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.".
My Grandpa Is Old Too!
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leave my grandpa alone 'cause he done got old too
That's my grandpa, that's my grandpa
That's my grandpa, sweetest man I ever saw
Mama told me, oh, day of old
Your grandpa stood by, tell this is told
Now don't bother my grandpa 'cause he done got old too
I ain't jivin', I ain't jokin'
My grandpa he shouts for joy
Been takin' care of me ever since I was a boy
He getting old now
And he really is
Really I know it 'cause I'm old myself
My grandpa says son, take me a walkin'
Say I wanna go where's the coolest place you know
I say why, grandpa?
'Cause grandpa's getting old
Tell all you people, done want you to understand
Grandpa once have been a young man
He getting old now
He's getting to be an old man
He can't remember 'morrow, but he still understands
He look at me and he say, what's this all about?
Give me my pipe son, and he had it in his mouth
He's an old man, you know he don't got the mind,
You see he don't hardly know what he's doing
But he's still my grandpa
But he ain't nothin' else to turn
Tell all you young people, I don't mean no harm
I just want you to leave my grandpa alone
He says I've got old now, have pity on me
If you bother my grandpa,
I'm the one you gotta see
My dear old dad.
Lightnin' Hopkins's song "My Grandpa Is Old Too!" is a plea to young people to leave his grandpa alone. Hopkins acknowledges that his grandpa, who was once a young man, is now elderly and can no longer remember things as well as he used to. However, the singer reminds the young people that his grandpa has taken care of him since he was a boy and that he still deserves respect despite his age.
Through the lyrics, Hopkins expresses his love and admiration for his grandpa. He describes his grandpa as the sweetest man he's ever met and someone who has always been there for him. The singer of the song also recognizes the challenges that come with aging such as memory loss and a decline in physical abilities. Yet through it all, Hopkins maintains that his grandpa is still deserving of love and respect.
Overall, "My Grandpa Is Old Too!" is a touching tribute to a beloved family member, as well as a commentary on the importance of treating our elders with kindness and respect.
Line by Line Meaning
I want all you young people to know what to do
Listen up, young folks, I have something important to tell you
Leave my grandpa alone 'cause he done got old too
Don't mess with my grandpa just because he's old now
That's my grandpa, that's my grandpa
That's my grandpa, the kindest man I've ever known
Mama told me, oh, day of old
A long time ago, my mama shared some wisdom with me
Your grandpa stood by, tell this is told
My grandpa has always been there for me, and that's a fact
Now don't bother my grandpa 'cause he done got old too
I'm serious, leave my grandpa alone because he's getting up there in years
I ain't jivin', I ain't jokin'
I'm not kidding around or trying to trick you here
Ain't gonna never bother you
I'm not going to bother you if you don't bother my grandpa
My grandpa he shouts for joy
My grandpa still finds happiness in life
Been takin' care of me ever since I was a boy
My grandpa has been looking out for me since I was a child
He getting old now
My grandpa is definitely getting up there in years
And he really is
I'm not exaggerating, he's truly old
Really I know it 'cause I'm old myself
I understand because I'm getting old too
My grandpa says son, take me a walkin'
My grandpa wants to go for a stroll with me
Say I wanna go where's the coolest place you know
He's looking for a spot that will make him feel good
I say why, grandpa?
I ask him why he wants to go there
'Cause grandpa's getting old
He wants to enjoy his time while he still can
Tell all you people, done want you to understand
I want all of you to really grasp this next part
Grandpa once have been a young man
My grandpa was once a young and strong guy
He getting old now
But those days are long gone, and now he's old
He's getting to be an old man
He's not just old, he's truly an old man now
He can't remember 'morrow, but he still understands
His memory isn't what it used to be, but he still comprehends things
He look at me and he say, what's this all about?
Sometimes he gets confused and asks me what's going on
Give me my pipe son, and he had it in his mouth
He still enjoys smoking his pipe, though
He's an old man, you know he don't got the mind,
He's an old man, so his mind isn't as sharp as it used to be
You see he don't hardly know what he's doing
Sometimes he's not quite sure what he's doing
But he's still my grandpa
Despite all of this, he's still the man I love and respect
But he ain't nothin' else to turn
I don't have anyone else, I really need him in my life
Tell all you young people, I don't mean no harm
I'm not trying to be offensive or mean, just want to make something clear
I just want you to leave my grandpa alone
Please leave my grandpa be, he doesn't need any more trouble
He says I've got old now, have pity on me
He's aware of his old age, and hopes others will be kind to him
If you bother my grandpa, I'm the one you gotta see
If you mess with my grandpa, you'll have to answer to me
My dear old dad.
The song ends with a reference to the singer's own father, who may also be growing old and in need of care
Contributed by Grace C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
john rose
Lightnin was badass!
Nicole Holford Lockney
This is one of my favorites! And Lightnin’ recorded this at my Grandpa’s studio in Houston!
John McCarthy
Wonderful, light-hearted and funny lyrics. "If you bother my Grandpa, I'm the one you got to see." It's a shame someone doesn't make a movie about the life of Lightnin Hopkins, make it all about the music, which is why he will always be remembered, his utterly unique style of fingerpicking combined with great storytelling lyrics.... Alan Govenar has written a proper biography of Lightnin' entitled "Lightnin Hopkins, His Life and Blues, if you love his music read the book to get a better sense of the man who began his life playing with Blind Lemon Jefferson.