Smokestack Lightning - Howlin' Wolf

Artist: Howlin' Wolf
Song: Smokestack Lightning
Year: 1956
Album: Smokestack Lightning single

One of the earliest songs I remember hearing was "Smokestack Lightning". It seemed to have been born of ease and hardship. The song sounds so casual, but the lyrics sound so intense, like Howlin' Wolf was passing a kidney stone.

Many other artists must have thought this was an easy song to do, since it was covered by countless. Included in that are Muddy Waters, CCR, Soundgarden and the Yardbirds. I think I was familiar with all of those versions before I stumbled upon the original. CCR used the riff to form the song "Susie Q".

This song has been called the essence of the blues. I think that's a correct assumption. Many artists who dabble in the blues have been inspired by this song. It has the raw power of the blues to guide many a struggling artist to its beckon call.

The band that I'm in hasn't done a cover of this song, but I'm sure we will one of these days. We unwittingly have taken parts of it and distributed them into other cover songs. That's the trouble with a classic lick. It always creeps into other thing when you least expect it to.

Lyrics:
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
Whooo