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.".
Don't Think 'cause You're Pretty
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Town
You know you ain't doin' nothin' but tearin' yo' own
Reputation down
You know the blues a bad feelin', when you have them
'Bout the break of day
You know the blues a mighty bad feelin', when you have
Well, you look for her in the bed, where yo' baby used to
Lay
Mmm, what you want with a rooster, he won't crow 'for day?
What you want with a woman, she won't do what she say?
Lightnin' Hopkins's song "Don't Think 'cause You're Pretty" can be interpreted as a cautionary tale for women about the dangers of relying solely on their looks to get by in life. The opening lines suggest that the woman being addressed may have a reputation as a flirt or a player, using her attractiveness to manipulate men. However, Lightnin' warns her that this behavior is ultimately self-destructive, as it will only serve to tarnish her reputation in the community.
The second verse continues in a similarly cautionary vein, warning the listener about the perils of succumbing to the blues. The blues are portrayed as a "mighty bad feelin'" that can strike at any hour of the day or night, and that can be brought on by a variety of circumstances. For the woman in the song, the blues seem to be a result of her waking up alone after a night spent chasing after men who aren't interested in her.
The final verse of the song is particularly poignant, as Lightnin' seems to be speaking directly to the object of his scorn. He asks her pointedly what she wants with a rooster that won't crow until daybreak, or with a woman who won't do what she says she will. Both characters are presented as unreliable, capricious, and ultimately unsatisfying, which reinforces the notion that relying on physical beauty alone is a recipe for disappointment.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't think 'cause you're pretty, women, got every man in Town
Just because you're good-looking doesn't mean that every man wants you.
You know you ain't doin' nothin' but tearin' yo' own Reputation down
Acting conceited is not going to make you look good in front of others.
You know the blues a bad feelin', when you have them 'Bout the break of day
Feeling sad and depressed is not a good way to start your day.
You know the blues a mighty bad feelin', when you have Them long 'bout the break of day
Being sad and lonely is even worse when it's early in the morning.
Well, you look for her in the bed, where yo' baby used to Lay
Trying to replace someone you loved by looking for someone else in their bed is not a good idea.
Mmm, what you want with a rooster, he won't crow 'for day?
Why bother with someone who won't even fulfill their natural purpose?
What you want with a woman, she won't do what she say?
Why bother with someone who won't keep their word?
Contributed by Tyler G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Arsalan Ali
Thank you uncle Nicholas for introducing me to the Blues and Rest in ☮️
paintedwordsmith
This shit's far too real for the casual listener... deep.
Will Outlaw
Great Bluesman. Original