Samuel John "Lightnin'" Hopkins (March 15, 1912 – January 30, 1982) was an … Read Full Bio ↴Samuel John "Lightnin'" Hopkins (March 15, 1912 – January 30, 1982) was an American country blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional pianist, from Centerville, Texas. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 71 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

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.".

Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Baby, don't you tear my clothes
Baby, don't you tear my clothes
Push and shove me all night long
Baby, don't you tear my clothes

Baby, can wear my shoes
Do anything you want to do
Push and and shove me all night long

Baby, don't you tear my clothes

Baby, don't you tear my clothes
Baby, don't you tear my clothes
Wear anything i got on the table
Baby, don't you tear my clothes

Baby, you can wear my shoes
Do anything you want to do
You can push and pull me all night long
Darling, don't you tear my clothes

Hug and kiss me all night long
Baby, don't you do me wrong

Sit and listen to this lenesome song
But baby, don't you tear my clothes

Overall Meaning

The song "Baby don't you tear my clothes" by Lightnin' Hopkins is a traditional blues song that reflects the popular themes of love and desire. The tone of the song is that of a man pleading with his lover not to damage his clothing or his belongings as they engage in a night of passion. The lyrics suggest that though the singer is willing to be pushed and shoved all night long, he wants to retain his possessions and asks his lover to treat them with care.

The song has an underlying theme of vulnerability as the singer seeks to preserve his belongings during a moment of intimacy. The song's meaning is open to interpretation, but it seems to refer to preserving what one has while enjoying the pleasures of life. The song is well-known for its smooth rhythm, soulful melody, and Hopkins's distinctive guitar licks.

Line by Line Meaning

Baby, don't you tear my clothes
Please do not rip or damage my clothing

Push and shove me all night long
You can be physical with me, but please do not damage my clothing

Baby, can wear my shoes
You have my permission to wear my footwear

Do anything you want to do
You can take any action you desire

Wear anything i got on the table
Feel free to wear any article of clothing on the table

You can push and pull me all night long
You can be physical with me throughout the evening

Darling, don't you tear my clothes
My dear, please refrain from damaging my clothing

Hug and kiss me all night long
Embrace and kiss me for an extended period of time

Baby, don't you do me wrong
Please do not mistreat or deceive me

Sit and listen to this lenesome song
Take a seat and listen to this sad tune

Contributed by Tyler I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.