Texas Blues Legend Johnny Winter Tells It Like It Is, Warns Us To “Be Careful With A Fool”

Texas Blues Legend Johnny Winter Tells It Like It Is, Warns Us To “Be Careful With A Fool” | Society Of Rock Videos

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Words Of Wisdom

Channeling the wisdom of the late B.B. King, Texas blues legend Johnny Winter warned us about the dangers of underestimating a fool with his cover of ‘Be Careful With A Fool’. Written by B.B. in 1957, ‘Be Careful With A Fool’ is told from the perspective of a man who, once a fool but a fool no more, finally finds the courage to leave a woman who hasn’t treated him well and warns her not to make the same mistake twice at the risk of ending up alone. It’s an old blues standard, but when covered by Johnny Winter it takes on a life of its own, a mixture of Johnny’s native Texas blues background highlighted here and there with suggestions of a deep-seated love of rock and roll.

His 1970 performance of ‘Be Careful With A Fool’ also features Double Trouble’s Tommy Shannon on bass and Uncle John Turner on drums, two major figures in the blues world; leave it to Johnny Winter to have an innate gift for selecting the best talent the blues world had to offer!

Fun Fact: Johnny used the same piece of plumbing pipe as a slide for his entire career.

Truly one of music’s most unsung heroes, Johnny Winter’s genius shines through in this performance. Sure it’s just a cover, and it’s impossible to imitate B.B. King, and no one really wants to try – but it’s pretty safe to say that the way he made his guitar sing a song that was never his to begin with is nothing short of amazing.

+ Be Careful With A Fool lyrics +

Man, be careful with a fool. you know, someday he may get smart
Man, be careful with a fool. you know, someday he may get smart
He will treat you so cool and chilly, till he hurt you to your heart

Yeah, you know

Hate to remember, oh, what a fool I used to be, ha, ha!
Man, I hate to remember how foolish I used to be
The way I used to love you, baby, how bad it’s gonna be

You know, I used to cry ’bout you, baby, ha!
You know, I’d walk the streets late at night
Used to cry about ya, walk the streets, late at night

If you love me just a little bit, baby, why in the world don’t you treat me right?

Ah, yeah
Oh, yeah
Yeah!
Yeah!
Ah!
Yeah, baby!

Uh, finally over, baby, whoa, I believe this is the end, ah, ah, yeah, well!
Finally over, baby, oh, I believe this-a is the end, ah
I want to tell you my baby, to forgive me for my sin

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