He was born John Ned Shines in Frayser, Tennessee. He spent most of his childhood in Memphis playing slide guitar at an early age in local “jukes” and for tips on the streets. His first musical influences were Blind Lemon Jefferson and Howlin’ Wolf, but he was taught to play the guitar by his mother. Shines moved to Hughes, Arkansas in 1932 and worked on farms for three years putting his musical career on hold. But it was a chance meeting with Robert Johnson, his greatest influence, that gave him the inspiration to return to music. In 1935, Johnny Shines began traveling with Robert Johnson, touring the south and heading as far north as Ontario. There, they both appeared on a local radio program. The two went their separate ways in 1937, one year before Johnson’s death.
Johnny Shines played throughout the U.S. South until 1941 when he decided to head back to Canada and then to Africa. He never made it past Chicago. In Chicago, Shines found work in the construction trade and continued to play in local bars.
He made his first recording in 1946 for Columbia Records, but the takes were never released. He later recorded for Chess and was once again denied. He kept playing with local blues musicians in the Chicago area for several more years. In 1952, Johnny Shines recorded what is considered his best work for the J.O.B. Records label. The recordings were a commercial flop and Shines frustrated with the music industry, sold his equipment and returned to construction.
In 1966, Vanguard records found Shines taking photographs in a Chicago blues club. He recorded with the label takes for the 3rd installment of Chicago/The Blues/Today!. The album has since then become a blues classic and it brought Johnny Shines into to mainstream music scene.
Shines toured with the Chicago All Stars alongside Lee Jackson, Big Walter Horton and Willie Dixon. In the late sixties and seventies, Johnny Shines toured with Robert Johnson’s step-son, Robert Junior Lockwood as the last remaining original delta blues musicians. In 1980, Shines’ music was brought to a standstill when he suffered a stroke. He would later appear in the documentary “Searching for Robert Johnson” and manage to release one last album, Back To The Country. Johnny Shines Died on April 20, 1992 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
In 1989, Johnny Shines met a Minnesota born young blues player named Kent Duchaine, and the two of them toured for the next several years until Shines' death.
Sweet Home Chicago
Johnny Shines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, baby, don't you want to go
Back to the bright lights there
To my sweet home Chicago
Now one and one is two
Two and two is four
I'm heavy loaded, baby
Oh, baby, don't you want to go
To the bright lights there
To my sweet home Chicago
Two and two is four
Four and two is six
You keep fooling around baby
You gonna get in an eternal fix
Oh, baby, don't you want to go
Back to the bright lights there
To my sweet home Chicago
Four and two is six
Six and two is eight
Keep fooling around baby
Gonna make you be kinda late
Oh, baby, don't you want to go
To the bright lights there
To my sweet home Chicago
Now six and two is eight
Eight and two is ten
You tricked me one time
You sure gonna do it again
Oh, baby, don't you want to go
To the bright lights there
To my sweet home Chicago
Eight and two are ten
Ten and two are twelve
Somebody gonna wake up
In the bottom pits of hell
Oh baby, don't you want to go
Back to the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago
The lyrics to Johnny Shines's song Sweet Home Chicago are about a man who wants to return to his hometown, Chicago, after spending some time away. He asks his lover if she wants to go back to the bright lights of Chicago with him. The repetition of the chorus, "Oh, baby, don't you want to go?," emphasizes his desire to return home. The lyrics also contain some basic addition, where the man is counting up to twelve, likely referencing the idea that his lover has been fooling around and needs to stop or face consequences.
The verses in between the choruses show the man's impatience and eagerness to leave. He says he's heavy loaded and booked, indicating that he's ready to go. The repetition and building of the numerical count in each verse creates a feeling of urgency and tension, as the man warns his lover about the possible consequences of her actions. He accuses her of tricking him before and warns that she will do it again, suggesting that she is not trustworthy.
Overall, the song is an expression of nostalgia for home and a desire to return to familiar places and people. The use of basic addition in the lyrics adds to the playful nature of the song, while also reinforcing the urgency and warning in the man's words.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, baby, don't you want to go?
Inquiring if the subject wishes to depart.
Oh, baby, don't you want to go
Inquiring again if the subject wishes to depart.
Back to the bright lights there
Referring to the urban environment of Chicago.
To my sweet home Chicago
Referring to the city of Chicago as a beloved home.
Now one and one is two
Establishing basic mathematical principles.
Two and two is four
Continuing to establish basic mathematical principles.
I'm heavy loaded, baby
Stating that the singer is carrying a heavy burden.
I'm booked, I gotta go
Stating that the artist has prior commitments and must leave.
Two and two is four
Reiterating basic mathematical principles.
Four and two is six
Continuing to reiterate basic mathematical principles.
You keep fooling around baby
Warning the subject to stop playing games.
You gonna get in an eternal fix
Warning the subject of the serious consequences of their actions.
Now six and two is eight
Continuing to reiterate basic mathematical principles.
Eight and two is ten
Further establishing basic mathematical principles.
You tricked me one time
Accusing the subject of deception in the past.
You sure gonna do it again
Stating a belief that the subject will continue to deceive.
Ten and two are twelve
Continuing to establish basic mathematical principles.
Somebody gonna wake up
Warning that a person will experience severe consequences.
In the bottom pits of hell
Describing a terrible fate that awaits the subject.
Back to the land of California
Suggesting an alternate destination other than Chicago.
To my sweet home Chicago
Reiterating the artist's affection for the city of Chicago.
Contributed by Samantha L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nikith :
Oh, baby, don't you want to go?
Oh, baby, don't you want to go
Back to the bright lights there
To my sweet home Chicago
Now one and one is two
Two and two is four
I'm heavy loaded, baby
I'm booked, I gotta go
Oh, baby, don't you want to go
To the bright lights there
To my sweet home Chicago
Two and two is four
Four and two is six
You keep fooling around baby
You gonna get in an eternal fix
Oh, baby, don't you want to go
Back to the bright lights there
To my sweet home Chicago
Four and two is six
Six and two is eight
Keep fooling around baby
Gonna make you be kinda late
Oh, baby, don't you want to go
To the bright lights there
To my sweet home Chicago
Now six and two is eight
Eight and two is ten
You tricked me one time
You sure gonna do it again
Oh, baby, don't you want to go
To the bright lights there
To my sweet home Chicago
Eight and two are ten
Ten and two are twelve
Somebody gonna wake up
In the bottom pits of hell
Oh baby, don't you want to go
Back to the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago
polydiatonic
I gotta tell you, I toured with Johnny towards the end of his life, in 1989. It was an incredible privilege and honor sit stand behind him on stage and play the bass with him and to sit with him in the hotels and at rehearsals; telling us stories about his days with Robert Johnson and all. I'll never forget it...
Michael Lawlor
Lovely memories.
Tony Mostrom
dammnnn
Jackie Wilburn
Johnny had the closest tone to Robert's that I've ever heard! The tone Robert had almost sounded like a piano instead of a guitar sometimes and Johnny nails it!
Rusty Walker
Jackie Wilburn Voice very close, too!
Adibarum
The living connection to the Blues of Robert Johnson..the man that played from town to town with him..what a great version
David Connors
Don’t forget Robert Lockwood his stepson the only person Robert Johnson ever taught to play guitar.
The KING is Coming
Yes, I am familiar with Shines history with Robert Johnson and couldn't help but think that reason he plays this song so much like Robert Johnson is that he probably learned it from the man himself!
Joseph Moosman
Johnny Shines was one of the very greatest. It's always amazed me that he got so little attention - while he was still alive and playing - compared to Robert Johnson, who was long gone. I've heard that people used to bug the crap out of Shines by constantly asking him if it was true that he had known Robert Johnson (he had) instead of just listening to and appreciating Shines' incredible guitar and voice.
Lena Riess
What a wonderful interpreter of RJ's and his own songs. His singing is indescribable, his playing more than excellent. He was and will be always in my musical heart. By the way: I would say, he's playing in standard tuning