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.".
John Henry
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Johnny told his old Captain
'Man, a-when you go downtown
Bring me back the nine pounds hammer'
I got to drive this steel on down
I got to drive this steel on down
You see, Johnny's hammer
The hammer caught on fire
Now, the last word I heard
The poor boy say
'I want a cool drink a-water 'fore I die'
'Yeah, a cool drink a-water 'fore I die'
Yeah, Johnny's wife
She heard that Johnny was dead
And she couldn't have stayed in bed
Oh, now Monday mornin'
Caught the eastbound train
She said, I'm g'wine where my man fell dead
'Yeah! I'm goin' where my man fell dead'
('Look out!')
(harmonica & instrumental)
Woo-ha! Woo-ha! Woo!
Woo! Woo!
(Woo! Lord, have mercy, too)
(Ease your mind)
(Yeah!)
Johnny's wife, she wore
A brand new dress (say)
And it was trimmed in blue
(Pretty thing)
Yeah, the last were the words
Said to him, oh Lord, now
'Honey, I been good to you'
'Yeah, honey I been good to you'
Well, they carried Little John
To the graveyard (boys, listen)
They looked at him good and long
Now, the last were the words
If you hear me, oh Lord
'Oh my husband, he is dead and gone'
That's what she said
She said, 'My husband, he is dead and gone'
'Yeah, my husband he is dead and gone'
Yeah, when John Henry was a baby
You could hold him in the paddles of your hand
When everytime they'd rock him, cried
(They say 'He sho' gonna be a little man')
('Yeah, he sho' gon' be a little man')
Yeah, who gonna buy yo' pretty shoes then?
And who gonna roll yo' cheek?
FADES-
She said, 'My daddy gonna buy my pretty lil'
And John Henry gonna roll my cheek
And John Henry gonna roll my cheek
(That what it said)
A-John Henry gonna roll my cheek.
~
The song "John Henry" by Lightnin' Hopkins is a tale of a man named Johnny and his journey as a steel driver. In the first verse, Johnny asks his old Captain to bring him back a nine-pound hammer when he returns from downtown because he needs it to drive the steel. This represents Johnny's determination and commitment to his work. He repeats the line "I got to drive this steel on down" to emphasize his dedication to the task at hand.
In the second verse, Johnny's hammer hits the mighty boiler, causing it to catch on fire. The last words we hear from Johnny are his plea for a cool drink of water before he dies. This highlights the harsh conditions and dangers of his job as a steel driver.
The song then shifts focus to Johnny's wife, who learns of his death and cannot stay in bed due to her grief. On Monday morning, she boards an eastbound train to go to the place where Johnny lost his life. This shows her love and devotion to her husband, as she wants to be close to the spot where he fell.
The following verses mention Johnny's wife wearing a brand new dress, trimmed in blue. She tells him that she has been good to him, possibly referring to her faithfulness and loyalty during their relationship. The song then mentions Little John, possibly their child, and how he was small enough to be held in the paddles of their hands as a baby. This emphasizes the passing of time and the legacy that Johnny leaves behind.
The song concludes with Johnny's wife speaking at his grave, expressing her sorrow for his loss. She acknowledges that her husband is dead and gone. The final lines mention the buying of pretty shoes and the rolling of cheeks, which could symbolize the care and affection Johnny provided. The fading ending suggests a somber and reflective atmosphere, leaving listeners to contemplate the life and legacy of John Henry.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah!
Expressing enthusiasm or agreement
Johnny told his old Captain
Johnny informed his superior
'Man, a-when you go downtown
Hey, when you head to the city
Bring me back the nine pounds hammer'
Please bring me the heavy hammer
I got to drive this steel on down
I must forcefully work and push the metal
You see, Johnny's hammer
You know, Johnny's tool
Hit the mighty boiler
Struck the powerful machine
The hammer caught on fire
The tool caught ablaze
Now, the last word I heard
The final phrase I overheard
The poor boy say
The young man uttered
'I want a cool drink a-water 'fore I die'
I crave a refreshing drink before my demise
'Yeah, a cool drink a-water 'fore I die'
'Yes, a refreshing drink before my passing'
Yeah, Johnny's wife
Indeed, Johnny's spouse
She heard that Johnny was dead
She learned of Johnny's demise
And she couldn't have stayed in bed
She couldn't bear to remain resting
Oh, now Monday mornin'
Oh, on Monday morning
Caught the eastbound train
Climbed aboard the train heading east
She said, I'm g'wine where my man fell dead
She said, 'I'm going where my husband died'
'Yeah! I'm goin' where my man fell dead'
'Yes! I'm heading to the place he passed away'
'Look out!'
'Be cautious!'
(harmonica & instrumental)
(musical interlude with harmonica)
Woo-ha! Woo-ha! Woo!
Exclamations expressing excitement or delight
Woo! Woo!
Exclamations expressing excitement or pleasure
(Woo! Lord, have mercy, too)
(Exclamations expressing wonder or amazement)
(Ease your mind)
(Relax and calm yourself)
(Yeah!)
(Expressing agreement or affirmation)
Johnny's wife, she wore
Johnny's spouse, she put on
A brand new dress (say)
A completely new outfit (I tell you)
And it was trimmed in blue
And it had blue decorations
(Pretty thing)
(Beautiful item)
Yeah, the last were the words
Indeed, these were the final words
Said to him, oh Lord, now
Spoken to him, oh dear Lord
'Honey, I been good to you'
'Darling, I have been kind to you'
'Yeah, honey I been good to you'
'Yes, sweetheart, I have treated you well'
Well, they carried Little John
Therefore, they transported Young John
To the graveyard (boys, listen)
To the cemetery (listen, everyone)
They looked at him good and long
They observed him thoroughly and for a while
Now, the last were the words
Now, these were the final words
If you hear me, oh Lord
Allow me to be heard, oh gracious Lord
'Oh my husband, he is dead and gone'
'Oh, my spouse, he has passed away'
That's what she said
That's what she uttered
She said, 'My husband, he is dead and gone'
She told them, 'My spouse has departed'
'Yeah, my husband he is dead and gone'
'Yes, my spouse has passed away'
Yeah, when John Henry was a baby
Yes, when John Henry was an infant
You could hold him in the paddles of your hand
He was small enough to fit in your palm
When everytime they'd rock him, cried
Whenever they would cradle him, he would cry
(They say 'He sho' gonna be a little man')
(People would say, 'He will surely grow up to be a great man')
('Yeah, he sho' gon' be a little man')
('Yes, he will definitely become an important figure')
Yeah, who gonna buy yo' pretty shoes then?
Yes, who will purchase your beautiful shoes then?
And who gonna roll yo' cheek?
And who will affectionately touch your cheek?
FADES-
(Song gradually fades out)
She said, 'My daddy gonna buy my pretty lil'
She declared, 'My father will acquire my lovely'
And John Henry gonna roll my cheek
And John Henry will caress my face
And John Henry gonna roll my cheek
And John Henry will touch my cheek
(That what it said)
(That's what it conveyed)
A-John Henry gonna roll my cheek.
John Henry will lovingly touch my cheek.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HYLO BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sean Lee
I can only say, he's my favourite Blues-Singer of all times
Cora Visser
This is incredible awesome the way they sing this .!
Cora Visser
Thank you very much Sam i love the blues so much.
Sam Collins
you have good taste, Cora. See you down the line..
Tommy TRAMP
WOW tragic end to this great talent, !Thank you for the bio on him !
Sam Collins
you got it. guess they tell their story in song, but we can't forget that there's always a narrative behind the sound.
Edmund Ptak
love it...!