According to blues historian Gerard Herzhaft, it is derived from songs by Memphis Minnie, Bo Carter, and Muddy Waters and uses the rhythm figure from "Rockin' and Rollin'" by Lil' Son Jackson.

[3] Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Excello Records originally released it in 1957 as the B-side to his debut solo single, "I Got Love if You Want It".

The Grateful Dead played it over 40 times, with the first known at Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, January 8, 1966 and the last in Ann Arbor, December 15, 1971.

[4][5] The recording features Syd Barrett, Bob Klose, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Nick Mason.

[7] In 2008, Slim Harpo's "I'm a King Bee" received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award, which "honor[s] recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance".