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.
If You Got A Good Woman
Johnny Winter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'd better give that girl a thrill
Whoa, if you got a good woman
You'd best give that girl a thrill (give the girl a thrill)
'Cause if you don't keep her happy
There's sure someone else who will (watch out, man!)
If you got time for another woman
Well if you got time for another woman
That woman got time for another man
Don't think just 'cause you got her
That you're the only one that can
(I also dig that woman too! Watch out!)
(Instrumental)
Yeah, Billy Branch!
(Instrumental)
Yeah, get real wild brother...
(Instrumental)
Man if you love that woman
Better stay at home and treat her right
Whoa, if you love that woman
Best stay at home and treat her right
'Cause you can't tell what's goin' on
When your baby's outta sight
(Better watch yourself!)
The lyrics to Johnny Winter's song If You Got A Good Woman offer insightful advice for those in a relationship. The song emphasizes the importance of treating a woman right, and making sure to keep her happy. This sentiment is expressed through the refrain "if you got a good woman, you'd best give that girl a thrill," which encourages the listener to actively work to keep their partner satisfied.
Winter also warns against infidelity, stating that if you have time for another woman, then that woman has time for another man. He suggests that just because you have her, it doesn't mean you're the only one who can keep her happy. This line emphasizes the importance of trust and loyalty in a relationship.
The middle of the song features a lively instrumental section that showcases the talent of the musicians and adds to the song's energetic feeling. The final verse emphasizes the importance of staying loyal and treating your partner right, as Winter sings "if you love that woman, best stay at home and treat her right. 'Cause you can't tell what's goin' on when your baby's outta sight." Overall, the song's message is one of respect, loyalty, and actively working to keep your partner happy.
Line by Line Meaning
Well if you got a good woman
If you're lucky enough to have a good woman in your life
You'd better give that girl a thrill
You need to make sure that she feels special and excited about being with you
Whoa, if you got a good woman
If you are blessed with a good, loving woman in your life
You'd best give that girl a thrill (give the girl a thrill)
You must ensure that you provide an enjoyable and exciting experience for her
'Cause if you don't keep her happy
If you don't make sure she's content and satisfied
There's sure someone else who will (watch out, man!)
Somebody else might come along and take her away from you if you're not careful
If you got time for another woman
If you have the inclination to see other women
That woman's who got time for another man
That woman may well be seeing somebody else when you're not around
Well if you got time for another woman
If you're the type to cheat on your woman
That woman got time for another man
Then she's probably not as committed to you as you might think
Don't think just 'cause you got her
Just because she's with you
That you're the only one that can
It doesn't mean that you're the only person who could attract her or make her happy
(I also dig that woman too! Watch out!)
It's possible that other guys might be interested in your woman too and you should be careful
(Instrumental)
No lyrics, just instrumental music
Man if you love that woman
If you really love her and care about her
Better stay at home and treat her right
You should make it a priority to stay home and treat her well
Whoa, if you love that woman
If you're truly in love with her
Best stay at home and treat her right
You need to make sure that you give her the love and attention that she deserves
'Cause you can't tell what's goin' on
Because you never know what might be happening behind your back
When your baby's outta sight
When you can't see or keep track of her activities
(Better watch yourself!)
You should be careful and cautious so that you don't lose her
Contributed by Madison Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.