Smokestack Lightnin'
Wolf Howlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shinin', just like gold
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo hoo
Whoo hoo
Whoo
What's the, matter with you?
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo hoo
Whoo hoo
Whoo
Whoa oh, tell me, baby
Where did ya, stay last night?
A-why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo hoo
Whoo hoo
Whoo
Whoa-oh, stop your train
Let her, go for a ride
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo hoo
Whoo hoo
Whoo
Whoa-oh, fare ya well
Never see, a you no more
A-why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo hoo
Whoo hoo
Whoo
Whoa-oh, who been here baby since,
I-I been gone, a little, bitty boy
Girl, be on
Whoo hoo
Whoo hoo
Whoo
Smokestack Lightnin' is a blues song by Howlin' Wolf which was released in 1956. It begins with the famous line "Ah oh, Smokestack Lightnin', Shinin' like gold," which refers to a train that appears to be glowing at night as it speeds along the tracks. In this song, the singer tells his lover that he is crying because he is missing her and wants her to come back to him. He asks where she has been and wonders who has been with her in his absence. He also asks the train to stop and let him ride, hoping that he can catch up with his significant other. The song's chorus consists of the singer's despairing wail of "Whoo hoo!" The song ends on a melancholy note with the singer bidding farewell to his love, knowing he'll never see her again.
The song was written by Chester Burnett, who performed under the stage name Howlin' Wolf. It was recorded by Sam Phillips, the owner of Sun Records, in Memphis, Tennessee, and was produced by Phillips and Jack Clement. The song has a driving blues rhythm with pounding drums, heavy bass, and Wolf's powerful voice carrying the melody. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest blues songs of all time and has been covered by numerous musicians over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah oh, smokestack lightnin'
The sound of the train's smokestack growing and releasing steam echoes like a mournful cry
Shinin', just like gold
The light reflecting off the train's smokestack shimmers and shines like a precious metal
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
The singer's lamentations are muted by the sound of the train engine, which rumbles on without care, like the indifferent world around him
Whoa oh, tell me, baby
What's the, matter with you?
The singer desperately asks why his lover seems distant and unconcerned with his feelings and pain
Where did ya, stay last night?
The singer is suspicious of his lover's whereabouts and is questioning her fidelity
Whoa-oh, stop your train
Let her, go for a ride
The singer's request to halt the train and take it off the tracks, allowing it to roam free and aimlessly, just like his broken heart
Fare ya well
Never see, a you no more
The singer is bidding farewell to his lover, accepting that they will never be reunited again
Whoa-oh, who been here baby since,
I-I been gone, a little, bitty boy
Girl, be on
The singer returns home and finds that his lover has been unfaithful and moved on, leaving him abandoned and alone
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chester Burnett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@itsjussaariii9131
Ah-oh, smokestack lightnin'
Shinin' just like gold
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
A-whoo-hooo, oooo
Whooo
Whoa-oh, tell me baby
What's the matter with you?
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo-hooo, whoo-hooo
Whooo
Whoa-oh, tell me baby
Where did ya stay last night?
A-why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo-hooo, whoo-hooo
Whooo
Whoa-oh, stop your train
Let her go for a ride
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Whoo-hooo, whoo-hooo
Whooo
Whoa-oh, fare ya well
Never see a you no more
A-why don't ya hear me cryin'?
Oooo, whoo-hooo, whoo-hooo
Whooo
Whoa-oh, who been here baby since
I-I been gone, a little, bitty boy?
Girl, be on
A-whoo-hooo, whoo-hooo
Songwriter: Howlin' Wolf
@MelancoliaI
My dad loved this kind of music. I was indifferent to it until life knocked me around a bit. Now I love it.
@j.vinton4039
Usually how it happens bro. My old man is a Texas blues man. Couldn’t stand it as a kid, now in my 30’s the shit sounds like butter and gold.
@dantesderivatives
I'll admit I actually liked music like this growing up.....but WAY more after the great humbling of my 20's...Music with pain always sounds better
@cliffmorrison3568
It's been said many times, you don't understand the blues until you experience some blues.
@jukejoint523jordan6
I got into blues on a road tríp from Florida to South Carolina with my Uncle and his friend, the whole 7 hr trip was full of Blues tracks, that was back in 1994, Unc passed thst ssme year and we burried him on my 17th Birthday. Before he died he gave me his Fender Stratocaster Guitar and I've been playing it ever since. R.i.P Unc
@andyknowles772
@@dantesderivatives
"The flowers of hell"
@billboswaggins1610
Played this for my huskie he is now a grey wolf.
@drislady
Nice. ☺️
@sagvjc2525
Ah hueso lolol
@denniswarren4019
Lol