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.
Shame
Johnny Winter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it didn't make no sense
Now you've got me baby
Up against the fence
Ain't that a shame shame shame
Shame on you
Ah it's a shame shame shame
Shame the way you do
Well now you've been gone in the evening
Don't even say you've gone
Six o'clock in the morning
You come walkin' home
Ain't that a shame shame shame
Shame on you
Ah it's a shame shame shame
Well I've been sittin' here waitin'
For you to come home
When I wake up baby
I'm sittin' there all alone
Ain't that a shame shame shame
Shame on you
Ah it's a shame shame shame
Shame the way you do
The lyrics to Johnny Winter's song "Shame" are fundamentally centered on the theme of betrayal in a relationship. The singer of the song is trying to convey to his partner that the behavior that they are portraying towards him is not only hurtful but shameful. In the first verse, the singer tells his partner that he has attempted to convey his feelings about their actions but it seems to have fallen on deaf ears because there has been no improvement. The second verse expresses the singer's frustration with his partner's actions. He is telling her that her lack of attention to their relationship is causing him immense pain. The third verse confirms that the singer is still waiting on her to make things right in their relationship. He tells her that he wakes up alone and has to deal with the hurt and pain caused by her actions.
The repetition of the phrase "Ain't that a shame" in the lyrics emphasizes the deep sense of disappointment that the singer feels towards his partner. It also emphasizes that the partners' action is both regrettable and predictable. The use of the phrase "Shame on you" is significant as it adds a tone of judgment to the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I tried to tell you baby
I attempted to communicate with you and express the situation, my feelings or thoughts to you, my dear.
But it didn't make no sense
Unfortunately, it seemed that my effort to express myself was fruitless and not understandable to you.
Now you've got me baby
Currently, you have me in a challenging or unfavorable position, my dear.
Up against the fence
Metaphorically speaking, you have figuratively put me in a difficult or restricted position with no escape, my love.
Ain't that a shame shame shame
This is an expression of disappointment, disapproval or sadness towards the current situation or your actions, my love.
Shame on you
This phrase conveys that you deserve to feel guilt or regret for your actions, my dear.
Ah it's a shame shame shame
I am repeating my sentiment or feeling of disappointment, disapproval or sadness towards the situation, my love.
Shame the way you do
Your actions or behavior deserve to be admonished or criticized because they are inappropriate, my love.
Well now you've been gone in the evening
I have noticed that you have been absent during the evening hours, my love.
Don't even say you've gone
You have not even bothered to inform me that you were leaving, making your absence even more troubling, my love.
Six o'clock in the morning
I have been up all night waiting for your return, up to the early hours of morning, my dear.
You come walkin' home
Finally, you return home after being gone all night, my love.
Well I've been sittin' here waitin'
I have been patiently waiting for your return, and during that time I have been reflecting on our situation, my dear.
For you to come home
My hope has been for your safe return back to our home, my love.
When I wake up baby
Upon awakening from my rest or sleep, my dear, you are still not present.
I'm sittin' there all alone
I feel so alone and isolated, without your company or presence, my dear.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JIMMY REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Giants588
This was such a great album. I don't think most of his fans realized how tremendous this cd was, and it's a shame because, with the exception of Second Winter the Legacy Edition, this is without a doubt my favorite Johnny Winter album. The material he chose for this record was terrific, the playing was nothing short of incredible and the performance was fantastic. Along with Jeff Ganz on bass, Tom Compton on drums, Dr John on piano and Billy Branch blowing the harp. That's an all star lineup! When Johnny Winter was tabbed the White Tornado by the music critics, a more appropriate could not have been given to him. RIP!!!!!!!
Thomas Thompson
I agree...a great album...I love the 3 Alligator Records releases as well and his help on Muddy Waters' "Hard Again" album. He was definitely smokin' in the late 80's and early 90's...I was lucky enough to see him 3 times...once right before he died, but twice in this era! Always left me speechless, not just with his leads, but his ability to pick out the rhythm lines and fills with such ease. RIP Johnny!
Bubba Shore
Johnny Winter was one of the greatest guitarists who ever lived!! Exhilarating!
Bubba Shore
I can't stop jamming to this song, it's the perfect groove for me.
Antonio Dias
Rest in peace Johnny Winter!!!!!
ontariobuds
rock in peace
Jeff Doyle
I saw Johnny 4 times, and was never disappointed. He is a true legend.
screwedagain1
Some of Johnny's finest work. Him and Billy are a force to be reckoned with.
Felix Hackenberg
I been lovin the pure funky bluesness of JW since his first album in early 1970's. This is one of his finest. This song is in the bar scene in The Cutting Edge movie.
John VanDenburgh
I had an Olivia Newton John song in my head (don't ask me how it got there) Haha! Not anymore! Thanks for posting this, Johnny was, and still is, my favorite guitarist of all time!