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.
Tired of Tryin'
Johnny Winter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So tired of tryin'
Tired of tryin'
Man, I'm so tired of tryin'
Well, I'm tired of tryin'
Tryin' to get along with you
You put salt in my coffee
And I'm just here to ask you dear
Don't you think that's mighty rude
Tired of tryin'
Man, I'm so tired of tryin'
Well, I'm tired of tryin'
Tryin' to get along with you
You keep tellin' me mama
You don't need no other men
I really do believe it's true
You already got nine or ten
Tired of tryin'
Well, I'm so tired of tryin'
Well, I'm tired of tryin'
Tryin' to get along with you
Man, I'm tired
Bring it on Johnny
Alright
Yeah, I hear you talkin' man
Yeah, sounds right now
Now listen up baby
I just want you baby
To be good and true
You just sit there and look at me
Like it's much too much from you
Tired of tryin'
Well, I'm so tired of tryin'
Well, I'm tired of tryin'
Tryin' to get along with you
Yes, I'm leavin' town this mornin'
You can call me at dawn
I got to find somebody new
To carry my business on
Tired of tryin'
Lord, I'm so tired of tryin'
Well, I'm tired of tryin'
Tryin' to get along with you
I'm so tired of tryin'
Tryin' to get along with you
I'm so tired of tryin'
Man, I'm tryin' to get along with you
Yeah
Alright man, alright
The song "Tired of Tryin'" by Johnny Winter is a blues rock anthem that describes the frustration and exhaustion of a man trying to get along with his significant other. The opening lines of the song, "Well I'm tired of tryin', So tired of tryin', Tired of tryin', Man, I'm so tired of tryin'" expresses the singer's exhaustion with constantly trying to please his partner. He feels like he is reaching a breaking point and can no longer continue in the relationship.
The verse "You put salt in my coffee, And sawdust in my food, And I'm just here to ask you dear, Don't you think that's mighty rude" highlights the partner's deliberate and malicious attempts to upset and bother him. The chorus is repeated several times in the song, which further emphasizes the singer's frustration and weariness.
The final verse reveals that the singer is leaving town to find someone new to continue his business, emphasizing that he has had enough of the relationship. Overall, "Tired of Tryin'" is a relatable song about how relationships can become exhausting and tiring when a partner is deliberately hurtful or unappreciative.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm tired of tryin'
I am exhausted from attempting to get along with you.
So tired of tryin'
I am incredibly fatigued from putting effort into our relationship.
Tired of tryin'
I am done trying to make things work between us.
Man, I'm so tired of tryin'
I am extremely worn out from my attempts to connect with you.
Well, I'm tired of tryin'
Continuing to make an effort to get along with you is no longer possible for me.
Tryin' to get along with you
Striving to have a harmonious relationship between us.
You put salt in my coffee
You are treating me maliciously and with hostility.
And sawdust in my food
You are intentionally sabotaging my meals and my well-being.
And I'm just here to ask you dear
I am here to inquire if you consider your actions appropriate.
Don't you think that's mighty rude
It is incredibly discourteous of you to behave this way towards me.
You keep tellin' me mama
You persistently express to me.
You don't need no other men
You do not require any other companionship.
I really do believe it's true
I sincerely think that what you declare is honest.
You already got nine or ten
You already have a vast number of associates or lovers.
I just want you baby
All I desire is you.
To be good and true
To exhibit decency and fidelity within our relationship.
You just sit there and look at me
You simply sit idle and stare at me.
Like it's much too much from you
You seem to believe that putting in effort is too demanding for you.
Yes, I'm leavin' town this mornin'
I am departing this town early today.
You can call me at dawn
You can attempt to reach me in the early morning.
I got to find somebody new
I need to locate someone else.
To carry my business on
To take over my affairs in my absence.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHNNY WINTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gary Evans
R.I.P. Johnny Winter.
This song brings back a lot of memories for me & has a special place in my life.
Thanks for all your great music Johnny.
You will be missed.
Jim Day
Blues at it's best. Long live the sounds of what really happens in our times.
RIP my brother....
Scott Sherman
Miss you, Johnny. A lifetime of heartfelt thanks for all the great music you shared with us.
Charles Chapman
Muddy, the Cotton Man, Pinetop & Johnny. Just a legendary line up.
stevemcdine
Takes me back to 1977...I was 17.....I loved it then..... and it make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when listening to it now....so cool :->
Steven Rakett
1974 for me when I graduated high school. I love him so much I got his tattoo that he has on his chest on my arm. The greatest blues and rock guitarist ever. I've seen him over 100 times.
Charles Chapman
Saw Johnny, Muddy Waters & James Cotton together at Detroit's Masonic Temple in '77. I truly fell in love with the blues because of that concert.
Blues Entertainment
What a great Blues Song !
bryan3550
Just the best Album Johnny ever cut..!
Debra Stollman
Love this.