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.".
Jake Head Boogie
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We got drunk last night man, yes, and the night before
Come home tellin' me, yes gonna get drunk some more
I don't want no Dixie woman talkin' 'bout man in my face
I don't want no Dixie woman talkin' 'bout man in my face
There's a whole lot of women, just rarin' to take her place
This time now baby, just got to let you go
This time now baby, just got to let you go
The lyrics to Lightnin' Hopkins's song Jake Head Boogie are a reflection of the bluesy tales of drinking, love, and loss. The song is about getting drunk and the consequences that follow. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, as Hopkins sings about getting drunk on consecutive nights. He talks about how he got drunk and came home, and then tells his lover that he plans to get drunk again. This reveals the drunken lifestyle that Hopkins leads, and how he has little intention of changing it.
Hopkins then goes on to lament about his lover who talks about other men in front of him. He doesn't want to hear anything from her about other men, and he's quick to point out that there are many women waiting to take her place. This shows Hopkins's inherent distrust in women and how he views them as disposable objects. The last lines of the song indicate that Hopkins has had enough of his love affair and wants to move on. He tells his lover that he has to let her go and that he doesn't want to hear any more promises of sobriety.
Overall, the song perfectly captures the bluesy mood of love, loss, and drunkenness. It is a tale of a man who lives for the moment and has little regard for the consequences of his actions. Hopkins's soulful voice and the raw sounds of his guitar perfectly complement the lyrics, making Jake Head Boogie an enduring classic of blues music.
Line by Line Meaning
We got drunk last night man, yes, and the night before
We were intoxicated yesterday and the day before.
Come home tellin' me, yes gonna get drunk some more
You keep declaring that you will get drunk again.
I don't want no Dixie woman talkin' 'bout man in my face
I do not want a southern lady discussing a man around me.
There's a whole lot of women, just rarin' to take her place
Numerous women are eager to fill her spot.
This time now baby, just got to let you go
I need to let you go this time.
Come home tellin' me that you won't get drunk no more
You claim that you will not become intoxicated anymore.
Contributed by Joseph B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@digitalboomer
One of the best things about Hopkins is that the more out of tune he was the better he sounded. There is no other musician that could claim that. thanks for posting man
@Tubascope
In 2005 this was the very first Lightnin' Song I ever listened to. Been hooked to his stuff ever since.
@OldMod67
Great sound....!
@coravisser727
great to hear this music.
@mariopinton
QUE PEDAZO DE BLUES ESO ES BLUES,,,,
@bloozedaddy9965
Raw Texas guitar boogie!
@peteandrews7169
Killer!
@thomasostman8589
THE king of solo-blues.or texas ,if you will.
@Seanuk
im so hungover listening to this.. I want to drink some more!
@JoshY01
Major playin going on here