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.".
Black Cat
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well you're one black cat, some day you'll find your tree
Then I'll hide my shoe somewhere near your sherry tree
Well I take you down in town, I paid your doctor bill
When I'm in some trouble, you're tryin' to get me killed
Well you're one black cat, some day you'll find your tree
Then I'll hide my shoe somewhere near your sherry tree
Well I took you in my home, you ate up all my bread
I left there this mornin', you tried to mess up in my bed
Well you're one black cat, some day you'll find your tree
Then I'll hide my shoe somewhere near your sherry tree
Well I woke up this mornin', the same thing on my mind
I was thinkin' 'bout you baby, you were walkin' down the line
Well you're one black cat, some day you'll find your tree
Then I'll hide my shoe somewhere near your sherry tree
In Lightnin' Hopkins's song Black Cat, the singer is addressing and warning a person he refers to as a "black cat." The black cat represents bad luck, as they are often associated with witchcraft and misfortune. The singer warns that even though the black cat may think they have the upper hand, someday they will come to a realization and find their tree, meaning they will face the consequences of their actions. At this point, the singer plans to hide his shoe near the black cat's sherry tree, which may suggest he plans to take revenge or inflict punishment.
The second stanza reveals that the singer has helped the black cat in some way, possibly by paying for their medical expenses. However, when the singer is in trouble, the black cat turns against him and tries to have him killed. This betrayal only confirms the singer's belief that the black cat is bad luck and will eventually suffer the consequences of their actions.
In the final two stanzas, the singer recalls past incidents where the black cat has caused him trouble. The black cat ate up all his bread and even tried to mess up his bed, showing that they cannot be trusted. The song ends with the singer still thinking about the black cat, indicating that their relationship is ongoing and possibly unresolved.
Line by Line Meaning
well you're one black cat, some day you'll find your tree
You have a cunning and treacherous nature that will lead to your downfall someday.
Then I'll hide my shoe somewhere near your sherry tree
I will take pleasure in seeing you suffer and be helpless, just as I have been because of your actions.
Well I take you down in town, I paid your doctor bill
I have been kind to you, but you have repaid me with betrayal and possibly even attempted murder.
When I'm in some trouble, you're tryin' to get me killed
You are a traitor who does not value loyalty or friendship, and will betray others to save yourself.
Well I took you in my home, you ate up all my bread
I trusted you and gave you a place in my life, but you have only taken advantage of my kindness.
I left there this mornin', you tried to mess up in my bed
Even after all that I have done for you, you still seek to harm me and cause chaos in my life.
Well I woke up this mornin', the same thing on my mind
Despite everything you have done to me, I still cannot help but think of you and your treachery.
I was thinkin' 'bout you baby, you were walkin' down the line
You continue to walk a dangerous path, and one day it will lead to your downfall.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: SAM HOPKINS, MACK MCCORMICK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sladdbarn6874
Lyrics:
This is the black cat told that white cat let's go across town and clown
The white cat told the black cat to sit his black self down,
and I just left like this….
Black cat told the white cat stay where you be
He said I believe you're trying to cheat poor me and they
Kept on going across town...
Goin’ over there would even drink some of that ol’ Mogen Davey’s wine
Alright
Long time...
Just go ahead on and drink that Mogen Davey’s wine...
That black cat got worried, you know he got up again and danced
The white cat told the black cat sit down, said you look like you've got ants in your pants
Black cat he took getta worried
And he sat down and he said gimme a little bottle of that Thunderbird
Both of ‘em are drinking wine,
One drinking Mogen Dave and the other drinking Thunderbird
They got drunk and they're beginning to stagger home together
Said the black cat to the white cat said ain't we with one another he said yeah
Black cat told the white cat I believe you feedin’ a clown
The white cat told the black cat you better sit your black self down
Because it ain't no time for no clowning and carrying out like that...
You know that, with that white cat…
Black cat told the white cat he said you know we bein’ together,
the white cat said yeah
He said it don't make sense for us to get mad at one another and he said no
He said but you doing something I really don't like, he said what is it?
He said just because you’s the black cat…
The black cat told the white cat said I'm doing it because I'm in town,
Since I had the bigness to prove it now you've got to prove it jus’ set your white self down!
@caniican
The perfect cure for my pandemic Blues. I love you more than any words could ever say mr. Hopkins. Raising my glass of wine to you right now
@FirstUsedBooks
Hope your wine is a cut or two above Hopkins' Mogen David.
@walkintom502
acoustic guitar just doesn't get any more awesome than this
@HenryCB6175
Sam "Lightnin" Hopkins was one of America's greatest story tellers. This is America's great folk music and Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins gives soul this music.
@Authentic305
This world has been blessed with some gifted individuals
@donstillingsuser3515
What a treasure this man was. Thank god we will have his music for all time.
@killawaplayer
He plays guitar like it's his first language.
@radiated117
Nick Peca learning to play this song is like learning another language.
@nickburleson9555
He's all I wanted to learn ten years ago now I love playing the blues it can really wash the stress of the day off of you.
@gagemartin8027
Yes he does