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.".
Big Mama Jump
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, you mistreated me all the time
Yes, you know I hope some day, baby
That you will change your mind
Baby, now what wrong have I done
Baby, now what wrong have I done
You try to mistreat me, baby
Baby, it's all comin' back to you
Baby, it's all comin' back to you
You're gonna be sorry, darlin'
That you treat me like you do
Baby, got to go and leave you here
Baby, got to go and leave you here
But maybe some day, baby
You will feel my care
In this bluesy song by Lightnin' Hopkins titled 'Big Mama Jump', the singer is expressing his frustration over being mistreated by his lover. The song consists of five stanzas, each of which further cement the singer's disappointment with his partner's actions.
The first stanza is repetitively pointing out the mistreatment the singer has been facing from his partner for a long time. He seems to be hoping that one day she'll realize the gravity of her actions and seek to change.
In the second stanza, the singer questions his lover's cruel behavior and asks what he did wrong in a bid to be treated with respect. Despite his pleas for better treatment, the partner takes pleasure in mistreating him whenever he tries to have his fun.
By the time the third stanza comes around, the singer's anger has built up to a point where he threatens his lover with regret for her actions. He's tired of being mistreated and wants her to know that her actions will have consequences. They will ultimately be what comes back to her.
Finally, in the fourth stanza, the singer conveys his intention to leave his lover and never look back. Although he still hopes that one day his lover will feel his care, he feels it's time for him to go and not wait for that day to come.
Overall, the use of repetition in each stanza emphasizes the singer's frustration over his lover's inconsiderate behavior. The song's lyrics articulate the pain of being mistreated and unappreciated in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, you mistreated me all the time
You have continuously treated me poorly, without any regard for my feelings or well-being.
Yes, you know I hope some day, baby
That you will change your mind
I truly hope that one day you will realize your mistakes and make an effort to treat me better.
Baby, now what wrong have I done
I am unsure of what I have done to deserve the mistreatment I have received from you.
You try to mistreat me, baby
When I try to have my fun
You actively attempt to harm me whenever I try to enjoy myself or have any sort of happiness.
Baby, it's all comin' back to you
The negative energy and actions you have directed towards me will eventually catch up to you.
You're gonna be sorry, darlin'
That you treat me like you do
You will regret treating me so poorly, because the consequences of your actions will eventually come to light.
Baby, got to go and leave you here
I have to leave you behind and move on with my life without you.
But maybe some day, baby
You will feel my care
Perhaps one day in the future you will understand how much I cared for you and the hurt you caused me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SAM HOPKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind