The Electric Flag — Killing Floor
Album: A Long Time Comin’Avg rating:
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Total ratings: 1018
Length: 4:08
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I should of quit you, a long time ago
I should of quit you, babe, long time ago
I should of quit you, and went on to Mexico
If I had of followed, my first mind
If I had of followed, my first mind
I'd of been gone, since my second time
I should of went on, when my friend come from Mexico at me
I should of went on, when my friend come from Mexico at me
But no I was foolin' with ya, baby, I let ya put me on the killin' floor
Lord knows, I should of been gone
Lord knows, I should of been gone
And I wouldn't have been here, down on the killin' floor
Yeah
I should of quit you, babe, long time ago
I should of quit you, and went on to Mexico
If I had of followed, my first mind
If I had of followed, my first mind
I'd of been gone, since my second time
I should of went on, when my friend come from Mexico at me
I should of went on, when my friend come from Mexico at me
But no I was foolin' with ya, baby, I let ya put me on the killin' floor
Lord knows, I should of been gone
Lord knows, I should of been gone
And I wouldn't have been here, down on the killin' floor
Yeah
Comments (81)add comment
Now that's a groovy sixties album cover if I ever saw one
stegokitty wrote:
Yes, but surely the point is that "should have" (or "should've") and "should of" sound very similar. So it's entirely possible that the actual lyrics are correct, but incorrectly rendered here.
Vocals sound like Jack Bruce (Cream).
Whomever it was who scripted the lyrics associated with the song on RP are incorrect.
They have "I should of quit you a long time ago ..."
This is a modern mistake of grammatical ignorance of the great English language.
There's no such thing as "should of". Utter nonsense.
It's either "I should HAVE ..." or "I should've ..."
Yes, I'm a grammar nazi, and yes, it's important.
Yes, but surely the point is that "should have" (or "should've") and "should of" sound very similar. So it's entirely possible that the actual lyrics are correct, but incorrectly rendered here.
Damn, I LOVE this!
joejennings wrote:
You must be tons of fun at parties! LOL!
Well, my mom was a grammar nazi (and an English teacher) and I spent most of my youth getting my grammar corrected. But even she allowed "poetic license" when it came to art. And having been born and raised on the south side of Chicago, I can tell you that "should of" is definitely a thing there. Right or wrong, it's true to the spirit of the song, and the city.
You must be tons of fun at parties! LOL!
Well, my mom was a grammar nazi (and an English teacher) and I spent most of my youth getting my grammar corrected. But even she allowed "poetic license" when it came to art. And having been born and raised on the south side of Chicago, I can tell you that "should of" is definitely a thing there. Right or wrong, it's true to the spirit of the song, and the city.
I've had this album since it came out ('68) and the lyrics on RP are incomplete. It's still great to hear mind you. Interesting that at that time, young American guys were considering (and did) go to Mexico or Canada to avoid the Vietnam war. Of course others managed to get exemption on the basis of bone spurs.
Nice jam
Nice transition from Clapton
Imkirok wrote:
No, it's not important. It's art, it's music. It's a brilliant piece of writing. Relax.
Words matter. Fun tune, looking for the Howlin Wolf version now!
No, it's not important. It's art, it's music. It's a brilliant piece of writing. Relax.
Words matter. Fun tune, looking for the Howlin Wolf version now!
stegokitty wrote:
You must be tons of fun at parties! LOL!
Vocals sound like Jack Bruce (Cream).
Whomever it was who scripted the lyrics associated with the song on RP are incorrect.
They have "I should of quit you a long time ago ..."
This is a modern mistake of grammatical ignorance of the great English language.
There's no such thing as "should of". Utter nonsense.
It's either "I should HAVE ..." or "I should've ..."
Yes, I'm a grammar nazi, and yes, it's important.
You must be tons of fun at parties! LOL!
kcar wrote:
Written by Howlin' Wolf, actually. A great Huffington Post article gets the real backstory from Wolf's longtime friend and guitarist, Hubert Sumlin:
When I asked Sumlin if Wolf’s title referred to a slaughterhouse, Sumlin replied: “No, what happened was... Wolf had seven wives. One was named Helen. She shot him with a double barrel shotgun with buckshot. Out the second floor window. This woman, oh man, he wrote that song about her! Reason I know it is every song he wrote, they was real.”
...
“Down on the killing floor — that means a woman has you down,” Sumlin explained. “She went out of her way to try to kill you. She at the peak of doing it, and you got away now.” He paused, then added, “You know people have wished they was dead — you been treated so bad that sometimes you just say, ‘Oh Lord have mercy.’ You’d rather be six feet in the ground.”
Thank You for the info!
Written by Howlin' Wolf, actually. A great Huffington Post article gets the real backstory from Wolf's longtime friend and guitarist, Hubert Sumlin:
When I asked Sumlin if Wolf’s title referred to a slaughterhouse, Sumlin replied: “No, what happened was... Wolf had seven wives. One was named Helen. She shot him with a double barrel shotgun with buckshot. Out the second floor window. This woman, oh man, he wrote that song about her! Reason I know it is every song he wrote, they was real.”
...
“Down on the killing floor — that means a woman has you down,” Sumlin explained. “She went out of her way to try to kill you. She at the peak of doing it, and you got away now.” He paused, then added, “You know people have wished they was dead — you been treated so bad that sometimes you just say, ‘Oh Lord have mercy.’ You’d rather be six feet in the ground.”
Thank You for the info!
This one RP deep cut.
Excellent! Iconic! Thanx RP! 
Great to hear this in 2021. Thanks
Fresh Goat's version is better. Vancouver Blues band) https://youtube.com/playlist?l...
Thank god for RP
A blues song about the meat packing industry in Chicago?
Raise the electric flag!
bam23 wrote:
Don't even get me started on "towards"!!
Don't even get me started on "towards"!!
stegokitty wrote:
I get your point. But, the obviously incorrect (to some of us, myself included) use of "should of" instead of "should have" always grates. BUT: the language is constantly in flux and there are erroneous constructions that, while obvious to some of us, are part of the understanding of the spoken language by those who use it. An example is "ax" as opposed to "ask". This is prevalent in the African-American community and has always been immediately detected when I hear it. But, it seems that in old(e) English, spoken a mere hundreds of years ago, this was one of the accepted and usual versions of the word. Thus, not really all that long ago, to state that someone axed a question was not considered to be bad English. However, I don;t really understand how readers of current English keep writing " should of". Some folks are not really paying attention.
After all these years I finally found out the beginning is a speech by LBJ. Why didn't I know that before?
I speak tonight for the dignity of man and the destiny of democracy.
What a great tune!
Long Live Radio Paradise
My rating only 7 but I do not YET Skip
My rating only 7 but I do not YET Skip
Wonderful! Loved the whole album. Made me remember another great but largely unknown work called "Two Jews Blues" by Barry Goldberg (founder member of The Electric Flag) which featured Mike Bloomfield, Harvey Mandel & Duane Allman. hayduke2 wrote:
Yaaasssss!!!
Fabulous!!!
Yaaasssss!!!
Wow! I've never heard that before. That's my kind of music!
Such a great album - what memories!
Electric Flag - wow Bill! More please!
hayduke2 wrote:
written by Ike Turner! Shit man this rates high just from the assembled WICKEDNESS!!!
Written by Howlin' Wolf, actually. A great Huffington Post article gets the real backstory from Wolf's longtime friend and guitarist, Hubert Sumlin:
When I asked Sumlin if Wolf’s title referred to a slaughterhouse, Sumlin replied: “No, what happened was... Wolf had seven wives. One was named Helen. She shot him with a double barrel shotgun with buckshot. Out the second floor window. This woman, oh man, he wrote that song about her! Reason I know it is every song he wrote, they was real.”
...
“Down on the killing floor — that means a woman has you down,” Sumlin explained. “She went out of her way to try to kill you. She at the peak of doing it, and you got away now.” He paused, then added, “You know people have wished they was dead — you been treated so bad that sometimes you just say, ‘Oh Lord have mercy.’ You’d rather be six feet in the ground.”
written by Ike Turner! Shit man this rates high just from the assembled WICKEDNESS!!!
Written by Howlin' Wolf, actually. A great Huffington Post article gets the real backstory from Wolf's longtime friend and guitarist, Hubert Sumlin:
When I asked Sumlin if Wolf’s title referred to a slaughterhouse, Sumlin replied: “No, what happened was... Wolf had seven wives. One was named Helen. She shot him with a double barrel shotgun with buckshot. Out the second floor window. This woman, oh man, he wrote that song about her! Reason I know it is every song he wrote, they was real.”
...
“Down on the killing floor — that means a woman has you down,” Sumlin explained. “She went out of her way to try to kill you. She at the peak of doing it, and you got away now.” He paused, then added, “You know people have wished they was dead — you been treated so bad that sometimes you just say, ‘Oh Lord have mercy.’ You’d rather be six feet in the ground.”
Suzl wrote:
Alrighty Bill!! Thank You :)
Thank You!!! Almighty Bill!!!!
Alrighty Bill!! Thank You :)Thank You!!! Almighty Bill!!!!
well when you're that stoned and in another realm of sound it doesn't really matter, and coulda been should've.
Alrighty Bill!! Thank You :) stegokitty wrote:
No, it's not important. It's art, it's music. It's a brilliant piece of writing. Relax.
Vocals sound like Jack Bruce (Cream).
Whomever it was who scripted the lyrics associated with the song on RP are incorrect.
They have "I should of quit you a long time ago ..."
This is a modern mistake of grammatical ignorance of the great English language.
There's no such thing as "should of". Utter nonsense.
It's either "I should HAVE ..." or "I should've ..."
Yes, I'm a grammar nazi, and yes, it's important.
Whomever it was who scripted the lyrics associated with the song on RP are incorrect.
They have "I should of quit you a long time ago ..."
This is a modern mistake of grammatical ignorance of the great English language.
There's no such thing as "should of". Utter nonsense.
It's either "I should HAVE ..." or "I should've ..."
Yes, I'm a grammar nazi, and yes, it's important.
No, it's not important. It's art, it's music. It's a brilliant piece of writing. Relax.
Vocals sound like Jack Bruce (Cream).
Whomever it was who scripted the lyrics associated with the song on RP are incorrect.
They have "I should of quit you a long time ago ..."
This is a modern mistake of grammatical ignorance of the great English language.
There's no such thing as "should of". Utter nonsense.
It's either "I should HAVE ..." or "I should've ..."
Yes, I'm a grammar nazi, and yes, it's important.
Whomever it was who scripted the lyrics associated with the song on RP are incorrect.
They have "I should of quit you a long time ago ..."
This is a modern mistake of grammatical ignorance of the great English language.
There's no such thing as "should of". Utter nonsense.
It's either "I should HAVE ..." or "I should've ..."
Yes, I'm a grammar nazi, and yes, it's important.
red wrote:
written by Ike Turner! Shit man this rates high just from the assembled WICKEDNESS!!!
i believe this was originally performed by Howlin' Wolf.
WonderLizard wrote:In fact Wolf, under his real name, Chester Burnett, wrote the song. Great band with, in addition to Bloomfield and Miles, Harvey Brooks on bass, Nick Gravenites on vocals, and Herbie Rich and Barry Goldberg on keys. "Groovin' Is Easy" is my favorite cut from the album.
written by Ike Turner! Shit man this rates high just from the assembled WICKEDNESS!!!
How could I never have heard this before in my life??
This is awesome!!!!
This is awesome!!!!
vit wrote:
Good luck with that one!
How bout some Black Flag next?
Good luck with that one!
Yeah, Nick Gravenites! This is the trippy dude who sparred so wryly slyly back & forth with Janis on the sublime & seminal "Ego Rock"
Fabulous!!!
vit wrote:
Haha, you're listening to the wrong station!
How bout some Black Flag next?
Haha, you're listening to the wrong station!
Love this album. It was my intro the Chicago blues. . . . . .
Bill, the album was released in March or April 1968.
Just made me dance around some,,loong time since,,,
How bout some Black Flag next?
Great album... great band... Nic still plays around... wonder if he would come to Paradise... Big Brother is there next month... they used to mix back then... that would be something...
I think somewhere I have a copy of RL Burnside doing this number.
I just love that bassline!
Saw them at The Trauma in Philly back around '67 or '68. Great show! Had to buy the LP after that, but it didn't compare to their live act.
aristoteles wrote:
Just in case
https://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=79PVlXAyCac
I f you have the chance check Hendrix´s version, just amazing,....
Just in case
https://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=79PVlXAyCac
I f you have the chance check Hendrix´s version, just amazing,....
shakitten wrote:
Exactly. Would love to hear the original. Bill?
Anyone else hearing Cream?
Exactly. Would love to hear the original. Bill?
Wow! So catchy!
9
9
Paul Bloomfield? Cool. I like it. Also loved Howlin' Wolf.
One of Bloomfield's best solos
Man, if Howlin' Wolf could have had a nickel for every white kid who copped his licks!
algrif wrote:
Difficult to rate this higher than a 6, simply because of the far better Wolf original, Butterfield, Zep, etc covers that are also better. It makes this just an 'also-ran' for me I'm afraid.
...not to mention Jimi Hendrix's cover version.
Like I wrote in response to the previous track (Midnight Rambler)...
TURN IT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!
E_A_D_G wrote:
Intro is LBJ
Thanks,made the song a little better
I loved this album! I remember the first time I heard this song, it totally blew me away.
gp wrote:
Mike Bloomfield,Buddy Miles. Great song.
Not to mention Barry Goldberg, Harvey Brooks and Nick Gravenites plus a noteworthy! horn section. Short lived best-in-class predating BS&T.
E_A_D_G wrote:
Gawd damn good. Harvey Brooks on bass.
A great bass player indeed.
shakitten wrote:
Anyone else hearing Cream?
No, just a pale echo of the righteous Original Version of this song, by the great Howlin' Wolf. Accept No Substitutes, even if Bloomfield's playing guitar.
Here's the original. Get it:
I remember every stereo in the Barracks blasting this song when the album first arrived in the PX at Fort Bragg. The album only lasted a day until the generals decided it was subversive and ordered it out.
The combination of the voice of Lyndon Baines Johnson ("I ahm You're President") and then the sarcastic, mocking vocals and music .. well, this is the paradigm of the anti-war movement in my opinion.
Damn! I love this album -- along with Steppenwolf (Don't Tell Me What to Do") were most played in the barracks.
Anyone else hearing Cream?
HazzeSwede wrote:
Love this,played this tune a lot at discos.Belive the intro is from Mr Nixon!?
Intro is LBJ
Love this,played this tune a lot at discos.Belive the intro is from Mr Nixon!?
Needs Tab Benoit or John Belushi vocals to be better.
algrif wrote:
Difficult to rate this higher than a 6, simply because of the far better Wolf original, Butterfield, Zep, etc covers that are also better. It makes this just an 'also-ran' for me I'm afraid.
Hey algrif, where is the Butterfield version?
Gawd damn good. Harvey Brooks on bass.
Yes good for a BB King rip.5.0 Glockman45 wrote:
pretty good 6
pretty good 6
algrif wrote:
Difficult to rate this higher than a 6, simply because of the far better Wolf original, Butterfield, Zep, etc covers that are also better. It makes this just an 'also-ran' for me I'm afraid.
red wrote:
i believe this was originally performed by Howlin' Wolf.
In fact Wolf, under his real name, Chester Burnett, wrote the song.
Great band with, in addition to Bloomfield and Miles, Harvey Brooks on bass, Nick Gravenites on vocals, and Herbie Rich and Barry Goldberg on keys. "Groovin' Is Easy" is my favorite cut from the album.
Difficult to rate this higher than a 6, simply because of the far better Wolf original, Butterfield, Zep, etc covers that are also better. It makes this just an 'also-ran' for me I'm afraid.
Makes me miss John Belushi...he would have dug this too.
My foot's a tappin'.
Mike Bloomfield,Buddy Miles. Great song.
Oh yeah! 
Yes indeed, originally Howlin' Wolf. Albert King does a killer version as well.
i believe this was originally performed by Howlin\' Wolf.
Well, that\'s just jammin\'. Better than a cuppa joe to kickstart a Monday morning in a blizzard.
Better than a cuppa joe to kickstart a Monday morning in a blizzard.