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.
Eternally
Johnny Winter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And how many years have I tried to make you mine?
I would cry a million tears, I would try a million years
If that would bring you closer to me
I'd wait eternally
I'd wait eternally
Well how many guys have you dated while I sat and cried?
You could date a million guys, you could tell a million lies
If that would bring you closer to me
I'd wait eternally
I'd wait eternally
So I guess I'll keep waiting for you patiently
Then maybe you'll see how true I am and give your love to me
Baby baby baby, how many dimes have I spent to call you on the phone?
And how many times have they told me you weren't home?
I would spend a million dimes, I would call a million times
If that would bring you closer to me
I'd wait eternally
I'd wait eternally
So I guess I'll keep waiting for you patiently
Then maybe you'll see how true I am and give your love to me
Baby baby baby, how many dimes have I spent to call you on the phone?
And how many times have they told me you weren't home?
I would spend a million dimes, I would call a million times
If that would bring you closer to me
I'd wait eternally
I'd wait eternally baby
For you to give your love to me
Baby baby baby
I want you to give your love to me
In "Eternally," Johnny Winter sings about the pain of unrequited love and the depths to which he is willing to go for the one he desires. The lyrics are an expression of unfulfilled longing and the feeling of being stuck in a state of limbo. The singer is pleading with his love interest and trying to convince them that he is worth the wait, no matter how long it takes.
The repetition of the phrase "I'd wait eternally" is a nod to the timeless nature of love and the idea of waiting forever for the one you love. Winter's use of hyperbole underscores the extent of his devotion, as he proclaims that he would cry a million tears, try for a million years, and spend a million dimes for the chance to be with his love.
The song's refrain, "So I guess I'll keep waiting for you patiently / Then maybe you'll see how true I am and give your love to me," encapsulates the hope and desperation of the singer. He is willing to wait as long as it takes and is convinced that his love will ultimately be reciprocated.
Overall, the lyrics of "Eternally" are a poignant expression of the bittersweet agony of longing for someone who may never love you back.
Line by Line Meaning
Well how many tears have I cried since you left me behind?
I have shed countless tears since you walked out on me.
And how many years have I tried to make you mine?
I have made countless attempts over many years to win your heart.
I would cry a million tears, I would try a million years
I am willing to go to lengths beyond imagination to be with you.
If that would bring you closer to me
My only goal is to have you close to me.
I'd wait eternally
I am willing to wait an indefinite amount of time for you.
Well how many guys have you dated while I sat and cried?
I have grieved over you while wondering how many others you have dated.
Well how many hours have I waited even though you lied?
I have waited for you for hours despite knowing that you have lied to me before.
You could date a million guys, you could tell a million lies
I would still wait for you even if you dated countless others and deceived me continually.
So I guess I'll keep waiting for you patiently
I will continue to be patient in my wait for you.
Then maybe you'll see how true I am and give your love to me
My sincere hope is that you will finally recognize my unwavering devotion and love me in return.
Baby baby baby, how many dimes have I spent to call you on the phone?
I have spent an excessive amount of money on phone calls to you.
And how many times have they told me you weren't home?
I have been told numerous times that you were not available to talk to me.
If that would bring you closer to me
All of my efforts are dedicated to winning your affection.
I'd wait eternally baby
I am resolved to wait for you no matter how long it takes.
For you to give your love to me
I long for the day when you reciprocate my love and give your heart to me.
Baby baby baby
You are constantly on my mind and in my heart.
I want you to give your love to me
My deepest desire is for you to return my love and be with me.
Contributed by Jayden K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.