Although John Lee Williamson was a major blues star who had already released dozens of successful and widely influential records under the name Sonny Boy Williamson from 1937 onward, Aleck Miller would later claim to have been the first to use the name, and some blues scholars believe that Miller's assertion he was born in 1899 was a ruse to convince audiences he was old enough to have used the name before John Lee Williamson, who was born in 1914. Whatever the methodology, Miller became known as Sonny Boy Williamson.
Williamson had begun developing a following in Chicago beginning in 1953, when he appeared there as a member of Elmore James's band. In the 1960's he toured Europe during the height of the British blues craze, recording with The Yardbirds and The Animals. Accoring to the Led Zeppelin biography "Hammer of the Gods", while in England Sonny Boy set his hotel room on fire while trying to cook a rabbit in a coffee percolator.
Some of his hit songs include "Fattenin' Frogs for Snakes", "Don't Start Me To Talking" ,"Keep It To Yourself", "Your Funeral & My Trial", "Bye Bye Bird", "Nine Below Zero", "Help Me", and the infamous "Little Village", with dialogue deemed 'unsuitable for airplay' by Leonard Chess. His song "Eyesight To the Blind" was performed by The Who as a key song in their rock opera Tommy (the only song in that opus not written by a band member) and it was later covered on the Aerosmith album Honkin' on Bobo. His recording og "One Way Out" was reworked from the Elmore James original and became popularized by The Allman Brothers Band in the early 1970s.
Sonny Boy Williamson II has had a big influence on modern day blues and blues rock artists and other legendary artists, as is shown by the number of his songs that are still covered. In interviews given in the concert documentary film The Last Waltz, members of the rock & roll group The Band recount jamming with Miller prior to their initial fame as Bob Dylan's electric backing band, and making plans to hook up with Williamson as his backing band. Unfortunately, Williamson's death prevented any such plans from ever being fulfilled.
Born Blind
Sonny Boy Williamson II Lyrics
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You talk about your woman, I wish you could see mine
Every time she starts her lovin', she brings eyesight to the blind
You know her daddy gave her magic, I can tell by the way she walks
Her daddy gave her magic, I can tell by the way she walks
Every time she starts to shakin', the dumb begin to talk
She's got the power to heal you, never fear
She's got the power to heal you, never fear
In this classic blues song, Sonny Boy Williamson II sings about his woman and the powerful effect she has on those around her. He is envious of others who talk about their significant others because he believes that his own woman is one of a kind. Whenever she begins to express her love, it seems like she is bringing eyesight to the blind, which is a metaphor for the way that her love is so overwhelming and incredible that it feels like the person is experiencing a whole new world. Indeed, the magic that his woman possesses is so strong that people around her are transformed simply by being in her presence. Her movements carry a power that is astonishing, the way she walks implies that she has a certain grace of movement, which suggests that her magic is undeniably real.
Williamson II further elaborates on the powerful effect his woman has on others. He claims that whenever she starts to move, the dumb begin to talk. This could mean that her movements are so mesmerizing and attention-grabbing that even those who are traditionally one-dimensional and mundane begin to come alive in her presence. Lastly, the song takes on a more spiritual aspect as Williamson II suggests that his woman has a healing power that is essentially divine in nature. Her kiss or simple word can heal the sick, and the deaf even begin to hear. Therefore, the song is a celebration of the transformative and healing power of love, and how it can make people feel reborn and rejuvenated.
Line by Line Meaning
You talk about your woman, I wish you could see mine
I have a woman who's so amazing that I want you to see her for yourself, to understand exactly what I mean.
Every time she starts her lovin', she brings eyesight to the blind
When my woman expresses her love, it's so powerful that it can heal people's blindness and make them see for the first time.
Her daddy gave her magic, I can tell by the way she walks
My woman has some sort of innate magical quality that was passed on to her by her father, and it's evident in every aspect of her presence, even the way she walks.
Every time she starts to shakin', the dumb begin to talk
Even people who previously couldn't speak are moved to speak by the force of my woman's energy when she starts dancing or moving around.
She's got the power to heal you, never fear
My woman has the ability to heal people, and there's no need to be afraid because she is trustworthy and does not have any negative intentions.
Just a word from her lips, and the deaf begin to hear
When my woman speaks, her words are so potent that even the deaf can suddenly hear as a result of her power.
Writer(s): Sonny Boy Williamson
Contributed by Aaron O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chief Running Turtle
Yep!