The musicologist Robert "Mack" McCormick opined that Hopkins is "the embodiment of the jazz-and-poetry spirit, representing its ancient form in the single creator whose words and music are one act".
Hopkins was born in Centerville, Texas, and as a child was immersed in the sounds of the blues. He developed a deep appreciation for this music at the age of 8, when he met Blind Lemon Jefferson at a church picnic in Buffalo, Texas. That day, Hopkins felt the blues was "in him".[citation needed] He went on to learn from his older (distant) cousin, the country blues singer Alger "Texas" Alexander. (Hopkins had another cousin, the Texas electric blues guitarist Frankie Lee Sims, with whom he later recorded.) Hopkins began accompanying Jefferson on guitar at informal church gatherings. Jefferson reputedly never let anyone play with him except young Hopkins, and Hopkins learned much from Jefferson at these gatherings.
Hopkins's style was born from spending many hours playing informally without a backing band. His distinctive fingerstyle technique often included playing, in effect, bass, rhythm, lead, and percussion at the same time. He played both "alternating" and "monotonic" bass styles incorporating imaginative, often chromatic turnarounds and single-note lead lines. Tapping or slapping the body of his guitar added rhythmic accompaniment.
Much of Hopkins's music follows the standard 12-bar blues template, but his phrasing was free and loose. Many of his songs were in the talking blues style, but he was a powerful and confident singer.[citation needed] Lyrically, his songs expressed the problems of life in the segregated South, bad luck in love and other subjects common in the blues idiom. He dealt with these subjects with humor and good nature. Many of his songs are filled with double entendres, and he was known for his humorous introductions to songs.
Hopkins died of esophageal cancer in Houston on January 30, 1982, at the age of 69. His obituary in the New York Times described him as "one of the great country blues singers and perhaps the greatest single influence on rock guitar players.".
Ain't It Crazy
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They goin' around doin' the rub-de-dub
Ain't it crazy
Ain't it crazy
You know it's crazy
To keep on rubbin' at that ---
Was down and out with my head in my hand
Looked for a woman didn't have no man
Wasn't it crazy
You know it's crazy ---
(Yeah... oh yeah...)
Was down in town with my head in my hand
Looked for a woman didn't have no man
Wasn't I crazy
Wasn't I crazy
You know it's crazy
To keep on rubbin' at that - same old thing
(play it one time)
(now here's what cooked the goose)
Two old maids lyin' in the bed
One turned over this is what she said
Ain't we crazy
Ain't we crazy
You know it's crazy
To keep on rubbin' at that ---
Have mercy!
The song "Ain't It Crazy" by Lightnin' Hopkins is a blues song filled with playful and suggestive innuendos, as most blues songs are. It talks about the crazy ways in which people go about their daily lives, with lyrics that seem to poke fun at the monotony of daily routines. The first stanza of the song talks about two women, Suzy and Mama, who are going around doing the "rub-de-dub." This is a reference to a musical instrument called the rubboard, which is similar to a washboard and is often used in zydeco music. Mama, on the other hand, is engaging in some sort of domestic chore, which is referred to as "the tub." The lyrics suggest that these women are doing the same old thing day in and day out, which is "crazy."
The second stanza of the song talks about the singer's own life. He is down and out, with his head in his hand, and is in search of a woman. He seems to suggest that this search for a woman is also a crazy thing to do. The third stanza is similar to the second, with the singer once again looking for a woman with no success.
The final stanza of the song goes off in a different direction and introduces two old ladies lying in bed together. One of them turns over and says, "Ain't we crazy?" The implication here is that they are engaging in some sort of sexual activity, which is considered "crazy" by society's standards. The song ends with Lightnin' Hopkins exclaiming "Have mercy!"
Overall, "Ain't It Crazy" is a lighthearted song that pokes fun at the repetitive nature of daily life and the societal norms that people are expected to adhere to. It is a typical blues song, with suggestive lyrics and a playful tone.
Line by Line Meaning
Suzy got a rubboard, mama got a tub
Suzy has a washboard and her mother has a bathtub, and they use them to do laundry.
They goin' around doin' the rub-de-dub
They are washing clothes by rubbing them on the washboard.
Ain't it crazy
Isn't it absurd?
Ain't it crazy
Isn't it ridiculous?
You know it's crazy
You are aware that it is absurd.
To keep on rubbin' at that ---
To keep washing things in the same way.
Was down and out with my head in my hand
I was very sad and upset.
Looked for a woman didn't have no man
I was searching for a woman because I did not have a man.
Wasn't it crazy
Wasn't it insane?
Wasn't it crazy
Wasn't it bizarre?
You know it's crazy ---
You know that it is absurd.
(Yeah... oh yeah...)
A phrase that expresses excitement.
Was down in town with my head in my hand
I was upset while I was in town.
Looked for a woman didn't have no man
I looked for a woman because I did not have a man.
Wasn't I crazy
Wasn't I insane?
Wasn't I crazy
Wasn't I bizarre?
You know it's crazy
You know it's absurd.
To keep on rubbin' at that - same old thing
To continue to do the same activity repeatedly.
(play it one time)
A direction to play the music once.
(now here's what cooked the goose)
An announcement that something important is coming.
Two old maids lyin' in the bed
Two elderly women are lying on the bed.
One turned over this is what she said
One of them turned over and said...
Ain't we crazy
Aren't we insane?
Ain't we crazy
Aren't we ridiculous?
You know it's crazy
You are aware that it is absurd.
To keep on rubbin' at that ---
To keep on doing the same activity repeatedly.
Have mercy!
An expression of surprise, excitement, or relief.
Contributed by Hannah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
sandnfoam
and this too.
....Two old maids lyin' in the bed
One turned over this is what she said
Ain't we crazy
Ain't we crazy
You know it's crazy
To keep on rubbin' at that ....
Have mercy!
sandnfoam
Suzy got a rubboard, mama got a tub
They goin' around doin' the rub-de-dub
Ain't it crazy
Ain't it crazy
You know it's crazy
To keep on rubbin' at that ....
Was down and out with my head in my hand
Looked for a woman didn't have no man
Wasn't it crazy
Wasn't it crazy
You know it's crazy ....
(Yeah... oh yeah...)
Was down in town with my head in my hand
Looked for a woman didn't have no man
Wasn't I crazy
Wasn't I crazy
You know it's crazy
To keep on rubbin' at that .... same old thing
Karl Kellar
Sister, not Suzy.