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.
Higway 61 Revisited
Johnny Winter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Abe said, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God said, "No"--Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want, Abe, but
The next time you see me comin', you better run"
Well, Abe said, "Where d'you want this killin' done?"
God said, "Out on Highway 61"
Welfare department, they wouldn't give him no clothes
He asked poor Howard, "Where can I go?"
Howard said, "There's only one place I know"
Sam said, "Tell me quick, man, I got to run"
Oh, Howard just pointed with his gun
And said, "That way, down Highway 61"
Well, Mack the Finger said to Louie the King
"I got 40 red-white-and-blue shoestrings
And a thousand telephones that don't ring
Do you know where I can get rid of these things?"
And Louie the King said, "Let me think for a moment, son"
Then he said, "Yes, I think it can be easily done
Just take everything down to Highway 61"
Now, the fifth daughter on the twelfth night
Told the first father that things weren't right
"My complexion," she says, "is much too white"
He said, "Come here and step into the light"
He said, "Hmm, you're right, let me tell the second mother this has been done"
But the second mother was with the seventh son
And they were both out on Highway 61
Now, the roving gambler he was very bored
Trying to create a next world war
He found a promoter who nearly fell off the floor
He said, "I never engaged in this kind of thing before
But yes, I think it can be very easily done
We'll just put some bleachers out in the sun
And have it on Highway 61"
The song "Highway 61 Revisited" by Johnny Winter tells a couple of stories that share similarities in their themes of chaos, authority, and societal disparity. The lyrics open up with a reference to the story of Abraham and his sacrifice. In the story, God instructed Abraham to sacrifice his son, which he initially hesitated but obeyed later. The lyrics question the power play between Abraham and God, with Abraham questioning if the request is genuine. The song then turns to the story of Georgia Sam who has a bloody nose and cannot get assistance from the welfare department. He talks to Howard to determine where he can go, and when Howard seems to point towards Highway 61, it suggests the possibility that the highway offers an escape route for societal misfits.
The third story centers on Mack the Finger, who has shoestrings and telephones that he needs to dispose of, and Louie the King suggests that he can take them to Highway 61. Finally, the song mentions the roving gambler who wants to create chaos and the promoter who almost fell off the floor when they heard the idea. They decided to organize a sporting event on Highway 61. Overall, the lyrics of the song allude to the concept of societal displacement, authority and suggest the possibility of finding freedom on the road Highway 61.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
God told Abraham to sacrifice his own son to test his faith and obedience
Abe said, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
Abraham was shocked and didn't believe what God asked of him
God said, "No"--Abe say, "What?"
God reiterated his demand but Abraham still couldn't believe it
God say, "You can do what you want, Abe, but
God gave Abraham a choice to follow his command or not
The next time you see me comin', you better run"
God threatened Abraham of punishment if he disobeys
Well, Abe said, "Where d'you want this killin' done?"
Abraham agreed to comply and asked where the sacrifice should be made
God said, "Out on Highway 61"
God gave a location for the sacrifice to be made which is significant
Well, Georgia Sam, he had a bloody nose
Georgia Sam was in physical distress and suffering
Welfare department, they wouldn't give him no clothes
The welfare department refused to provide basic necessities for Georgia Sam
He asked poor Howard, "Where can I go?"
Georgia Sam was desperate and seeking for help and direction
Howard said, "There's only one place I know"
Howard had limited resources and knowledge but offered the best he could
Sam said, "Tell me quick, man, I got to run"
Georgia Sam was in a rush due to urgency or danger
Oh, Howard just pointed with his gun
Howard's solution was violent, threatening and forceful
And said, "That way, down Highway 61"
Howard sent Georgia Sam to a particular location with a dark reputation
Well, Mack the Finger said to Louie the King
Two characters with suspicious names engage in a conversation
"I got 40 red-white-and-blue shoestrings
Mack the Finger possessed an unusual amount of shoestrings
And a thousand telephones that don't ring
Mack the Finger had useless and defective telephones in his possession
Do you know where I can get rid of these things?"
Mack the Finger was asking for a way to dispose of his odd belongings
And Louie the King said, "Let me think for a moment, son"
Louie the King was hesitant and considering the request
Then he said, "Yes, I think it can be easily done
Louie the King had a plan to help Mack the Finger with his problem
Just take everything down to Highway 61"
Louie the King suggested disposing of the possessions in the same location as the previous incident
Now, the fifth daughter on the twelfth night
A new character and setting is introduced
Told the first father that things weren't right
The daughter informed her father of her problems
"My complexion," she says, "is much too white"
The daughter was unhappy with her appearance and complexion
He said, "Come here and step into the light"
The father requested to see his daughter's appearance more clearly
He said, "Hmm, you're right, let me tell the second mother this has been done"
The father promised to fix his daughter's problem and consulted with another family member
But the second mother was with the seventh son
The second mother was not available because she was with her own child who needed attention
And they were both out on Highway 61
Both the mother and son were in the same location as the previous event, potentially indicating a cycle of issues and problems
Now, the roving gambler he was very bored
A new character is introduced and his boredom is emphasized
Trying to create a next world war
The gambler's actions were malicious and intended to cause a catastrophic event
He found a promoter who nearly fell off the floor
The gambler approached someone with the intention to cause chaos and the person was surprised
He said, "I never engaged in this kind of thing before
The promoter was not experienced in the kind of event the gambler was suggesting
But yes, I think it can be very easily done
The promoter was open to the idea despite the lack of experience
We'll just put some bleachers out in the sun
The plan to create chaos involved setting up seating in a sunny location
And have it on Highway 61"
Once again, the location of the event was chosen to be at Highway 61, continuing the pattern of repeating events in the same location
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind