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.".
Built For Comfort
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the way I'm built, a-don't you call me fat
Because I'm built for comfort, I ain't built for speed
But I got everything all the good girls need
Some folk rip and roar, some folk b'lieve in signs
But if you want me, baby, you got to take your time
Because I'm built for comfort, I ain't built for speed
I ain't got no diamonds, I ain't got no gold
But I do got love to satisfy your soul
Because I'm built for comfort, I ain't built for speed
But I got everything, all you good women need
Lightnin' Hopkins's song "Built For Comfort" is a blues classic that speaks to the singer's body type and how it relates to his approach to women. The opening lines of the song describe how people come in different shapes and sizes, and the singer is built for comfort, not speed. This statement can be interpreted in different ways, but one interpretation is that the singer is more interested in taking things slow and enjoying the moment, rather than rushing into anything. He acknowledges that he may not be the most physically fit or speedy person, but his body type suits him just fine.
The chorus of the song reiterates this sentiment, with the singer repeating that he's built for comfort and not speed, but he has everything that all the good girls need. The verse that follows describes how some people believe in signs and others like to rip and roar, but if someone wants to be with the singer, they need to be patient and take their time. He reminds his potential partner that he may not have diamonds or gold, but he has love and a soul that he can satisfy them with.
Overall, "Built For Comfort" is a blues standard that speaks to the singer's confidence and self-assurance. He may not be conventionally attractive or physically fit, but he knows what he has to offer and isn't afraid to flaunt it. The song speaks to the idea that attraction goes beyond mere physical appearance and that people can be drawn to others for various reasons.
Line by Line Meaning
Some folk built like this, some folk built like that
People come in all shapes and sizes
But the way I'm built, a-don't you call me fat
Don't judge me based on my size
Because I'm built for comfort, I ain't built for speed
I may not move quickly, but I'm great to be around
But I got everything all the good girls need
Despite my physical appearance, I have qualities that attract good women
Some folk rip and roar, some folk b'lieve in signs
Different people have different personalities and beliefs
But if you want me, baby, you got to take your time
If you want to be with me, you need to appreciate my qualities and not rush things
I ain't got no diamonds, I ain't got no gold
I may not have material wealth
But I do got love to satisfy your soul
But I have love to give that can make you happy
But I got everything, all you good women need
Despite what I lack materially, I have everything a good woman could want emotionally and spiritually
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIE DIXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind