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.".
Miss Loretta
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where did you get all these good looking women from?
Well, well, Miss Loretta, Lord, will you please tell me, baby
Where did you get all these good looking women from?
She said they come in here unexpected
You know they was blowed in here by a storm
Will you please come back to me?
Sugar mama, sugar mama
Won't you please, ma'am, come back to me?
Yes, I say bring me my granulated sugar
Oh Lord, and ease my misery
Yes, Miss Loretta, here's something I got to tell you
I want you to do long as you live
I want you to keep these women 'round here with you
I said miss, please ma'am, Miss Loretta
keep these womens here with you
'Cause I might be a sugar maker
I may make it just as sweet as sugar can be
Yeah, you know I went to church last night
I didn't get there on time
They called on me to pray
And I had praying on my mind
Thinking about Miss Loretta and the women
Yes, man, they was on my mind
Yes, I thought about how nice Miss Loretta was
And how the women treated me so nice and kind
The lyrics to "Miss Loretta" by Lightnin' Hopkins tell the story of a man who is enamored with a woman named Miss Loretta and the beautiful women she always seems to have around her. He asks her where she's gotten all of these women and she tells him that they were blown in by a storm unexpectedly. The singer then continues to sing about how he wants Miss Loretta to keep these beautiful women around, because he may be in the business of making sugar and he needs someone to make it just as sweet as can be. He even suggests that he went to church and had prayer on his mind, but his thoughts kept wandering back to Miss Loretta and the women.
The lyrics are ripe with sexual innuendo and suggest that the singer is trying to convince Miss Loretta to keep the women around for his own pleasure. The use of the metaphor of sugar also suggests that the singer is sweet-talking Miss Loretta, comparing her to a sweetener that enhances the flavor and texture of his life. However, the song also has a playful tone and suggests that the singer is not taking himself too seriously. Overall, "Miss Loretta" is a song that oozes with sensuality and flirtation, while retaining a sense of humor and lightheartedness.
Line by Line Meaning
Whoa, Miss Loretta
The singer addresses Miss Loretta, his friend, with surprise and admiration.
Where did you get all these good looking women from?
The singer expresses curiosity and interest in where Miss Loretta found her attractive female companions.
Well, well, Miss Loretta, Lord, will you please tell me, baby
The singer pleads with Miss Loretta to divulge the source of her female company.
She said they come in here unexpected
Miss Loretta explains that the women showed up unannounced and without prior arrangement.
You know they was blowed in here by a storm
Miss Loretta metaphorically states that the women arrived in a sudden and unexpected manner, akin to a storm.
I said, "Sugar mama, sugar mama
The singer addresses Miss Loretta with affectionate terms, emphasizing their close relationship.
Will you please come back to me?
The singer asks Miss Loretta to return to him, perhaps indicating a romantic relationship between them.
Yes, I say bring me my granulated sugar
The artist requests sugar as a metaphor for comfort and solace from Miss Loretta.
Oh Lord, and ease my misery
The artist asks for relief from his distress and sadness.
Yes, Miss Loretta, here's something I got to tell you
The artist has something important to say to Miss Loretta and addresses her with respect.
I want you to do long as you live
The singer expresses his desire for Miss Loretta's continued well-being and happiness.
I want you to keep these women 'round here with you
The artist asks Miss Loretta to keep her female companions close to her and not let them leave.
I said miss, please ma'am, Miss Loretta
The singer again implores Miss Loretta with polite and deferential language.
keep these womens here with you
The singer reiterates his request for Miss Loretta to retain her female acquaintances in her company.
'Cause I might be a sugar maker
The singer reveals his aspiration to be a successful provider and suitor to the women in Miss Loretta's group.
I may make it just as sweet as sugar can be
The artist asserts his potential to be a good match for the women and win their affections.
Yeah, you know I went to church last night
The artist tells a story of his recent attendance at a religious service.
I didn't get there on time
The singer admits he was late for the church event.
They called on me to pray
The singer was asked to lead a prayer during the church ceremony.
And I had praying on my mind
The artist was preoccupied with his thoughts of Miss Loretta and the women, rather than the religious service.
Thinking about Miss Loretta and the women
The artist reveals his innermost thoughts and desires for Miss Loretta and her female acquaintances.
Yes, man, they was on my mind
The artist emphasizes the intensity of his preoccupation with Miss Loretta and her female companions, implying a strong emotional attachment.
Yes, I thought about how nice Miss Loretta was
The singer reminisces about Miss Loretta's positive qualities, indicating his high regard for her as a person.
And how the women treated me so nice and kind
The artist reflects on his positive experiences with the women in Miss Loretta's group, suggesting that they are affectionate and welcoming towards him.
Contributed by Nathaniel C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.