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.".

Darling Do You Remember Me
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Just to say hello, my little darling
Do you remember me?
Now it's been a great long time, I just wanna let you see.
Hello, speak to me
I been wondering, where can my little darling be?
But it's been such a great long time,
Darling do you remember me?
I've been places, way over sea

That's why I know you done forgotten all about poor me
But just to say hello,
Darling do you remember me?
Your face, somethin' I wanna see

Just to know darling, you used to enjoy with me
But hello, hello darling, baby, do you remember me?

Overall Meaning

In this song, Lightnin' Hopkins is reaching out to an old flame, asking if she remembers him. He starts by greeting her with a friendly hello and asks if she recognizes him after a long time. Hopkins then expresses his desire to see her again, asking if she can speak to him. He reveals that he has been wondering where she is and if she has forgotten about him. Despite this, Hopkins reflects on his travels abroad and how he knows that she may have forgotten him. Still, he is persistent in wanting to reconnect with her, just to say hello and see her face once more.

The simple and straightforward lyrics of "Darling Do You Remember Me?" recall the blues music of the early 20th century, which often dealt with themes of love, loss, and nostalgia. Hopkins' plaintive vocals are underscored by a steady beat and the twangy guitar sounds that are characteristic of the blues. This song is a classic example of Hopkins' ability to evoke deep emotion and sincerity in his music.

Line by Line Meaning

Just to say hello, my little darling
The singer wants to say hello to his beloved

Do you remember me?
The singer is hoping that his beloved still remembers him

Now it's been a great long time, I just wanna let you see.
The singer wants his beloved to see how much time has passed since they last saw each other

Darling Do You Remember MeLightnin' Hopkins Lyrics

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Darling Do You Remember Me
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics