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 Lightnin' Rap
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to find out who I prowl
I'm the wolf and everybody in the world,
They're trying to find out who I hound
Well you know they can't see me at night,
But they can hear me when I howl
(Howl, wolf... I said howl... Now you're howlin'!...)
I take time when I'm prowlin',
(A lot of people wonder why I do this but I wanna tell you)
I take time when I come prowlin',
Wipe my tracks out with my tail
That's in order that no one discover,
Whoa Lord he can't cross my trail
I'm that wolf, dig a hole,
Stick my nose down in the ground (hound)
I'm that wolf, dig a hole,
Stick my nose deep down in the ground
Yeah you know I'll be hiding right at you baby,
You'll think I'm way out on the outskirts of town
(That's that wolf)
In Lightnin' Hopkins' "The Howling Wolf," the artist takes the persona of the wolf who is mysterious and enigmatic. The wolf represents Hopkins and his character as an individual who is often sought after but not easily understood. Everybody in the world is trying to find out who he prowls and hounds. However, the wolf can't be seen at night, yet his howls cut through the silence. These two lines resonate with Hopkins' mysterious and ghostly character as an artist. Though he exists in the world and people continuously search for him, they can't always see or understand him, but his howling is majestic and captivating.
Throughout the song, the artist talks about wiping his tracks with his tail, signifying his desire to remain anonymous and his art left undiscovered by some. The wolf is proud of his ability to deceive, and he relishes his power to hide his tracks and be elusive. The use of the wolf as Hopkins' persona aligns with the understanding of wolves as symbols of intuition, intelligence, and loyalty. The song's lyrics reflect this persona, highlighting his ability to outsmart others, like the wolf in the wild, and remain unnoticed yet alluring.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah I'm the wolf and everybody in the world,
I am the wolf and everyone in the world is curious to know about me.
Trying to find out who I prowl
They want to know who I am targeting.
I'm the wolf and everybody in the world,
Again emphasizing the fact that everyone is interested in him.
They're trying to find out who I hound
Curious about who I chase.
Well you know they can't see me at night,
I am invisible during the night.
But they can hear me when I howl
But my howl gives my presence away.
I take time when I'm prowlin',
I take my time when I am hunting.
Wipe my tracks out with my tail
I cover my tracks with my tail.
(A lot of people wonder why I do this but I wanna tell you)
Despite many people's curiosity, I do this to hide my true identity.
I take time when I come prowlin',
Again, emphasizing the fact that I am slow and steady in my approach.
Wipe my tracks out with my tail
Reiterating that I take care not to leave any evidence of my presence behind.
That's in order that no one discover,
I do this so that nobody can find out who I truly am.
Whoa Lord he can't cross my trail
My tracks are too well hidden to be followed.
I'm that wolf, dig a hole,
I am the type of wolf who digs his way into hiding.
Stick my nose down in the ground (hound)
I sniff out my prey by digging my nose into the ground.
Yeah you know I'll be hiding right at you baby,
I may be hidden right next to you, even though you may not think so.
You'll think I'm way out on the outskirts of town
You may not realize my presence even though I am there.
(That's that wolf)
This is who I truly am - the mysterious, secretive wolf.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: SAM HOPKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
lightninstrikes
My black Name