Samuel John "Lightnin'" Hopkins (March 15, 1912 – January 30, 1982) was an … Read Full Bio ↴Samuel John "Lightnin'" Hopkins (March 15, 1912 – January 30, 1982) was an American country blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional pianist, from Centerville, Texas. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 71 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

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.".

Coffee House Blues
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mama got mad at papa 'cause he didn't bring no coffee home
Mama got mad at papa 'cause he didn't bring no coffee home
She begin to wonder what is going on wrong
Papa said, "Mama, I ain't mad with you, now, don't you get mad with me
Baby, I ain't mad with you, now, don't you get mad with me"
Papa must have been teasing mama 'cause she said, "I ain't mad with you"
Papa must have been teasing mama 'cause she said, "I ain't mad with you"
She said, "Everything's all right; don't make no difference what you do"

(Spoken: You know papa got good with mama somehow)
And I was crying for bread, and yes, I,
baby, I was crying for bread; and these are the words I said
(Spoken: Now look at mama, just trying to shout)
It was early one evening but papa came home late at night

It was early one evening but papa came home late at night
That's when mama was mad and her and papa began to fight

Overall Meaning

The song "Coffee House Blues" by Lightnin' Hopkins is about a quarrel between a married couple over a cup of coffee. The mother (mama) is angry at the father (papa) for not bringing home any coffee, causing her to wonder what is wrong. However, the father tries to calm her by saying that he is not angry with her and must have been teasing her. Mama then tells him that everything is alright and that it doesn't matter what he does.

The song is a classic example of Hopkins' storytelling blues style, where he narrates a simple domestic scenario that takes an unexpected turn. In this case, the argument over coffee escalates into a much bigger fight. The lyrics showcase Hopkins' ability to infuse humor into his blues narratives as well, evident from the line "You know papa got good with mama somehow” and the spoken interjections.

Hopkins' distinct guitar playing in this song, with his use of a percussive fingerstyle and bending techniques, perfectly complements the free-flowing style of the lyrics. "Coffee House Blues" is a testament to Lightnin' Hopkins' skill as a storyteller, musician, and interpreter of the blues.

Line by Line Meaning

Mama got mad at papa 'cause he didn't bring no coffee home
Mama was angry at papa because he failed to bring home coffee, leading to suspicion

She begin to wonder what is going on wrong
Mama began to wonder what was wrong or fishy about the situation

Papa said, "Mama, I ain't mad with you, now, don't you get mad with me Baby, I ain't mad with you, now, don't you get mad with me"
Papa denied any anger towards mama, encouraging her not to get mad at him either

Papa must have been teasing mama 'cause she said, "I ain't mad with you"
Papa must have been pulling mama's leg, as she appears to be playing along with his teasing

She said, "Everything's all right; don't make no difference what you do"
Mama told papa that everything is fine and she is not upset over the coffee incident

(Spoken: You know papa got good with mama somehow)
The singer notes that papa managed to make up with mama despite the coffee dispute

And I was crying for bread, and yes, I, baby, I was crying for bread; and these are the words I said
The singer recalls crying for bread and expressing their need for it

(Spoken: Now look at mama, just trying to shout)
The artist observes mama raising her voice and getting agitated

It was early one evening but papa came home late at night
Papa arrived home late in the night despite it only being early in the evening when he left

That's when mama was mad and her and papa began to fight
Mama got angry and a fight broke out between her and papa

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SAM HOPKINS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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