Lenoir's guitar-playing father introduced him to the music of Blind Lemon Jefferson, whose music became a major influence. During the early 1940s, Lenoir worked with blues artists Sonny Boy Williamson II and Elmore James in New Orleans. Lenoir would eventually find musical influence in Arthur Crudup and Lightnin' Hopkins.
In 1949, he moved to Chicago and Big Bill Broonzy helped introduce him to the local blues community. He began to perform at local nightclubs with musicians such as Memphis Minnie, Big Maceo Merriweather, and Muddy Waters, and became an important part of the city's blues scene. He began recording in 1951 the J.O.B. and Chess Records labels. His recording of "Korea Blues" was licensed to and released by Chess, as having been performed by 'J. B. and his Bayou Boys'. His band included pianist Sunnyland Slim, guitarist Leroy Foster, and drummer Alfred Wallace.
During the 1950s Lenoir recorded on various record labels in the Chicago area including J.O.B., Chess, Parrot, and Checker. His more successful songs included "Let's Roll", "The Mojo" featuring saxophonist J. T. Brown, and the controversial "Eisenhower Blues" which his record company, Parrot, forced him to re-record as "Tax Paying Blues."
Lenoir was known in the 1950s for his showmanship - in particular his zebra-patterned costumes - and his high-pitched vocals. He became an influential electric guitarist and songwriter, and his penchant for social commentary distinguished him from many other bluesmen of the time. His most commercially successful and enduring release was "Mamma Talk To Your Daughter", recorded for Parrot in 1954 which reached #11 on the Billboard R&B chart and was later recorded by many other blues and rock musicians. In the later 1950s (recording on the Checker label), he wrote several more blues standards including; "Don't Dog Your Woman", and "Don't Touch My Head!!!" (1956).
In 1963, Lenoir recorded for USA Records as 'J. B. Lenoir and his African Hunch Rhythm', developing an interest in African percussion. However, he struggled to work as a professional musician and for a time took menial jobs, including working in the kitchen at the University of Illinois in Champaign. Lenoir was rediscovered by Willie Dixon, who recorded him with drummer Fred Below on the albums Alabama Blues and Down In Mississippi (inspired by the Civil Rights and Free Speech movements). Lenoir toured Europe, and performed in 1965 with the American Folk Blues Festival in the United Kingdom.
Lenoir's work had direct political content relating to racism and the Vietnam War.
"Alabama Blues"
“I never will go back to Alabama, that is not the place for me,
I never will go back to Alabama, that is not the place for me,
You know they killed my sister and my brother,
And the whole world let them peoples go down there free.”
He died on April 29, 1967 in Urbana, Illinois, aged 38, from a heart attack related to injuries he suffered in a car accident three weeks earlier.
His death was lamented by John Mayall in the songs, "I'm Gonna Fight for You, J.B." and "Death of J. B. Lenoir".
The 2003 documentary film The Soul of a Man, directed by Wim Wenders as the second instalment of Martin Scorsese's series The Blues, explored Lenoir's career, together with those of Skip James and Blind Willie Johnson.
In 2011, Lenoir was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame.
Although his name is sometimes mispronounced like the French "lan WAH", Lenoir himself pronounced his name a "la NOR". The initials "J.B." had no specific meaning; his given name was simply "J.B."
What Have I Done
J.B. Lenoir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He stood me up again
Again?
Mmh mmh
Well what's up with this guy, do you really like him that much?
Yes, honey, I love him, he is fine, he does alot of nice things for me
I know he use to do nice stuff for you, but what has he done for you
lately?
Used to be a time when you would pamper me
Usta brag about it all the time
Your friends seem to think that you're so peachy keen
But my friends say neglect is on your mind - Who's right?
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh ooh ooh yeah
What have you done for me lately?
Ooh ooh ooh yeah
Used to go to dinner almost every night
Dancin' 'til I thought I'd lose my breath
Now it seems your dancing feet are always on my couch
Good thing I cook or else we'd starve to death - Ain't that a shame?
What have you done for me lately
Ooh ooh ooh yeah
What have you done for me lately
Ooh ooh ooh yeah
I never ask for more than I deserve
You know it's the truth
You seem to think you're God's gift to this earth
I'm tellin' you no way
You 'ought to be thankful for the little things
but little things are all you seem to give
You're always putting off what we could do today
Soap opera says
you've got one life to live
Who's right, who's wrong?
What have you done for me lately
Ooh ooh ooh yeah...
Ooh ooh ooh yeah...
Get wit it...Uh
What have you done for me lately Ooh ooh ooh yeah
Ooh ooh ooh yeah
This is wild, I swear
The lyrics in J.B. Lenoir's "What Have I Done" reflect a woman's frustration with her partner's lack of effort in their relationship. The song opens with the woman talking to her friend about her boyfriend repeatedly standing her up for plans. The friend questions if the woman truly loves the man and what he has done for her lately. The woman responds that she loves him because he does nice things for her, but the friend asks what has he done for her lately.
The phrase "what have you done for me lately" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the woman's frustration with her partner's lack of effort. The woman sings about how her partner used to pamper her and take her out for dinners and dancing, but now he sits on the couch and expects her to cook without making an effort to reciprocate. The woman feels that her partner takes her for granted, and she asks him to be thankful for the little things she does but notes that she only receives "little things" from him.
The woman implies that her partner thinks he's "God's gift to this earth," but in reality, he's neglectful and only gives her the bare minimum of effort. The song ends with the woman questioning who is right or wrong in their situation, ultimately challenging her partner to make more of an effort in their relationship by asking "what have you done for me lately?"
Line by Line Meaning
What's up, girl?
Opening line of dialogue between two friends
He stood me up again
The female speaker's date did not show up
Again?
The male speaker is surprised it happened again
Mmh mmh
The female speaker responds nonverbally
Well what's up with this guy, do you really like him that much?
The male speaker questions the female speaker's feelings for her date
Yes, honey, I love him, he is fine, he does alot of nice things for me
The female speaker affirms her love for her date and lists some of his positive qualities
I know he use to do nice stuff for you, but what has he done for you lately?
The male speaker asks for recent examples of the date's kindness
Used to be a time when you would pamper me
The female speaker remembers a time when her date treated her well
Usta brag about it all the time
The female speaker used to tell others about her date's kindness
Your friends seem to think that you're so peachy keen
The male speaker acknowledges that the female speaker's friends speak highly of her date
But my friends say neglect is on your mind - Who's right?
The female speaker's friends have a negative opinion of her date, prompting the male speaker to question who is correct
What have you done for me lately?
The female speaker wonders what her date has done for her recently
Ooh ooh ooh yeah
Refrain of the song
Used to go to dinner almost every night
The female speaker recalls a time when she and her date had frequent dinner dates
Dancin' 'til I thought I'd lose my breath
The female speaker remembers dancing with her date for extended periods of time
Now it seems your dancing feet are always on my couch
The female speaker's date does not take her out to dance anymore
Good thing I cook or else we'd starve to death - Ain't that a shame?
The female speaker jokes that if she did not cook, there would be no food in the house
I never ask for more than I deserve
The female speaker feels she is entitled to respect and kindness
You know it's the truth
The female speaker believes that her statement is accurate
You seem to think you're God's gift to this earth
The female speaker believes her date has an ego or superiority complex
I'm tellin' you no way
The female speaker dismisses her date's perceived sense of superiority
You 'ought to be thankful for the little things
The male speaker suggests that the female speaker should appreciate the small gestures her date makes
but little things are all you seem to give
The female speaker disagrees and feels her date does not give enough in the relationship
You're always putting off what we could do today
The female speaker is frustrated that her date procrastinates and does not take action
Soap opera says you've got one life to live
The female speaker references a common phrase used in a popular TV genre that emphasises the importance of taking action
Who's right, who's wrong?
Both speakers realise that different perspectives can lead to varying opinions about the female speaker's date and their relationship
Get wit it...Uh
Interjection during the song
What have you done for me lately
The female speaker continues to wonder what her date has done for her recently
Ooh ooh ooh yeah...
Refrain of the song
Ooh ooh ooh yeah...
Refrain of the song
What have you done for me lately
The song's main refrain
Ooh ooh ooh yeah
The song's main refrain
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind