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.
Careful With a Fool
Johnny Winter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man, be careful with a fool. you know, someday he may get smart
He will treat you so cool and chilly, till he hurt you to your heart
Yeah, you know
Hate to remember, oh, what a fool I used to be, ha, ha!
Man, I hate to remember how foolish I used to be
You know, I used to cry 'bout you, baby, ha!
You know, I'd-a walk the streets a-late at night
Used to cry about ya, a-walk the streets, a-late at night
If you love me just a little bit, baby, why in the world don't you treat me right?
Ah, yeah
Oh, yeah
Yeah!
Yeah!
Ah!
Yeah, baby!
Uh, fin'lly over, baby, whoa, I believe this is the end, ah, ah, yeah, well!
Fin'lly over, baby, oh, I believe this-a is the end, ah
I want to tell you my baby, to forgive me for my sin
The song Careful With a Fool by Johnny Winter is a cautionary tale about being careful around people who are foolish and may not realize the error of their ways until it is too late. The song starts with Winter warning the listener to be careful with a fool because someday they may wise up and realize what they have done to hurt others. The fool may act cool and aloof towards others, but their actions can lead to heartbreak and sorrow.
Winter then reflects on his own foolish past and how he used to love someone so much that it hurt him deeply. He would cry and walk around late at night, lamenting about his lost love. He questions why his love interest cannot treat him right if she loves him even a little bit. The song ends with Winter acknowledging that it is finally over and asking for forgiveness for his sins.
The lyrics of the song provide a universal warning to be cautious of people who do not fully understand the consequences of their actions. Winter's bluesy guitar and soulful voice capture the emotion and pain of a broken heart. The song can resonate with anyone who has experienced heartbreak or regret over a past relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Man, be careful with a fool. you know, someday he may get smart
This line is advising the audience to be wary of individuals who may not have good intentions, as they may eventually realize their mistake and turn against them.
He will treat you so cool and chilly, till he hurt you to your heart
The fool in this context may appear to treat you well, but may eventually cause excessive emotional damage.
Man, I hate to remember how foolish I used to be
The singer is ashamed of their past actions and regrets how their own foolishness influenced their previous behavior.
The way I used to love you, baby, how bad it's gonna be
The artist is reflecting on the intensity of their past feelings for someone, and how devastating it may be to have lost that love.
You know, I'd-a walk the streets a-late at night
The artist is expressing their deep emotional pain caused by their past actions, which led to obsessive behaviors such as walking aimlessly late at night.
If you love me just a little bit, baby, why in the world don't you treat me right?
The singer is questioning why their former lover did not reciprocate the sentiment, despite claiming to have some level of affection towards them.
Fin'lly over, baby, oh, I believe this-a is the end, ah
The singer has accepted that the relationship is over, and believes that this is truly the end of this chapter in their lives.
I want to tell you my baby, to forgive me for my sin
The artist expresses regret and asks for forgiveness for their past transgressions.
Contributed by Bentley Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tim Barringer
This song blew me away 45 years ago and continues to electrify me to this day. RIP Johnny.
Elston Gunn
Great songs never die :))
Andrei
Johnny is dead?????
Denis Chernyshov
Bingo!!
Dennis Gowans
I saw Johnnie at the Vulcan gas company in Austin Texas 1970. He played be careful with a fool. He continues to blow me away even today he’s a master he’s a genius and totally underrated rest in peace Johnnie
Ken Ostrow
Same experience for me
jay coopz
Been listening to this song my entire life and it still give me goosebumps everytime..
Jeffry Hammel
Always. Just captured Johnny. We saw him live so many times. Winter always delivered in so many different ways.
Dennis G.
My sentiments exactly, Jay.
mark mc myn
What is amazing about this solo is it is absolutely clean. It is not even high volume,just straight tone!