Johnny Winter, along with his brother Edgar Winter, were nurtured at an early age by their parents in musical pursuits. Both he and his brother, who were born with albinism, began performing at an early age. When he was ten-years old, Winter appeared on a local children's show, playing ukelele and singing Everly Brothers songs with his brother.
His recording career began at the age of fifteen, when his band Johnny and the Jammers released "School Day Blues" on a Houston record label. During this same period, he was able to see performances by classic blues artists such as Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and Bobby Bland. In the early days Winter would sometimes sit in with Roy Head and The Traits when they performed in the Beaumont, Texas area, and in 1967, Winter recorded a single with The Traits: "Tramp" backed with "Parchman Farm" (Universal Records 30496). In 1968, he released his first album The Progressive Blues Experiment, on Austin's Sonobeat Records.
Winter caught his biggest break in December 1968, when Mike Bloomfield, whom he met and jammed with in Chicago, invited him to sing and play a song during a Bloomfield and Al Kooper concert at the Fillmore East in New York. As it happened, representatives of Columbia Records (which had released the Top Ten Bloomfield/Kooper Super Session album) were at the concert. Winter played and sang B.B. King's "It's My Own Fault" to loud applause and, within a few days, was signed to reportedly what was then the largest advance in the history of the recording industry–$600,000.
Winter's first Columbia album, Johnny Winter was recorded and released in 1969. It featured the same backing musicians with whom he recorded The Progressive Blues Experiment, bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Uncle John Turner, plus Edgar Winter on keyboards and saxophone, and (for his "Mean Mistreater") blues legends Willie Dixon on upright bass and Big Walter Horton on harmonica. The album featured a few selections that became Winter signature songs, including his composition "Dallas" (an acoustic blues, on which Winter played a steel-bodied, resonator guitar), John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson's "Good Morning Little School Girl", and B.B. King's "Be Careful With A Fool".
The album's success coincided with Imperial Records picking up The Progressive Blues Experiment for wider release. The same year, the Winter trio toured and performed at several rock festivals, including Woodstock. With brother Edgar added as a full member of the group, Winter also recorded his second album, Second Winter in Nashville in 1969. The two-record album, which only had three recorded sides (the fourth was blank), introduced a couple more staples of Winter's concerts, including Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" and Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited".
In 1984, Winter began recording for several labels, including Alligator Records and Point Blank Records, where he has focused on blues-oriented material. He continues to perform live, including festivals throughout North America and Europe. Winter has headlined such prestigious events as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, Swedish Rock Fest, Warren Haynes X-mas jam, and Europe’s Rockpalast. He also performed with the Allman Brothers at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan on the 40th anniversary of their debut. In 2007 and 2010, Winter performed at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festivals. Two guitar instructional DVDs have been produced by Cherry Lane Music and the Hal Leonard Corporation. The Gibson Guitar Company released the signature Johnny Winter Firebird guitar in a ceremony in Nashville with Slash presenting.
In 2004, Winter received a Grammy nomination for his I’m a Bluesman album. Backing him are guitarist Paul Nelson, bassist Scott Spray, and drummer Vito Liuzzi. Beginning in 2007, a series of live Winter albums titled the Live Bootleg Series and a live DVD have all entered the Top 10 Billboard Blues charts. In 2009, The Woodstock Experience album was released, which includes eight songs that Winter performed at the 1969 festival. Johnny Winter is signed to Megaforce Records, who will release a new studio album titled Roots on September 27, 2011. It will include Winter's interpretation of eleven early blues and rock 'n' roll classics and feature several guest artists.
Winter produced three Grammy Award-winning albums by Muddy Waters, Hard Again (1977), I'm Ready (1978), and Muddy "Mississippi" Waters – Live (1979). Several Winter albums were also nominated for Grammy Awards. In 1980, Winter was on the cover of the first issue of Guitar World and in 1988, he was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame.
Broke and Lonely
Johnny Winter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah and yeah!
I done lost all my money and I'm about to lose my mind
Yes I am!
And it seems like my baby is tryin' to leave poor me behind
Yes it do!
But all women used to holler "here comes a good sweet loving man"
All the women used to holler "here comes a good sweet loving man"
Yeah they did!
And now when they see me, they won't even wave a hand
No they don't!
Let me tell you now whoah, yeah, how could this happen to me?
Yeah and yeah!
I'm broke and I'm lonely and my heart's in misery
Yes it is!
Yeah!
(Instrumental)
If I ever get some money and get back on my feet again
Yeah and yeah!
If I ever get some money and get back on my feet again
Yeah and yeah!
I'm going back down to Texas to wave them off, these chicks and friends
Yes I am!
Let me tell you now whoah, yeah, how could this happen to me?
Yeah and yeah!
I'm broke and I'm lonely and my heart's in misery
Yes it is!
You know I'm broke and lonely now
My heart's in misery
Hey hey
Hey now child
Oh, I'm broke and lonely
My heart's in misery
Yeah, yeah...
Yeah... talkin' 'bout misery
Yeah...
I'm broke and lonely...
Yes I am
I'm broke and lonely now
My heart's in misery
I'm just lonely...
The lyrics of Johnny Winter's song entitled "Broke and Lonely" speak of the despair and anguish of a man who has lost all his money and, in the process, may also lose the love of his life. The first lines of the song say, "I done lost all my money and I'm about to lose my mind." This conveys the feeling of helplessness and hopelessness that the singer is experiencing. He feels that he has lost everything that is worth living for.
The song then shifts focus to his past relationships with women. The lyrics reveal that he was once a "good sweet loving man," who was highly sought after by women. However, his current predicament has caused these women to shun him. He laments, "And now when they see me, they won't even wave a hand." This is a clear indication of how quickly people's attitudes can change towards someone when they are going through a rough patch in life.
Towards the end of the song, the singer expresses his desire to get back on his feet again. He says, "If I ever get some money and get back on my feet again/ If I ever get some money and get back on my feet again/ I'm going back down to Texas to wave them off, these chicks and friends." This suggests that he wants to reclaim his lost identity and self-esteem, and not let the current situation bog him down.
Line by Line Meaning
I done lost all my money and I'm about to lose my mind
I've lost everything and I'm on the verge of losing my sanity.
And it seems like my baby is tryin' to leave poor me behind
It appears that my beloved is planning to abandon me.
All women used to holler 'here comes a good sweet loving man'
I used to be a desirable man that women would enthusiastically pursue.
And now when they see me, they won't even wave a hand
Nowadays, they don't even acknowledge my existence.
I'm broke and I'm lonely and my heart's in misery
I'm destitute, alone, and my emotional state is agony.
If I ever get some money and get back on my feet again
In the future, if I obtain some wealth and manage to recover, physically and mentally.
I'm going back down to Texas to wave them off, these chicks and friends
I'm planning to return to Texas to disregard those who slighted me, both women and friends.
You know I'm broke and lonely now, my heart's in misery
As you might know, I'm currently broke and lonely, suffering immense agony.
I'm just lonely...
I'm simply alone, with no presence of anyone to rely on.
Contributed by Alexandra T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pei Mei
No one will ever play like this again I don't care what you say or names you mention. from 1984 to 1992 he released 6 albums. The most insane Guitar work ever NO one will ever touch it.
Bill Ridge
I doubt it ever will no
Matter what!
Some Old Guy
That's a fact :)
Mr. Black
Oh hell yes, Johnny pulls out all his guitar riffs and tricks on this Johnny "Guitar" Watson classic. One thing that can be said about Johnny Winter, the guy didn't play around, when he played he when full tilt, pedal to the metal, never let up! RIP John Dawson Winter III
John Johnson
Johnny winter was one hell of a blues man
FREEALIST
you just cant go wrong with Johnny Winter blues. awesome song
Claude Belew
I love the words to this song. What a great guitar player he was. The best.
Anything's Possible Music - Hear me on Spotify
Love this guy
michael rogers
This song makes me want to be broke and lonely.
Im in debt and paying alimony instead!
Helene
Then this song is for you!! And now you got the covid over top of that😬😎