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.".

I Wonder
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics

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I wonder why things are so mean to me
I wonder why, I wonder why
You know things so mean to me
Why I have so much bad luck and trouble?
No, no, I can't see

I've made it up in my mind
Man, I'd join the church again

I've made it up in my mind
Oh Lord, I'd join the church again
You know so I can make it up with all, all of my friends

One more time

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lightnin' Hopkins's "I Wonder Why" are a poignant expression of the singer's feelings of frustration and bewilderment regarding the hardships he has faced in life. The repeated questioning of why "things are so mean to me" is a reflection of the singer's sense of powerlessness in the face of adversity. Despite his sense of disillusionment, the singer has come to a resolution to find solace and comfort in religious faith. He mentions his intention to "join the church again," which implies a previous involvement with organized religion. With this decision, the singer hopes to reconnect with his friends and forge a path forward toward a more positive future.

The lyrics reveal a strong sense of vulnerability and doubt, as the singer struggles to understand the forces that seem to be working against him. The repetition of the phrase "I wonder why" adds a sense of helpless resignation to the song, underscoring the singer's sense of futility in trying to make sense of his situation. However, the song ultimately suggests a hopeful possibility for redemption through the singer's newfound commitment to religious faith.

Line by Line Meaning

I wonder why things are so mean to me
I am contemplating why life has been unkind to me

I wonder why, I wonder why
I am questioning the reasons behind my misfortunes

You know things so mean to me
Life has been cruel to me and it's a known fact

Why I have so much bad luck and trouble?
I am wondering why I constantly face misfortune and difficulty

No, no, I can't see
I cannot find a reason for my misfortunes

I've made it up in my mind
I have resolved in my mind

Man, I'd join the church again
I am committed to returning to my faith and church community

Oh Lord, I'd join the church again
I am seeking spiritual assistance and guidance in overcoming my struggles

You know so I can make it up with all, all of my friends
I believe rejoining the church will allow me to reconcile with all the people I have wronged in the past

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: MAE IRIS DAVIS, MERCER ELLINGTON, SAM 'LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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