Boogie Chillen'
John Lee Hooker
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Well, my mama 'low me just to stay out all night long Oh, Lord Well, my mama 'low me just to stay out all night long I didn't care she 'low, I would boogie anyhow When I first came to town, people, I was walkin' down Hastings Street Everybody was talkin' about the Henry Swing Club I decided I drop in there that night When I got there, I say, "Yes, people" They was really havin' a ball Yes, I know Boogie Chillen' One night I was layin' down I heard mama and papa talkin' I heard papa tell mama let that boy boogie-woogie It's in him and it got to come out And I felt so good Went on boogin' just the same
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
Written by: BESMAN, HOOKER
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Record Label"Boogie Chillen'" was released under the Modern Records label, an American music company that was at the forefront of independent vinyl pop and blues productions in the post-World War II era.
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Release DateThe song was first released in 1948, marking it as one of the earliest hits in the post-WWII blues genre.
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AuthorshipThe song was written by John Lee Hooker himself, who was known for his unique talking blues style.
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Commercial Success"Boogie Chillen'" was a commercial success, selling over a million copies. It reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart in 1949.
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Musical StyleThe song is recognized for its fundamental rhythmic structure, which is considered one of the first successful fusions of electric blues and boogie-woogie forms.
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Influence"Boogie Chillen'" significantly impacted the development of rock and roll genre. It is known to have influenced many musicians, including ZZ Top and George Thorogood who covered the song.
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Hall of Fame InductionIn 2008, the song was inducted into the Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame, recognizing it as a "Classic of Blues Recording".
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Court CaseControversy around the song arose when ZZ Top used a similar beat in their song "La Grange." Hooker sued them for copyright infringement, but the court ruled in ZZ Top's favor, stating the beat was part of the public domain.
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Recognizable RiffThe opening guitar riff of "Boogie Chillen'" is among the most recognizable in blues music, becoming a fundamental element in blues and rock guitar playing.
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Recording HistoryThe song was recorded in a single take in Detroit, Michigan, where Hooker had moved from his home state of Mississippi.
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AccoladesRolling Stone magazine ranked "Boogie Chillen'" at number 31 in their list of the 100 greatest guitar songs of all time in 2008.
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Legacy"Boogie Chillen'" remains one of Hooker's most popular and influential songs, commonly covered by several artists across the blues and rock genres and frequently cited for its pioneering impact on the development of rock music.
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Citation
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"Boogie Chillen' Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/33843085/John+Lee+Hooker/Boogie+Chillen%27>.
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