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.
You're Humbuggin' Me
Johnny Winter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The way I dress is a sin
I've been further under the house
Lookin' for eggs than you've ever been
You're humbuggin' me
You're humbuggin' me
I believed all those stories darlin'
You told me darlin' you loved me
You said you'd go through fire or pain
Last week you wrote me a letter
Sayin' "I'll see ya if it don't rain"
You're humbuggin' me
You're humbuggin' me
I believed all those stories
And now you're humbuggin' me
Yeah!
(Instrumental)
Well when I married you darling
You thought I was a puppet I know
You promised me chicken and pork roast
You give me sour milk and burnt toast
You're humbuggin' me
You're humbuggin' me
I believed all those stories darlin'
Now you're humbuggin' me
Yeah! You're humbuggin' me
Hey yeah! You're humbuggin' me
I believed all those stories darlin'
Now you're humbuggin' me
In "You're Humbuggin' Me," Johnny Winter sings about a woman who has been deceiving him by telling false stories and promises. The first verse challenges her accusations that he hasn't been around by stating that he has been as far as under the house, looking for eggs. In the second verse, he confronts her for telling him that she loves him and will go through any pain, only to later send him a letter saying she'll only see him if it doesn't rain. The final verse reveals her deception in their marriage, where she promised him the best food, but delivered sour milk and burnt toast. The chorus emphasizes his realization that she has been lying to him all along, and he is not impressed by it.
The lyrics are a classic example of blues music where the singer's personal problems like deception and betrayal are put front and center in verses that intersect with a catchy refrain. The song also shows Johnny Winter's versatility as a blues guitarist and singer with his signature blues-rock style. The instrumental part, complete with Winter's exquisite guitar playing and a groovy beat, adds to the song's overall musical appeal. It brings out the song's feel of wanting something that can never be and adds depth to the emotion that the lyrics convey.
Line by Line Meaning
You say I haven't been around
You accuse me of not being present
The way I dress is a sin
You criticize my fashion sense
I've been further under the house
Lookin' for eggs than you've ever been
I have been more adventurous than you have ever dared to be
You told me darlin' you loved me
You said you'd go through fire or pain
You professed your love for me and promised to endure any obstacle
Last week you wrote me a letter
Sayin' "I'll see ya if it don't rain"
You sent me a letter implying you may or may not visit depending on the weather
Well when I married you darling
You thought I was a puppet I know
You treated me like a submissive pawn when we got married
You promised me chicken and pork roast
You give me sour milk and burnt toast
You failed to live up to your promises and instead provided me with subpar food
You're humbuggin' me
You're humbuggin' me
I believed all those stories darlin'
Now you're humbuggin' me
You are deceiving me and making me feel foolish and misled
Contributed by Kennedy F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paul Catania
Johnny at his absolute best! The speed, the articulation, tone and clarity—superb! And probably the best rhythm section he's ever had!
Adam King
Why did it take him dying for this classic album of amazing playing and songs to be available.....my uncle turned me onto Johnny.....never looked back....spent the next thirty years playing guitar! Thanks Johnny and Uncle D!
Angel Martinez
Hey thank you for posting this!!! This is great!!! Hat's off gentlemen, a guitar genious has passed. One of my favorite all time guitars. He is missed and will be missed. I personally feel there will never be another Johnny Winter, at least not in my lifetime!
Jim Gouwens
Amen
ChoppaWhoppa1
Unbelievably good. The playing is so tight!
Steve Tessier
None other than my old time friend.Johnny the Boss man.As Muddy often called him.You were beloved by us.We miss you so brother...!!!
RothOnly4Me
My father introduced me to the guitar and many saturdays he would blast Johnny Winter around the house. Hate to see him go...
John Raymond
One of a kind absolutely.
Texas rockin the blues forever. You are missed brother
Ricky Palmer
What a ya do when ur born legally blind n basically allergic to sunlight??? Stay in the house n become the greatest BLUES GUITARIST (yeah arguably) EVER!!!!