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.
I Love Everybody
Johnny Winter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, I'm going to the city
Just to see what I can find
Got to get me somebody
I got the same thing on my mind
Got the same thing on my mind
Oh yeah, I do
But I'm horny as I can be
Been a long time comin' baby
Better come get some of me
Better come get some of me, yeah
No I can't stay in the East, man
And I sure don't like the West
I can't stand the North and South boys
But I sure love all the West
No I'm on the West
Yeah, I dig it man
I got women in California
Man, in New York and between
It's a full time operation
Trying to keep my business clean
Trying to keep my business clean now
I'm about to get straight folks
I'm workin' on it now
The lyrics of Johnny Winter's song "I Love Everybody" seem to be about a man who is on a journey to find someone to fulfill his sexual desires. He talks about going to the city to find someone, emphasizing that he has the same thing on his mind, which undoubtedly refers to his libido. The lyrics suggest that he's someone who has plenty of sexual partners and doesn't mind traveling in search of someone to satisfy his desires. As he sings, "I've got women in California, man, in New York and between." He also talks about trying to keep his 'business' clean, which could be a reference to his promiscuous lifestyle.
The song seems to be about a particular time in the 1960s and 70s, where young people were exploring their sexuality and indulging in free love, drugs, and rock n' roll. It was a time when it seemed as though all societal norms were being challenged, and people were looking to push the boundaries even further.
Line by Line Meaning
(Ha ha ha)
Just a laugh before the start of the song
Well, I'm going to the city
Johnny is heading to the city to explore and see what he can find
Just to see what I can find
His purpose for going to the city is to discover new things
Got to get me somebody
Johnny wants to find a companion
I got the same thing on my mind
He is focused on finding someone to share a connection with
Got the same thing on my mind
His mind is set on finding someone special
Oh yeah, I do
Johnny is determined to find someone special
I ain't tired, no I ain't hungry
Johnny is not physically exhausted or hungry
But I'm horny as I can be
Despite not being physically tired or hungry, Johnny is feeling sexually aroused
Been a long time comin' baby
It's been a while since Johnny has indulged in a sexual relationship
Better come get some of me
Johnny is inviting a potential partner to engage in a sexual relationship with him
Better come get some of me, yeah
Johnny is eagerly awaiting the company of someone special
No I can't stay in the East, man
Johnny does not enjoy staying in the Eastern region
And I sure don't like the West
Johnny dislikes the Western region
I can't stand the North and South boys
Johnny doesn't like the people in the Northern or Southern regions of the United States
But I sure love all the West
Despite not liking the Western region as a whole, Johnny loves certain aspects of it
No I'm on the West
Johnny is currently in the Western region
Yeah, I dig it man
Despite his previous criticisms, Johnny is actually enjoying his time on the West Coast
I got women in California
Johnny has romantic interests in the state of California
Man, in New York and between
Johnny also has romantic interests in New York and other parts of the United States
It's a full time operation
It takes a lot of effort to maintain relationships with all of these women
Trying to keep my business clean
Johnny is attempting to maintain an honest and ethical approach to his relationships
Trying to keep my business clean now
Johnny is making a concerted effort to avoid engaging in dishonest or unfaithful behavior
I'm about to get straight folks
Johnny is trying to improve himself and become a better person
I'm workin' on it now
Johnny is actively taking steps to make positive changes in his life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHNNY WINTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
johnny zell
Well, I'm going to the city
Just to see what I can find
Got to get me somebody
I got the same thing on my mind
Got the same thing on my mind
Oh yeah, I do
I ain't tired, no I ain't hungry
But I'm horny as I can be
Been a long time comin' baby
Better come get some of me
Better come get some of me, yeah
No I can't stay in the East, man
And I sure don't like the West
I can't stand the North and South boys
But I sure love all the West
No I'm on the West
Yeah, I dig it man
I got women in California
Man, in New York and between
It's a full time operation
Trying to keep my business clean
Trying to keep my business clean now
I'm about to get straight folks
I'm workin' on it now
GmJunky87
For some reason this song always stood out the most from that album. Has always been my favorite. Great song amazing artist!!
Stephen Reeds
Because it is the best.
Giants588
2nd Winter, tremendous album. I've been a Johnny Winter fan for almost 50 years, and I always thought this was his best album. But I have to admit, playing a Fender Telecaster out of a small amp on Progressive Blues at the age of 22 years old was also amazing. Progressive Blues came out in 1969, but Johnny recorded it at the Gaslight in 1966. A 22 year old kid with those chops and that hot raw tone, totally amazing!!!!!
Robert Schindehette
I bought Progressive Blues from the Columbia Record Club as a kid and that was my introduction to his playing. That LP is long gone but when Johnny played a gig in my town a few years before he passed I bought a CD of it for the concert and he autographed it for me. He was traveling around in a motor home and it was a small but very nice venue. I sat cross legged on carpet in front of a low stage where he sat on a chair and played his firebird. It was a really great experience and memory. I had this album too when it came out. Crazy 3 sided album. I always remembered I love everybody followed by I hate everybody. Funny stuff and a great version of Highway 61.
Geoff Snell
I don't know what other people feel is their favourite Winter song but this one pegs it for me
Gerard Berk
Me too
Dex
Rock me baby is mine ✌️
Rick Sivart
Geoff Snell ..first johnny song i ever heard...fell in love right away...i miss him. RIP Johnny. ..greatest guitarist to ever walk this earth
JGLB2012
greatest slide guitar ever? this particular recording IMHO!
Dave Lindsey
Dexter ... mine too, but this one is up there.