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.".
Catfish Blues
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Swimmin' in that deep blue sea
I'd have all the good lookin' women there boy
Fishin' after me, fishin' after me, oh
I went down to my baby's house
She said, “Lightnin', come on in
Ain't nobody here with me, good Lord
You know, I went down to my baby's house
Lord, I sat down on them steps
She said, “Come on, in this house, Lightnin'
Husband just now left"
My husband just now left
Show enough, I'm by myself
He just now left
You know, I went down to the river
Started jump overboard and drown
I thought about that little mama
Turned around now
Walkin' back to town
Back to town
Back to town
Show enough, back to town
You know, I wish I was a catfish
Swimmin', Lord in that deep blue sea
I'd have all the good lookin' womens
Fishin' after me, fishin' after me
Show enough
Ain't lyin'
Hmm, hmm
The lyrics of Lightnin' Hopkins's song Catfish Blues describe a man's desire to be a catfish swimming in the deep blue sea. The reason for his desire to be a catfish is because then he would have all the good-looking women fishing after him. The singer of this song is enamored with the idea of being desired and pursued by women, and he believes that if he were a catfish, he would possess the same level of charm and allure.
In the second verse, he describes visiting his baby's house and being invited inside by her. She tells him that she is alone and that she is his friend. Then she tells him that her husband has just left, which makes him feel more comfortable. In the following verse, he goes down to the river, contemplating jumping overboard and drowning. However, he thinks about the little mama and turns around to go back to town.
The song's lyrics create a vivid picture of a man's desire to be loved and desired by women, and his deep internal struggle with his personal issues. Hopkins delivers the lyrics with a great deal of emotion and passion, which helps to create the song's melancholy and bluesy feeling.
Line by Line Meaning
You know I wished I was a catfish
The singer expresses that he wishes he was a catfish.
Swimmin' in that deep blue sea
The singer wants to swim in the deep blue sea, but only as a catfish.
I'd have all the good lookin' women there boy
If he were a catfish, he imagines that all good looking women would be trying to catch him.
Fishin' after me, fishin' after me, oh
He thinks women would chase him if he were a catfish, as people typically fish to catch a fish.
I went down to my baby's house
The artist went to his lover's house.
She said, “Lightnin', come on in
His lover invited him inside her house.
Ain't nobody here with me, good Lord
She tells him that there is nobody else with her.
You know, I'm your friend
She emphasizes that she is his friend.
You know, I went down to my baby's house
The artist repeats that he went to his lover's house.
Lord, I sat down on them steps
He sat down on the steps of her house.
She said, “Come on, in this house, Lightnin'
His lover invited him inside her house again.
Husband just now left"
She tells him that her husband left the house recently.
My husband just now left
She repeats that her husband has just left.
Show enough, I'm by myself
She confirms that she is alone now.
He just now left
The singer reiterates that her husband has left.
You know, I went down to the river
The artist went to the river.
Started jump overboard and drown
He considered drowning himself in the river by jumping overboard.
I thought about that little mama
He had thoughts about his lover.
Turned around now
The singer decided not to kill himself in the river.
Walkin' back to town
He starts walking back to town from the river.
Show enough, back to town
He confirms that he is walking back to town.
Show enough
He confirms what he said earlier.
Ain't lyin'
He confirms that he is not lying.
Hmm, hmm
The artist is lost in thought as the song ends.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TAJ MAHAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrFireblade67
There's something amazing about the way these guys delivered a blues song. Just so simple yet there is a pulse running through the whole song that is constant and swingin'. Beautiful.
Russell Curtis
I listen to this man everyday walking my dog😉 bless him!!!
Patrik Hagelgren
p.o.hagelgren
Patrik Hagelgren
Bless you. P.O. hsgelgren. Nykroppa sweden
Papio Sphinx
This song is just so awesome, my favourite blues song definitely, covered by almost all the greats, lightnin's version is just another awesome version
ludo4cloud
Lightnin's a very good guitarist.
dave474c
Subtle catfish blues. I love it.
Blacksmith
Soulful with heaps of feeling....Just goes to show it's not all about playing fast up and down the neck. Those that gave this a thumbs down are hellhound
Patricia Kimbrell
Love the Music of Lightin Hopkins 💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙🎸💙
Douglas G. Barbosa
Bagre pode ser encontrado em tudo que é lugar onde houver água, mas uma canção como essa só na profunda correnteza do blues.