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 That My Grave Is Kept Clean
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well it's one kind favour I'll ask to you
One kind favour I'll ask to you
See that my grave is kept clean
You know it's two white horses in a line
Two white horses in a line
Two white horses in a line
At first listen, "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" may come across as a melancholic plea for someone to take care of the singer's physical remains after death. However, the underlying meaning of the song is much more complex. Lightnin' Hopkins, a Texas blues musician, uses death as a metaphor for the way he wishes to be remembered in the world. By asking his loved ones to ensure his grave is kept clean, Hopkins is expressing a desire to maintain his honor and reputation even after he has passed away.
The singer's request for "one kind favour" is not just about preserving his resting place, but also about preserving his legacy. The two white horses mentioned in the following lines are a symbol of the journey the singer must take towards his final resting place. Two horses were traditionally used to transport the corpses of respected community members in the South, underscoring the importance of one's social standing even in death. The powerful image of the two white horses represents hope and dignity during a time of great sorrow.
Overall, "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" is a powerful and introspective meditation on legacy and reputation, death and the afterlife, and the importance of our connections to others even after we have passed away.
Line by Line Meaning
You know it's one kind favour I'll ask to you
I have a humble request to ask of you
Well it's one kind favour I'll ask to you
This is the only thing I truly ask of you
One kind favour I'll ask to you
My last wish is for you to do this for me
See that my grave is kept clean
Please ensure that my final resting place is well-maintained
You know it's two white horses in a line
A traditional symbol of death, these horses will be present at my funeral
Two white horses in a line
These horses will lead my casket to my place of burial
Two white horses in a line
They'll carry me to my resting place, the burial ground
Gonna take me to my burying ground
These horses will transport me to where I'll be laid to rest
Writer(s): BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON
Contributed by Sebastian W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@primeracalledelasoledad8439
Well it's one kind of favor I'll ask of you
Well it's one kind of favor I'll ask of you
Lord it's one kind of favor I'll ask of you
Please that my grave is kept clean
It's a long old lane ain't got no end
It's a long lane that got no end
It's a long lane that got no end
And it's a bad wind that never change
Lord, it's two white horses in a line
Well, it's two white horses in a line
Well, it's two white horses in a line
Want take me to my burying ground
@miguelurrutdarkorangefan2750
Lighting & Blind Lemon, Texas' blues legends.
@jdallen6104
This man has so much soul.
@navasink24
came across this song & it made me go to the cemetery & sweep off my long gone mama's grave....................
@ELVIS4221
THANK YOU HOPKINSBLUESPROJECT. I HAVENT HEARD THIS MASTER WORK SINCE THE 60'S. SO GRATEFUL TO YOU.
@whiskeyneat5584
Was not around in the 60s kinda wish I was
@kevinbennett7329
its the best version too; simple, original lyrics, and the effect is astounding
@highlanderlj
Man if this tune ain't true Blues, then nothing is!!!!!!!
@timothylewis2450
This is a Blind Lemon Jefferson song that he recorded two versions of in 1927-28. It has become a blues standard, covered by many diverse artists. Hopkins was inspired by the blues after meeting Jefferson at the age of 8. Mavis Staples has performed this since the 1950s and gives the song a very haunting air. Her live performance for their blues documentary, "Lightning In A Bottle" (2008) is fantastic with excellent backing including Keb'Mo on slide guitar. She also recorded it 2015. Well worth your time.
https://youtu.be/hvRxPA-dN2s
@amoruzz
👍👍
@arthuroneau5077
Thanks, Mr Hopkins !