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.".
See See Rider
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See, see rider, you see what you done, done
You see, see rider, you see what you done, done
You don't made me love you and now your man don't come
My home is on the water, I don't like no land at all
Home's on the water and I don't like no land at all
My home's on the water and I don't like no land at all
So you see, see rider, see what you done, done
See, see rider, you see what you done, done
You see, see rider, you see what you done, done
You've made me love you and now your man don't come
I'm goin' away babe, sure don't wanna go
Goin' away babe, but I sure don't wanna go
I'm goin' away babe, but I sure don't wanna go
When I'm leave you this time you'll never see me no more
So you see, see rider, see what you done, done
See, see rider, you see what you done, done
You see, see rider, you see what you done, done
You've made me love you and now your man don't come
My home's on the water and I don't like no land at all
Home's on the water and I don't like no land at all
My home's on the water and I don't like no land at all
So goodbye baby, I'm tired of being your dog
Lightnin' Hopkins's song "See See Rider" tells the story of a man who has fallen in love with someone and has been left alone after their partner's man comes back. The song begins with the man directing their partner to see what has been done as he has fallen in love with them, and now that her man knows, he is leaving. The man says that his home is on the water and he does not like land, indicating that he is a traveler who prefers to live on the move. He is not willing to be someone's dog and stay behind to be a loyal companion when he is not getting what he wants from the relationship.
The man then goes on to say that he is leaving and does not want to go, but he must. He adds that once he leaves, she will never see him again. In the last stanza, the man again repeats that his home is on the water and he is leaving because he is tired of being her dog. The lyrics raise questions about love, loyalty, and the sacrifices we make to keep relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You see, see rider, see what you done, done
Oh See Rider, do you see the repercussions of your actions?
See, see rider, you see what you done, done
Hey See Rider, do you see what you have done?
You see, see rider, you see what you done, done
See Rider, do you see what you have done?
You don't made me love you and now your man don't come
You made me love you and now your man won't come around
My home is on the water, I don't like no land at all
I prefer living on water rather than on land.
Home's on the water and I don't like no land at all
I can only call a place my home if it's on the water.
My home's on the water and I don't like no land at all
The only place I consider as my home is on the water.
I'd rather be dead than to stay here and be your dog
I would rather die than to stay here and be treated like a dog by you.
So you see, see rider, see what you done, done
See Rider, this is what you have caused.
See, see rider, you see what you done, done
See, See Rider, do you see what you have done?
You see, see rider, you see what you done, done
You see the damage you have caused, See Rider.
You've made me love you and now your man don't come
You made me fall in love with you, and now your man won't come around anymore.
I'm goin' away babe, sure don't wanna go
I am leaving, but I wish I didn't have to.
Goin' away babe, but I sure don't wanna go
I am departing, but I do not wish to leave.
I'm goin' away babe, but I sure don't wanna go
Although I am leaving, I don't actually want to.
When I'm leave you this time you'll never see me no more
This is the last time you will ever see me when I leave this time.
So you see, see rider, see what you done, done
You see, See Rider, look at the consequences of your actions.
See, see rider, you see what you done, done
See, See Rider, do you see the repercussions of your actions?
You see, see rider, you see what you done, done
You see, See Rider, this is what you have caused.
You've made me love you and now your man don't come
You made me love you and now your man refuses to see you.
My home's on the water and I don't like no land at all
I only feel comfortable calling a place home if it's on the water.
Home's on the water and I don't like no land at all
Living on the water is the only way I'd consider a place as home.
My home's on the water and I don't like no land at all
The only place I consider as my home is on the water.
So goodbye baby, I'm tired of being your dog
Goodbye, my dear; I am tired of being mistreated by you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN S HURT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@irenemarzan7840
See see rider, see what you have done, Lord, Lord, Lord
Made me love you, now your gal has come
You made me love you, now your gal has come
I'm goin' away, baby, I won't be back till fall, Lord, Lord, Lord
Goin' away, baby, won't be back till fall
If I find me a good man, won't be back at all
I'm gonna buy me a pistol, just as long as I am tall, Lord, Lord, Lord
Shoot my man, and catch a cannonball
If he won't have me, he won't have no gal at all
See See Rider, where did you stay last night? Lord, Lord, Lord
Your shoes ain't buttoned and your clothes don't fit you right
You didn't come home till the sun was shining bright
@brenthaymon280
Love the blues. Lightnin' Hopkins was the real deal.
@Yarivpa
my heart is crying when I listen to this one
@theherbpuffer
The most recorded bluesman in history. Out of all his many, many albums Country Blues is one of his finest.
@irenemarzan7840
See see rider, see what you have done, Lord, Lord, Lord
Made me love you, now your gal has come
You made me love you, now your gal has come
I'm goin' away, baby, I won't be back till fall, Lord, Lord, Lord
Goin' away, baby, won't be back till fall
If I find me a good man, won't be back at all
I'm gonna buy me a pistol, just as long as I am tall, Lord, Lord, Lord
Shoot my man, and catch a cannonball
If he won't have me, he won't have no gal at all
See See Rider, where did you stay last night? Lord, Lord, Lord
Your shoes ain't buttoned and your clothes don't fit you right
You didn't come home till the sun was shining bright
@ladyleesutter
cojwat
Thanks for posting this. Nice selection of photos, and appreciate comments and information you provided
@hereforit2347
❤️❤️❤️❤️
@umilityjpm-one5478
good song
@mattdonnelly9753
Good lightnin
@megadave1197
Lightnin was the real deal. A hard living troubadour who links the old country blues with rock n roll and even influenced hip hop. See him play in the 60s dressed dapper with his swagger and attitude. He could have strolled on stage with public enemy. Absolute legend
@michaelchadwick2254
Sorry friend but there is ZERO correlation between Lightnin' and hip hop filth.