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.
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Johnny Winter Lyrics
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You know my baby told me got to take one step at a time
She got a crazy way of walking 'bout to drive me outta my mind
She never steps out, always walking proud
Lady never steps out and she's always walking proud
Well the way the woman moves makes me want to scream out loud
She walk all day, man she run all night
My baby told me take one step at a time
Well she got a way of walking 'bout to drive me outta my mind
Yes, yes, play a while
She don't move too fast, she don't move too slow
She always knows the way I wants to go
Baby told me got to take one step at a time
Yes, that's what she told me
She got a way of walking 'bout to drive me outta my mind
Yes, that's the truth
The song "Hey, Hey, Hey" by Johnny Winter is a heartwrenching ballad about a man who can't stop thinking about a woman who has left him. The singer is in a state of confusion and anguish, as he can't understand why the woman he loves is no longer around. He can't go on living without her and decides to pack his things and leave town. He contemplates the relationship, wondering why it didn't work out, but he finally realizes that he can't keep waiting for her to come back to him. In the end, he decides to leave and move on with his life.
The lyrics are emotional, and full of powerful imagery, as Johnny Winter uses his unique vocal style to convey his feelings of pain and loss. With every word, he draws the listener into his world and makes them feel his sadness. The song is expertly crafted, with a simple and catchy chorus that is easy to sing along to. Winter's guitar playing is also on full display, as he delivers a soulful solo that perfectly captures the mood of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey,
The singer starts the song by directly addressing the person they are singing about.
Can't stop thinking 'bout you
The singer is fixated on this person and can't get them out of their head.
Wondering why you're not around
The singer is confused and questioning why this person is not in their life.
Can't keep doing without you
The singer is struggling without this person in their life and needs them.
Pack my things and leave this town
The singer is willing to make a drastic change and leave where they are for this person.
I've been thinking, hey 'bout you
The singer has been constantly thinking about this person.
Getting tired, not feeling better
The singer is getting tired of feeling this way and it's not getting any better.
Ain't got time to show you
The singer wants to be with this person, but doesn't have the time to fully express their feelings to them.
Girl, how well I know you
The singer thinks they know this person well, but may not have fully understood them.
I guess I'll go away
The singer is considering leaving as they feel like they may not be wanted.
Can't keep waiting on you
The singer is tired of waiting for this person to take action.
Time passes, I want you more
As time passes, the singer's desire for this person is growing.
Time to jump upon you
The singer is ready to make a move on this person.
Darling what are you waiting for
The singer is asking this person why they haven't made a move yet.
I'm gonna jump upon you
The singer is fully committing to making a move on this person.
Getting time for revolution
The singer is ready to make a big change in their life for this person.
Ain't got time for playing
The singer is serious about their intentions and doesn't want to play games.
Just like I've been saying
The singer is consistent in their actions and words towards this person.
Ain't gonna put me through it
The singer is refusing to be put through any more pain or hardship.
I don't have to live this way
The singer is recognizing that they don't have to continue living in this state.
You can't hold me to it
The singer is making it clear that they won't be held accountable for their actions towards this person.
Gonna make my get away
The singer is determined to get away from this current situation.
Can't get no satisfaction
The singer is not feeling fulfilled without this person in their life.
Everything you're doing
The actions of this person are affecting the singer negatively.
Drive me to ruin
The actions of this person are causing the singer to experience ruin.
I guess I'll go away
The song ends with the singer confirming that they will leave the situation.
Hey, hey, hey
The chorus is repeated to emphasize the singer's resolve to leave this situation.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHNNY WINTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ptalley47eh
The Winter brothers. There's nobody like them. Each so talented in their own right. I could listen to them all day. Thanks for this video!
@nickphillips7319
Couldn't agree more.
@iconoclast4440
Winter, not Winters.
@ptalley47eh
@@iconoclast4440 Oooops. I meant WINTER.
@nickphillips7319
@@iconoclast4440 fair point. But was it not Edgar Winters White Trash? 🤠
@reedbender1179
@@iconoclast4440 correct, but two Winters are better than one ! 🤩
@kelanders
The older I get the more I appreciate what an extraordinary talent Johnny Winter was. He was the real deal, a musician’s musician
@robpattison6606
have you heard a blues guitarist named Eric Gales?
@theherbpuffer
A guitarists guitarist
@BenErasBen
Get tears in my eye when I hear him, too good to be true