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.
Don't Take Advantage of Me
Johnny Winter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't take advantage of me 'cause I'm good to you
I'm just another man hooked on you
Tell me baby what the hell you're gonna do
I wanna know
I wanna know
Yeah, uh-huh
Don't think I'm weak 'cause I'm sweet to you
Don't think I'm weak 'cause I'm sweet to you
Another man, another time
I'll wipe that stuff right out of your mind
I will
Yes I will
Yeah!
Yeah, don't take advantage of me
Woo, I wanna know
Don't think I'm crazy 'cause I do what I do
Don't think I'm crazy 'cause I do what I do
It's another man, another place
I'll throw that mess right about in your face
I will
Yes I will
Whoa baby!
Don't take advantage of me 'cause I'm good to you
Don't take advantage of me 'cause I'm good to you
Another man hooked on you
Tell me baby what the hell you're gonna do
I wanna know
I wanna know
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Wow!
The lyrics in Johnny Winter's "Don't Take Advantage of Me" depict the frustration of a man who feels like he is being taken advantage of because of his kindness towards his lover. He is aware that he is hooked on her and is wondering what she is going to do. The singer doesn't want to be seen as weak, even though he is sweet towards her, and warns her not to think he is crazy for doing what he does. The singer is clear that in another time or place, he will get rid of all the mess she has created.
The repeated phrase "I wanna know" signifies the singer's need for an answer. He wants her to tell him what she is going to do and his tone is that of desperation. The singer's message is relevant to anyone in a relationship where they feel like they are giving more than they're receiving. The song advises against allowing oneself to be taken advantage of, and that it is important to recognize one's value in the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't take advantage of me 'cause I'm good to you
I am kind to you, so please do not exploit my kindness.
I'm just another man hooked on you
I am just one of the many men who have fallen for you.
Tell me baby what the hell you're gonna do
Please be honest with me and tell me your intentions.
Don't think I'm weak 'cause I'm sweet to you
Do not mistake my kindness for weakness.
Another man, another time
If you mistreat me, another man will come along in due time.
I'll wipe that stuff right out of your mind
I am determined to make you forget the negative things from your past.
Yeah!
Expressing affirmation and agreement.
Don't think I'm crazy 'cause I do what I do
Do not question my actions just because they are different from what you are used to seeing.
It's another man, another place
If you do not treat me right, I can leave and find someone else in a different location.
I'll throw that mess right about in your face
I will confront you about any bad behavior and make sure you acknowledge it.
Whoa baby!
Expressing surprise or excitement.
Oh yeah
Expressing affirmation.
Wow!
Expressing surprise or amazement.
Lyrics © ALLIGATOR RECRDS/EYEBALL MUSIC
Written by: LEE BAKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind