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.
Pontiac Blues
Sonny Boy Williamson II Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What tonight looks like
Oh, what my baby told me
What tonight looks like
She said "I likes my big daddy, but I'm crazy about his Pontiac"
We gon' drive out on the highway, turn the bright lights on
Oh, driving on the highway, and he cut the bright lights off
Oh, I found out what my baby likes
Yes, I found out what my baby likes
That's a whole lotta lovin'
And that straight-eight Pontiac
Oh, we gon' cruise down Highway 49
Yes darling, we gon' cruise down Highway 49
I want you mine back in my arms
She said "Daddy, everything is fine"
The lyrics of Sonny Boy Williamson's "Pontiac Blues" describe a couple's night out riding in a Pontiac. The woman expresses her love for her "big daddy" but confesses that she's "crazy about his Pontiac." They drive on the highway with bright lights on, then turn the radio on to get music from up north. The singer is happy to have found out what his baby likes, which is a "whole lotta lovin'" along with the Pontiac. They cruise down Highway 49, and the woman reassures her man that everything is fine. The lyrics suggest that the car and the music help bring the couple closer together, adding excitement to their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, what my baby told me
My significant other recently gave me some information that I found quite interesting.
What tonight looks like
My date this evening is looking promising.
Oh, what my baby told me
I received interesting information from my significant other.
She said "I likes my big daddy, but I'm crazy about his Pontiac"
My partner expressed their fondness for me, but they are also attracted to my vehicle.
We gon' drive out on the highway, turn the bright lights on
We will be driving on the highway and utilizing our car's high beam lights.
Oh, driving on the highway, and he cut the bright lights off
While driving on the highway, we turned off our car's high beam lights.
We gon' turn your radio on and get music from up the north
We will be listening to music from the northern region of the country.
Oh, I found out what my baby likes
I discovered what my significant other's preferences are.
Yes, I found out what my baby likes
I discovered what my partner enjoys.
That's a whole lotta lovin'
My partner's interests require a lot of love and attention.
And that straight-eight Pontiac
My significant other is attracted to my vehicle's straight-eight engine.
Oh, we gon' cruise down Highway 49
We will be leisurely driving down Highway 49.
Yes darling, we gon' cruise down Highway 49
My partner and I will be driving down Highway 49 together.
I want you mine back in my arms
I desire to have my significant other in my arms again.
She said "Daddy, everything is fine"
My partner reassured me that everything is going well.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: WILLIE WILLIAMSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-zw2uv9it5z
55 years now...still the best
@yachtsmen1
Blues is America's heritage. And all mankind.
@richgreenberg448
I love all of the old blues guys, and, as a harp player myself, especially the great harp players - both Sonny Boys, both Walters, James Cotton and others. But I come back to Sonny Boy II most often to really feel the blues. His laid back, behind the beat style is just so good - both singing and playing!
@policedog4030
Known and acknowledged as the best harp player "before or since" but Sonny Boy Williamson II - his vocal style is also one of the very best to my ears. His works stands up over the decades and just gets better the more times I hear him.
@bobaldo2339
Right, his vocals are totally cool.
@pirateheaven
One of his best!
@bobaldo2339
Love me some Rice Miller!
@SugarBlueHarp
It will never get better than this!!🎶❤️🎵❤️👍🏽✊🏾
@mrhoolie
Those first Tumpet Records are still my favorite Sonny Boy sides - now on Arhoolie CD!!
@coravisser727
This is brilliant wauw love it thank you so much.