addressed is willing to pursue a romantic relationship.
If you said, maybe,
The artist is hopeful that the person being addressed is open to the idea of a relationship.
Hang on baby til the day I die.
The artist is committed to pursuing a relationship with the person being addressed for the rest of their life.
It is true, I love you.
The singer is affirming their love for the person being addressed.
I don't care, what you do.
The artist's love for the person is unconditional.
Honey, I'll be your love, You'll be mine.
The singer is once again expressing their desire for a romantic relationship with the person being addressed.
You'll be mine.
The singer reiterates their desire for the person to become romantically involved with them.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: WILLIE DIXON, ADDY ADRIAAN ZWAN VAN DER, AJ JUNIOR, BILAL HAJJI, FABIAN FABIUS L A LENSSEN, FADIL EL-GHOUL, MARK NIEUWENHUIZEN, MAURICE OUDE BOOYINK, NADIR KHAYAT, FADIL GHOUL EL, MARK G B NIEUWENHUIJZEN
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