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.".
Mistreated Blues
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, you mistreated me all the time
Yes, you know I hope some day baby,
that you will change your mind
Baby, now what wrong have I done
Baby, now what wrong have I done
You try to mistreat me baby,
when I try to have my fun
Baby, it's all comin' back to you
You're gonna be sorry darlin',
that you treat me like you do
Baby, got to go and leave you here
Baby, got to go and leave you here
But maybe some day baby,
you will feel my care
In Mistreated Blues by Lightnin' Hopkins, the singer is expressing his pain and frustration over how his lover has been mistreating him all the time. He hopes that one day, she will change her mind and treat him better. The lyrics suggest that he has done nothing wrong, but she still mistreats him when he tries to have fun. He warns her that all her mistreatment is coming back to her, and she will regret treating him that way. Finally, he decides to leave her, but still hopes that she will one day realize his value and feel his care.
The overall theme of Mistreated Blues is heartbreak and the resulting pain caused by a toxic relationship. The lyrics accurately capture the emotions and experiences of someone who has been mistreated in a relationship, hoping for a better life. The choice of words such as "mistreated," "sorry," and "pain" creates a melancholic tone throughout the song, making the listener feel the weight of the singer's emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, you mistreated me all the time
You have been mistreating me constantly
Yes, you know I hope some day baby, that you will change your mind
I hope you realize your mistakes and change your behavior someday
Baby, now what wrong have I done
What have I done to deserve this mistreatment?
You try to mistreat me baby, when I try to have my fun
Whenever I try to enjoy myself, you mistreat me
Baby, it's all comin' back to you
You will face the consequences of your actions
You're gonna be sorry darlin', that you treat me like you do
You will regret treating me poorly
Baby, got to go and leave you here
I have to leave you behind
But maybe some day baby, you will feel my care
Perhaps someday you will feel my love and care
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JULES BIHARI, LIGHTNIN` HOPKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aurélio Louzada
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