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.".
Lonesome Dog Blues
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got a dog in my back yard, howled the day my baby's gone
Yes he puts my mind on a wonder, how that thing was goin' along
You know a thing's so sad, when a dog feels it deep down in his heart
You know a thing's so sad, when a dog feels it deep down in his heart
Guess you know a man can't help but mess around her,
when a dog in his backyard hates to see them part
In Lightnin' Hopkins's song Lonesome Dog Blues, the lyrics describe the presence of a dog and its reaction to the absence of the singer's lover. The first two lines set the scene, noting the wailing of a dog in the background as the singer reflects on his situation. The following lines seem to anthropomorphize the dog as it is described as having an emotional connection to the singer's ex-partner. The dog's deep sadness at the end of the relationship causes the singer to wonder if he too should have felt such a deep connection, but ultimately more attention is given to the idea that he simply couldn't help but cheat on his partner.
It is unclear whether the dog's emotions are being used to communicate a sense of universal tragedy or whether the focus is supposed to be on the singer's inability to remain committed, but the lyrics are evocative and poignant regardless. The blues influence of the song is obvious, as the lyrics deal with themes of heartbreak and regret that are common in the genre. The use of the dog as a symbol of sadness and loneliness is interesting as it provides a unique perspective on the usual narrative and a sense of empathy for the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a dog in my back yard, howled the day my baby's gone
I have a dog in my backyard who howled the day my lover left me
Yes he puts my mind on a wonder, how that thing was goin' along
This event has made me wonder how my relationship was going
You know a thing's so sad, when a dog feels it deep down in his heart
It's clear that something is very sad when even a dog feels it deeply
Guess you know a man can't help but mess around her,
It's difficult for a man to stay faithful when his dog is upset about his lover leaving
when a dog in his backyard hates to see them part
Especially when that dog has come to love and care for his lover as well
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: S BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SigmaWarrior1978
This is the definition of blues. Raw, dark, dirty and dripping with swagger. Doesn’t get any better than this.
@evansgate
this is some of the sickest darkest blues i've ever heard
@bloozedaddy9965
Deep dark raw blues at its best! One of the finest blues records I've ever discovered.
@samward8872
Hey you wouldn't happen to know which album this version is on? I've discovered two versions seemingly but this one is the best
@samward8872
i want to get it on vinyl
@rooseveltdavis9559
The first time I've ever heard this classic blues original was on an 8-track tape. Lightning Hopkins Sings The Blues. On the United label. The late 1970's. I was a young lad at the time. Great memories.
@HotGeneration200
This song is driving me crazy. Big thumbs up.
@jamesanthony2138
Still love this..I heard this when I was around 13 and it made me want to play guitar for a living..
@StreetSlim
Same
@Toughguysdontdance12
This is the definition of true Low Down Dirty Dog Blues.