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.".
Sinner's Prayer
Lightnin' Hopkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She was happy she could be
Said, "I'm goin' to church"
She was gonna pray for me
Go ahead
Well let your power be true
I said, "I may not being going to church
I went church last night to call on me no break
Fell on my knees, I forgot what to say
But I pray, I pray just sitting down
I said, I know she in this woods
She's in this woods somewhere
Well I got a happy in the preacher
Gotta have it too
He begin explainin' things to me
What he want me to do
He said, "You outta preach, instead of prayin'
Then you won't have to go by what the people's saying"
I say, "Yeah, preacher I believe I will."
I said, "I have a kingdom, and that's what it is"
It may take a long time
But happiness is gonna come
They gonna say you can't
I believe it can be done, yeah
I really do
I told my wife if she pray for me
Baby, I'm gonna pray for you
Yes I am
She said, "I got something to tell you
I want you to know, church houses a place
That every someone needs to go"
I said, "I'm going, but baby you should go too"
Feel like you're gonna pray for me wherever I be
I'm gonna pray for you too
In Lightnin' Hopkins's song Sinner's Prayer, the singer's significant other informs him that she will be going to church and praying for him. The singer responds with a statement of his own, saying that he may not be going to church, but he will still pray for her wherever he goes. Later on in the song, the singer visits a church and falls to his knees to pray, only to forget what to say. He concludes by telling his wife that he will continue to pray for her, and encourages her to also attend church.
The song addresses the themes of faith, redemption, and forgiveness. The singer acknowledges his own shortcomings and his need for help from a higher power, while also encouraging his wife to seek guidance from church. The line "It may take a long time, but happiness is gonna come" highlights the idea that true happiness and redemption are not achieved through immediate gratification, but rather through continuous effort towards leading a moral and virtuous life.
Overall, Sinner's Prayer speaks to the power of prayer and faith in overcoming personal struggles and seeking guidance from a higher power. The song is a testament to Lightnin' Hopkins's bluesy voice and his ability to convey emotionally charged lyrics with conviction.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, my baby told me
My significant other informed me
She was happy she could be
She expressed that she was overjoyed
Said, "I'm goin' to church"
She stated that she was heading to church
She was gonna pray for me
She intended to offer me prayers
Go ahead
I encouraged her to proceed
Well let your power be true
May your divine ability remain genuine
I said, "I may not being going to church
I vocalized that I might not be attending church
But wherever I'm going, I'll be praying for you"
However, I promised to pray for you no matter where I go
I went church last night to call on me no break
I visited the church last night without any distractions
Fell on my knees, I forgot what to say
I knelt down but couldn't remember what to speak
But I pray, I pray just sitting down
Still, I pray even when I'm not kneeling
I said, "I know she in this woods
I uttered, "I believe she is in this area"
She's in this woods somewhere"
She must be located within these woods
Well I got a happy in the preacher
I derived joy from the preacher
Gotta have it too
I desired the same happiness too
He begin explainin' things to me
He started to elucidate things to me
What he want me to do
Assignments he wants me to carry out
He said, "You outta preach, instead of prayin'
He advised, "You should start preaching instead of praying"
Then you won't have to go by what the people's saying"
That way, you won't be susceptible to public opinions
I say, "Yeah, preacher I believe I will."
I replied, "Sure, Mr. Preacher, I will do that"
I said, "I have a kingdom, and that's what it is"
I stated, "I own a kingdom, and that's my purpose"
It may take a long time
It might take an extended period of time
But happiness is gonna come
However, happiness is inevitable
They gonna say you can't
They will try to discourage you
I believe it can be done, yeah
Nevertheless, I firmly believe it's feasible
I told my wife if she pray for me
I informed my spouse that if she prays for me
Baby, I'm gonna pray for you
I will reciprocate by praying for her
Yes I am
Definitely, I will do that
She said, "I got something to tell you
She revealed, "I have something important to share with you"
I want you to know, church houses a place
She wanted me to know that churches provide a gathering spot
That every someone needs to go"
That everybody should visit at some point
I said, "I'm going, but baby you should go too"
I replied, "Okay, I'll go, and you should also come with me"
Feel like you're gonna pray for me wherever I be
I sense that you'll pray for me regardless of my absence
I'm gonna pray for you too
I'll return the favor and pray for you as well
Contributed by Dylan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tommyau2006
one of my favourite Lightnin' Hopkins songs............thanks for posting
@craigstern2902
Mafia 3 brought me here... Thumbs up brother!
@brazilcreative1063
Playing Mafia 3 and listening, show,like 👍🇧🇷
@texgucci3007
Why doesn’t this have a million views I love this shit
@npc427
Mafia 3 🔛🔝 btw 2024 here
@williamminarcik3463
Yes my baby
@Ben-pv7sb
Sounds like the cars hiss by my window
@wakeywakey2835
I done did it - Amos Milburn 🤙