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.".
Blues for Gamblers
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
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Whoa, Lord, ya know I have them late at night.
Mmmm, blues early in the mornin,
God knows I have 'em late at night.
Yeah, you know I been wonderin why my little baby,
She just won't straighten up and fly right.
Well, you take a man have the blues,
Mmmmmm,
Whoa, he can't last very long.
Well, he wake up early and he moanin, Om, in the woods,
That poor child, God, he's gone.
Lightnin' Hopkins's song, "Blues For My Cookie," is a powerful expression of the blues, characterized by melancholy overtones and soulful guitar riffs. The lyrics evoke feelings of anguish and pain, as the singer laments the woes of his life, particularly his relationship with his lover, Cookie. The song speaks of the singer's constant battle with the blues, which seem to plague him both early in the morning and late at night. Despite his efforts, he finds himself unable to shake them off.
Throughout the song, the singer wonders what he can do to get his lover to "straighten up and fly right." It is a common theme in blues music, where relationships are often fraught with difficulty, infidelity, and heartbreak. The singer is struggling to cope with these challenges and eventually, he succumbs to despair, feeling like he won't last long in this state.
Overall, "Blues For My Cookie" is a powerful expression of the struggles that we all face in life. It speaks to the universal experience of pain, heartbreak, and disappointment, and demonstrates how music can provide us with a powerful outlet to express those emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Mmmm, blues early in the mornin,
I feel the blues when I wake up in the morning.
Whoa, Lord, ya know I have them late at night.
I also feel the blues when I stay up late at night.
God knows I have 'em late at night.
I swear I have them even when I should be sleeping.
Yeah, you know I been wonderin why my little baby,
I have been questioning why my loved one is acting out.
She just won't straighten up and fly right.
She doesn't seem to improve or learn from her mistakes.
Well, you take a man have the blues,
If a man has the blues,
Whoa, he can't last very long.
he can't sustain that feeling for a long time.
Well, he wake up early and he moanin, Om, in the woods,
He wakes up early and meditates while stuck with the blues.
That poor child, God, he's gone.
It's so sad to see such a person in that state.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: SAM HOPKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind