Biography
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Biography
Born in Milwaukee in 1957, blues guitarist Michael Burks began learning his instrument at an early age -- inspired by his musical family (his father played bass and often performed alongside harmonica legend Sonny Boy Williamson II, while his grandfather was a Delta-style bluesman from Camden, AR). By the age of five, he was playing along with his father, and picked up a thing or two from his parent's record collection -- his father would often give his young son incentive to learn songs by offering him a dollar for each tune he could successfully figure out from beginning to end (a year later he made his performance debut in front of an audience, when he joined a cousin's band on stage). In the early '70s, Burks' father moved his family to Arkansas, and opened up the Bradley Ferry Country Club (a 300-seat juke joint), as Burks was hired as the leader of the house band, backing numerous blues and R&B greats that played the venue.
By the time the club closed in the mid-'80s, Burks briefly put his love of blues on the backburner, as he supported himself by taking a job as a mechanical technician for Lockheed Martin, although he still managed to play clubs and regional festivals. In 1997, Burks issued his very first album, From the Inside Out, producing the entire record himself, which immediately racked up impressive reviews from several esteemed blues publications (Blues Access raved the debut was "the most impressive indie in recent memory," while Living Blues named it one of "the best debut discs of the year"). 2001 saw Burks' debut recording for the Alligator label, Make It Rain, produced in Memphis by Jim Gaines (Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan) and Bruce Iglauer (Albert Collins, Johnny Winter). Two years later, I Smell Smoke was released followed by Iron Man in 2008, both on Alligator. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guidehttp://music.msn.com/music/artist-biography/michael-burks/
Monday, May 7, 2012
Bluesman Michael Burks dies
Chicago's Alligator Records reports that guitarist, vocalist, songwriter Michael "Iron Man" Burks died in Atlanta on Sunday, May 6, 2012. Burks, who was born July 30, 1957, was 54 years old. He was returning from a tour of Europe and collapsed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. He was rushed to South Fulton Medical Center where he could not be revived. The preliminary diagnosis for cause of death was a heart attack.
Burks won the 2004 Living Blues magazine Critics' Award for Best Guitarist and received a nomination for the 2012 Blues Music Award for Best Guitarist.
Burks released three albums on Alligator. GuitarOne named his debut album, "Make It Rain," one of the Top 200 greatest guitar recordings of all time. Burks had just finished recording his fourth Alligator CD, which is due for release at the end of July.
RIP Michael.
Make It Rain
Michael Burks Lyrics
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Weigh down in my soul
And the pain of my mother
Will not let me go
Well, I know there can come fire from the sky
To refine the purest of kings
And even though
I know this fire brings me pain
And just the same
Make it rain
Make it rain down, Lord
Make it rain
Oh, make it rain
Make it rain
Make it rain down, Lord
Make it rain
Make it rain
All seed needs the water
Before it grows out of the ground
But it just keeps on getting hard
And the hunger more profound
Well, I know there can come tears from the eyes
But they may as well all be in vain
Even though
I know these tears come with pain
Even so
And just the same
Make it rain
Make it rain down, Lord
Make it rain
Oh, make it rain
Make it rain
Make it rain down, Lord
Make it rain
Make it rain
And the seas are full of water
That stops by the shore
Just like the riches of grandeur
That never reach the poor
And let the clouds fill with thunderous applause
And let lightning be the veins
And fill the sky
With all that they can drop
When it's time
To make a change
Make it rain
Make it rain down, Lord
Make it rain
Make it rain
Make it rain
Make it rain down, Lord
Make it rain
Oh, Make it rain
Make it rain?
Make it rain?
Make it rain?
Oh, Make it rain
Make it rain
Make it rain down, Lord
Make it vain
Oh, Make it rain
Make it rain
Make in vain
Make in vain
Make in vain
Make it rain
Make in vain
Make it vain
The lyrics of Michael Burks's song "Make It Rain" speak to overcoming difficulties and finding catharsis through the release of emotion. The opening lines describe the weight of past actions and hurt that the singer carries with them. They acknowledge that even though they know that the pain they are experiencing is necessary for growth, it still hurts. However, the singer calls out to God to "make it rain," to bring on the cleansing and purifying fire that will help them move forward.
The second verse shifts the metaphor to that of a seed needing water to grow. The singer is expressing a longing for release, for a way to move forward and grow past their pain. They acknowledge that their tears are born of pain and won't necessarily bring healing; however, they still call for rain. The third verse adds to the metaphor by speaking of the water in the sea that doesn't reach those who need it most. The singer is calling for a release that will benefit everyone, not just the privileged few. They call for a storm of thunder and lightning to release all the pent-up emotions and wash away the hurt.
Overall, the song is a powerful expression of the need for release and catharsis. The metaphor of rain and storm is a potent symbol of emotional energy that can bring both destruction and healing. The song speaks to the idea that sometimes we need to experience pain and sadness to grow and move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
When the sins of my father
When the consequences of my father's actions weigh on my soul
Weigh down in my soul
Have a heavy and lasting impact on me
And the pain of my mother
And the emotional trauma my mother experienced
Will not let me go
Continues to affect me even though it's not my own pain
Well, I know there can come fire from the sky
I realize that there can be unanticipated challenges and obstacles
To refine the purest of kings
That can purify and strengthen even the strongest and most virtuous individuals
And even though
Despite the fact that
I know this fire brings me pain
I understand that these challenges may be emotionally painful
Even so
Nevertheless
And just the same
In the same way
Make it rain
I ask for strength and guidance from a higher power
Make it rain down, Lord
I ask for this help from God specifically
All seed needs the water
Just as all living things require sustenance to grow
Before it grows out of the ground
Before it can emerge and thrive
But it just keeps on getting hard
But sometimes, despite our best efforts, life continues to be difficult
And the hunger more profound
And the internal struggles become more intense
Well, I know there can come tears from the eyes
I recognize that this pain can be so overwhelming as to cause tears
But they may as well all be in vain
But those tears may not lead to any resolution or relief
Even though
Despite the fact that
I know these tears come with pain
I am aware that these tears are the result of deep emotional wounds
And just the same
In the same way
And the seas are full of water
While the world is full of resources and wealth
That stops by the shore
Not all of it is accessible to everyone
Just like the riches of grandeur
And some people are unfairly excluded from the benefits of society
That never reach the poor
And they are left with nothing
And let the clouds fill with thunderous applause
May nature echo my distress
And let lightning be the veins
And may the energy of the storm reflect the intensity of my hardship
And fill the sky
Let the storm be felt everywhere
With all that they can drop
With all the power and fury they possess
When it's time
When it's necessary
To make a change
For things to improve or for me to find peace
Make it rain
Again, I plead for guidance and resilience from God
Make in vain
May my struggles not be futile
Contributed by Violet Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.