Music Song Lyrics Musician Makes Mention of Hoodoo

Tracy Thomas · Unread post by **Tracy Thomas** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:16 pm

spellbound1957 <spellbound1957@yahoo.com> wrote: greetings !! i caught a documentary on my local cabel chanel(encore entertainment) over the weekend that i'd like to turn you on
to....titled: last of the mississippi jukes/by robert mugs 2003. it's
filmed in jackson mississippi and is about the towns efforts to save a
historical hotel"the sumers hotel" from demolition. the sumers also
houses "the subway lounge" a legendary blues joint. it's got great
music from the local talent and if you read betwix the lines a little
mojo comes thru.........peace,#841 jeaneen

Sadly, "The Subway Lounge" was not renovated, but rather demolished to make room for a new road from Jackson State to downtown. Well, truthfully they didn't think the building structure could be salvaged- to my understanding. The subway was a very historic blues spot that had the feel of an old time "hole in the wall." It was the spot to visit for good music and entertainment from segregation times and after. Many still miss it today.

If you visit this webiste you can see more about the Subway including a video which is from the documentary- music included- and update. http://www.robertmugge.com/movies/subway_video.html

Tracy Thomas~ #479 (Mississippi gurl)

---------------------------------
Get your email and more, right on the new Yahoo.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Unread post by **Quimbisero** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:56 pm

Cat loves to quote Blues lyrics and I love it when she does! I thought
you might find it interesting to see the parallels in cuban music to
the magical references found in Blues music.

Here is a brief excerpt from a Changui song from eastern Cuba. It
occupies a position in Cuban music equivalent to Old Timey music in
the US, but sounds nothing like it. The translations are mine.

Yo soy siguaraya (I am siguaraya, a sacred wood in Palo))
Yo soy siete rayos (I am Seven rays; the Spanish name for Nsasi,
the nkisi often equated with Shango)
Yo soy palo monte (I am palo monte)
Yo soy Bonifacio (I am Bonifacio, the singer and a palero)
Yo soy LucumÃ (a reference to the Yoruba faith - santeria)
Yo soy Lucifer (I am Lucifer)
Yo soy tumba yaya (I am knock down the old woman, the name of a
palo wood)
Yo como candela (I eat the flame)
Yo soy el diablo (I am the devil)
Yo soy palo caja (I am boxwood, a tree used in Palo for magic)
Yo soy mata ceiba (I am the leaves of the ceiba tree, a sacred wood)
Yo soy mata siete (I am the leaves of the magic tree 'seven rays')
Yo soy Santa Cecilia (I am Santa Cecilia, patron saint of musicians)
SÃ, ven a parrendearlo! a guaracharlo! aha, ven a cantarlo! (Yes,
come and parrendear! guarachar! aha, come and sing it! Parrendear and
guarachar refer to two forms of popular dances. It's equivalent to
saying come and boogey and twist, or "Let's rock and roll!")

Eoghan
it!

Unread post by **RedWill0w** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 12:15 am

In a message dated 10/16/2006 6:56:23 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
quimbisa@inquiceweb.com writes:

Here is a brief excerpt from a Changui song from eastern Cuba. It
occupies a position in Cuban music equivalent to Old Timey music in
the US, but sounds nothing like it. The translations are mine.

Thanks, Eoghan, that was fun!
I enjoyed that

Dara

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Holly Cratty · Unread post by **Holly Cratty** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:26 pm

Greetings,

My spouse brought home a four disc compilation titled What It Is! Funky Soul
And Rare Grooves [1967-1977] (Rhino Entertainment, 2006). We listened and
noticed that two of the songs have hoodoo related lyrics: 1) Take It Off
Part II by Johnny Tolbert and De Thangs, released in 1970 (written by Johnny
Tolbert a writer/performer whose true identity, according to the liner
notes, remains a mystery) and 2) Mo Jo Hanna performed by Tami Lynn (written
by Andre Williams, an R&B performer called "the Grandfather of rap")
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... riendid=68
691228

I couldn't find the lyrics to either song on the Internet, so I tried to
transcribe them below (not perfect but I tried).

"Take it Off Part Two)" - Tolbert
Part two, yeah, part two
Keep it funky fellows
Don't nobody get out of line
Yeah, listen
Take it off, take it all off
Woman, I don't know what you're doing to me
But you got me fixed
You got me fixed baby
Look here
I'm gonna get me some goofer (goober?, not sure) dust
Sprinkle it all around your head
A black cat bone
A mojo hand
A conker root (Conqueror root)
I want you to turn me loose
Yeah, take it off, take it all off
Loose it
I'm tired, why don't you take it off?
I don't know what you're doing to me
But I can't stand it no more
Voodoo, voodoo baby
It must be voodoo, yeah
Listen, take it off, take it all off
Rusty, you know what I'm talking about?
Yeah, I know what you're talking about
Woman got me too
Lord it's heavy
Refrain: Help me, take it off...
I'm tired, I'm so tired
It's heavy
Pressure, pressure, pressure

Mo Jo Hanna was released as a single in 1963 and on an LP in 1972 titled
"Love Is Here And Now You're Gone". Here are my transcribed lyrics (I did
my best - but it's not perfect):
"Mo Jo Hanna"
Oh yeah, I'm taking hold a strand of your hair (but it could be "I'm taking
four strands of your hair")
And a five dollar bill
I'm gonna put it in a letter
I'm gonna drop it in the mail
I'm gonna send it to a woman
That a friend of mine told me about
She's a gumbo cooker and an alligator hooker
Make a dead man jump and shout
Talk about a woman named Hanna
Down in Louisiana
Lord, she's a mojo worker
She's gonna work that thing for me
She's gonna end my misery
I know he's coming home soon, my Lord
Ah, she don't wear fancy stitches
All she wears is man's britches
And now and then she takes a little sip
She's got a 45 on her hip
She's built a strong reputation
In a southern land
On Saturday night about twelve o'clock
You know she hoodoos a voodoo man
Talk about a woman named Hanna
Down in Louisiana
Lord, she's a mojo worker
She's gonna work that thing for me now
She's gonna end my misery
I know he's coming on home (to you)
He's coming on home, oh Lord
Work it up Hanna
I know you're the best in all the land
Work it up Hanna
The best in all the world
I know he'll be coming back
She built a strong reputation
In a southern land
On Saturday night about twelve o'clock
You know she voodoos a hoodoo man
Refrain:
Talk about a woman named Hanna
Down in Louisiana
Lord, she's a mojo worker
She's gonna work that thing for me now
She's gonna end my misery
I know he's coming home soon (to you)

Anyway, thought I'd share this with the list and am interested in reading
any thoughts about the lyrics.

Regards,
Holly Cratty (#290)

(Thanks, Holly. I have added these lyrics to my big pile of "material to get online someday when i get a helper around this place."

--cat)

Unread post by **Mike Rock** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:47 am

On 11/20/06, Holly Cratty <hcratty@adelphia.net> wrote:

> > I couldn't find the lyrics to either song on the Internet, so I tried to
> transcribe them below (not perfect but I tried).
>
> "Take it Off Part Two)" - Tolbert
> Part two, yeah, part two
> Keep it funky fellows
> Don't nobody get out of line
> Yeah, listen
> Take it off, take it all off
> Woman, I don't know what you're doing to me
> But you got me fixed

Ha ha I love the double-meanings between "take it off" = take off a
jinx or take off your clothes and "you got me fixed" = you crossed me
and/or you have me fascinated.

Word-play is one of the things I love about blues.

mike
--

http://www.mike-rock.com

Unread post by **gremmie99** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:37 pm

Hi cat and all,

I was just looking through your archives of songs about hoodoo, and
was wondering what some of the best for a good compilation to put on
my iPod. I was just wondering what people's favorites are. They don't
have to be songs on iTunes, but just ones available on CD at least.

I did find "Keep Your Hand Off Of My Mojo" by Coot Grant & Kid Wilson
on iTunes, which I just downloaded. There are so many (they didn't
have "Got My Mojo Workin'" as sung by Muddy Waters, whom I love, but
they had a few others..I'll have to listen to see which artist I like
best).

A side note about iTunes and Apple. I lost all my files when my
computer and back up both drives both died a couple of months ago. I
had a ton of songs from iTunes, which says they won't let you
redownload, but I called customer service and they let me redownload
everything I had purchased. Excellent customer service, a place that
values customers (either that or my little first time mojo bag just
made me very lucky and very happy) or both). So, cat...by tax time
when I get a new computer I will be sending you things in Mac format,
which will be so much easier for you, since that is what you're
running.)

Jennifer Line
#901

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:45 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "nekkid_kitty" <gremmie99@...> wrote:
> >
> Hi cat and all,
>
> I was just looking through your archives of songs about hoodoo, and
> was wondering what some of the best for a good compilation to put on
> my iPod. I was just wondering what people's favorites are. They don't
> have to be songs on iTunes, but just ones available on CD at least.

>
> I did find "Keep Your Hand Off Of My Mojo" by Coot Grant & Kid Wilson
> on iTunes, which I just downloaded. There are so many (they didn't
> have "Got My Mojo Workin'" as sung by Muddy Waters, whom I love, but
> they had a few others..I'll have to listen to see which artist I like
> best).
>
> A side note about iTunes and Apple. I lost all my files when my
> computer and back up both drives both died a couple of months ago. I
> had a ton of songs from iTunes, which says they won't let you
> redownload, but I called customer service and they let me redownload
> everything I had purchased. Excellent customer service, a place that
> values customers (either that or my little first time mojo bag just
> made me very lucky and very happy) or both). So, cat...by tax time
> when I get a new computer I will be sending you things in Mac format,
> which will be so much easier for you, since that is what you're
> running.)
>
> Jennifer Line
> #901
>

(The next time you come by the shop, Jennifer, i'll give you a list.
There are hundreds of such songs, not all available at itunes. I am
working on the possibility of some CDs, but need legal clearances
first. Stay tuned. --cat)

Unread post by **Deborah Voith** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:28 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "catherine yronwode" <cat@...> wrote:
> >
> --- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "nekkid_kitty" <gremmie99@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi cat and all,
> >
> > I was just looking through your archives of songs about hoodoo,
and
> > > was wondering what some of the best for a good compilation to put
on
> > > my iPod. I was just wondering what people's favorites are. They
don't
> > > have to be songs on iTunes, but just ones available on CD at
least.

> > >
> > I did find "Keep Your Hand Off Of My Mojo" by Coot Grant & Kid
Wilson
> > > on iTunes, which I just downloaded. There are so many (they
didn't
> > > have "Got My Mojo Workin'" as sung by Muddy Waters, whom I love,
but
> > > they had a few others..I'll have to listen to see which artist I
like
> > > best).
> >
> > A side note about iTunes and Apple. I lost all my files when my
> > computer and back up both drives both died a couple of months
ago. I
> > > had a ton of songs from iTunes, which says they won't let you
> > redownload, but I called customer service and they let me
redownload
> > > everything I had purchased. Excellent customer service, a place
that
> > > values customers (either that or my little first time mojo bag
just
> > > made me very lucky and very happy) or both). So, cat...by tax
time
> > > when I get a new computer I will be sending you things in Mac
format,
> > > which will be so much easier for you, since that is what you're
> > running.)
> >
> > Jennifer Line
> > #901
> >
>
> (The next time you come by the shop, Jennifer, i'll give you a list.
> There are hundreds of such songs, not all available at itunes. I am
> working on the possibility of some CDs, but need legal clearances
> first. Stay tuned. --cat)
>
Cat,
That sounds way cool. Please keep us posted if you do anything with
CD's.
DebVoith#805

Unread post by **gremmie99** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 11:36 pm

In a message dated 12/1/2006 1:31:05 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
dvoith@sbcglobal.net writes:

--- In _hrcourse@yahoogrouphrcou_ (mailto:hrcourse@yahoogroups.com) ,
"catherine yronwode" <cat@...> wrote:
> >
> --- In _hrcourse@yahoogrouphrcou_ (mailto:hrcourse@yahoogroups.com) ,
"nekkid_kitty" <gremmie99@> wrote:
> > >
> > Hi cat and all,
> >
> > I was just looking through your archives of songs about hoodoo,
and
> > > was wondering what some of the best for a good compilation to put
on
> > > my iPod. I was just wondering what people's favorites are. They
don't
> > > have to be songs on iTunes, but just ones available on CD at
least.

> > >
> > I did find "Keep Your Hand Off Of My Mojo" by Coot Grant & Kid
Wilson
> > > on iTunes, which I just downloaded. There are so many (they
didn't
> > > have "Got My Mojo Workin'" as sung by Muddy Waters, whom I love,
but
> > > they had a few others..I'll have to listen to see which artist I
like
> > > best).
> >
> > A side note about iTunes and Apple. I lost all my files when my
> > computer and back up both drives both died a couple of months
ago. I
> > > had a ton of songs from iTunes, which says they won't let you
> > redownload, but I called customer service and they let me
redownload
> > > everything I had purchased. Excellent customer service, a place
that
> > > values customers (either that or my little first time mojo bag
just
> > > made me very lucky and very happy) or both). So, cat...by tax
time
> > > when I get a new computer I will be sending you things in Mac
format,
> > > which will be so much easier for you, since that is what you're
> > running.)
> >
> > Jennifer Line
> > #901
> >
>
> (The next time you come by the shop, Jennifer, i'll give you a list.
> There are hundreds of such songs, not all available at itunes. I am
> working on the possibility of some CDs, but need legal clearances
> first. Stay tuned. --cat)
>
Cat,
That sounds way cool. Please keep us posted if you do anything with
CD's.
DebVoith#805

That's awesome. I just know there are so many great songs out there. At
least knowing which are good, I can to pick up CD's or iTunes (as they can be
downloaded individually), but I just want to listen to some good music.

Like
Deb says, keep us posted.

Jennifer Line
#901

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Unread post by **Cyd** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:48 pm

I recently started listening to robert Jhonson and Blind Lemon
recordings i have even picked up my trusty blues harp i have not
palyed in years any ways when i hear these artist i get a little teary
this has not happened before.

its kinda like i feel the spirit
i feel what the sing about

Chris Roe

Unread post by **Lisa Mertz** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:40 pm

> There is no hoodoo in the movie, but there is an interesting part
> where, when he is troubled, he drops a Bible on the ground and reads
> the pages that the Bible fell open to.

I just watched that film last night! Loved the music.
And I thought it offered a very vivid depiction of PTSD.
I also thought the Samuel L. Jackson character dropped the Bible by
accident but then read the pages it fell open to.
It's a decent film, it's not sensationalistic and the performances
are very good.

My 2cents,
Lisa Mertz
#913

Unread post by **Dr Johannes** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:09 pm

"I took the plane from Sweden right down to Forestville,
to seek out those conjure people and get the magic thrill,
All the way from old Valhalla and the land of polar bears
to learn all about that rootwork by my own sight and ears
By them old Hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
By them old hoodoo women, and that thin devils man

yep, sat down on a plane he did and went straight on down..

And them conjure secrets, yep, I sure did learn,
Bout Benji, labels, eggs and their link to candleburn,
By them old hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
By them old hoodoo women, and that thin devils man

Listen to the story, about Johannes, the Swedish Conqueroo
who learned more about that conjure than you will ever do

He learnt about the man who isnt one, but four
by an exhausted auctioneer who fell asleap right on the floor
He saw how Christ and Potter, could team up as a pair
and met in Froghouse cottage, a dragon in her lair
By them old hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
By them old hoodoo woman, and that thin devils man

yep, Im tellin ya, he learnt a lot
that nordski man..

Miss Cat and Nagasiva, their hospitality be praised
and songs of gratitude, to heavens I do raise.
Expect some hard work labour and a lot of love and talk
if you ever will consider the hoodoo apprentice walk
Down by them hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
Down by them hoodoo woman, and that thin devils man

Last of all I'm tellin ya, if you consider theft
from these good folks, I say to you there is a nice spot left.
Down by the hoodoo graveyard, for you and for your soul
we'll nail you down forever and listen to your howl.
All the hoodoo women, and all the devils men
All the hoodoo women, and all the devils men

that's right, baby...nail you down, nail you down."

Thank you for a wonderful time, for putting up with my coffe cups
all over the shop, stealing all the hot water and making loud noises
in the stair after late studynights smoke breaks.

/
Johannes Gardback #321
Grad. Student, Grad. App.

(Thank you, Johannes, for making the long trip to see us and to sudy here. It was a great pleasure to meet and work with you, and i had a big (but slightly sad) smile as i read your song lyrics -- the smile beacuse you mentioned Benji and "The Swedish Conqueroo", and the sadness because i know we will not be able to see you often in this life, due to distances, and we miss you already. Good luck to you in your mission to bring hoodoo to Scandinavia. Your fond former teacher and now colleague, cat)

Unread post by **Sister Jacqueline** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:09 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "Johannes" <votangreen@...> wrote:
> >
> "I took the plane from Sweden right down to Forestville,
> to seek out those conjure people and get the magic thrill,
> All the way from old Valhalla and the land of polar bears
> to learn all about that rootwork by my own sight and ears
> By them old Hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
> By them old hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
>
> yep, sat down on a plane he did and went straight on down..
>
> And them conjure secrets, yep, I sure did learn,
> Bout Benji, labels, eggs and their link to candleburn,
> By them old hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
> By them old hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
>
> Listen to the story, about Johannes, the Swedish Conqueroo
> who learned more about that conjure than you will ever do
>
> He learnt about the man who isnt one, but four
> by an exhausted auctioneer who fell asleap right on the floor
> He saw how Christ and Potter, could team up as a pair
> and met in Froghouse cottage, a dragon in her lair
> By them old hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
> By them old hoodoo woman, and that thin devils man
>
> yep, Im tellin ya, he learnt a lot
> that nordski man..
>
> Miss Cat and Nagasiva, their hospitality be praised
> and songs of gratitude, to heavens I do raise.
> Expect some hard work labour and a lot of love and talk
> if you ever will consider the hoodoo apprentice walk
> Down by them hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
> Down by them hoodoo woman, and that thin devils man
>
> Last of all I'm tellin ya, if you consider theft
> from these good folks, I say to you there is a nice spot left.
> Down by the hoodoo graveyard, for you and for your soul
> we'll nail you down forever and listen to your howl.
> All the hoodoo women, and all the devils men
> All the hoodoo women, and all the devils men
>
> that's right, baby...nail you down, nail you down."
>
>
> Thank you for a wonderful time, for putting up with my coffe cups
> all over the shop, stealing all the hot water and making loud noises
> in the stair after late studynights smoke breaks.
>
> /
> Johannes Gardback #321
> Grad. Student, Grad. App.
>
> (Thank you, Johannes, for making the long trip to see us and to sudy
here. It was a great pleasure to meet and work with you, and i had a
big (but slightly sad) smile as i read your song lyrics -- the smile
beacuse you mentioned Benji and "The Swedish Conqueroo", and the
sadness because i know we will not be able to see you often in this
life, due to distances, and we miss you already. Good luck to you in
your mission to bring hoodoo to Scandinavia. Your fond former teacher
and now colleague, cat)
> >
>>>>>>>>It was nice meeting Johannes (Jackie, with my three girls in
tow) and I say it thrice, you must record this song, you must record
this song,YOU MUST RECORD THIS SONG! (I can hear Robert Johnson/ Eric
Clapton on the geetar)

Jackie Mathers 496

Unread post by **Dr Johannes** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:46 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "Studio One" <studioonefloral@...>
wrote:
> >
> --- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "Johannes" <votangreen@> wrote:
> >
> > "I took the plane from Sweden right down to Forestville,
> > to seek out those conjure people and get the magic thrill,
> > All the way from old Valhalla and the land of polar bears
> > to learn all about that rootwork by my own sight and ears
> > By them old Hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
> > By them old hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
> >
> > yep, sat down on a plane he did and went straight on down..
> >
> > And them conjure secrets, yep, I sure did learn,
> > Bout Benji, labels, eggs and their link to candleburn,
> > By them old hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
> > By them old hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
> >
> > Listen to the story, about Johannes, the Swedish Conqueroo
> > who learned more about that conjure than you will ever do
> >
> > He learnt about the man who isnt one, but four
> > by an exhausted auctioneer who fell asleap right on the floor
> > He saw how Christ and Potter, could team up as a pair
> > and met in Froghouse cottage, a dragon in her lair
> > By them old hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
> > By them old hoodoo woman, and that thin devils man
> >
> > yep, Im tellin ya, he learnt a lot
> > that nordski man..
> >
> > Miss Cat and Nagasiva, their hospitality be praised
> > and songs of gratitude, to heavens I do raise.
> > Expect some hard work labour and a lot of love and talk
> > if you ever will consider the hoodoo apprentice walk
> > Down by them hoodoo women, and that thin devils man
> > Down by them hoodoo woman, and that thin devils man
> >
> > Last of all I'm tellin ya, if you consider theft
> > from these good folks, I say to you there is a nice spot left.
> > Down by the hoodoo graveyard, for you and for your soul
> > we'll nail you down forever and listen to your howl.
> > All the hoodoo women, and all the devils men
> > All the hoodoo women, and all the devils men
> >
> > that's right, baby...nail you down, nail you down."
> >
> >
> > Thank you for a wonderful time, for putting up with my coffe cups
> > all over the shop, stealing all the hot water and making loud
noises
> > > in the stair after late studynights smoke breaks.
> >
> > /
> > Johannes Gardback #321
> > Grad. Student, Grad. App.
> >
> > (Thank you, Johannes, for making the long trip to see us and to
sudy
> > here. It was a great pleasure to meet and work with you, and i had a
> big (but slightly sad) smile as i read your song lyrics -- the smile
> beacuse you mentioned Benji and "The Swedish Conqueroo", and the
> sadness because i know we will not be able to see you often in this
> life, due to distances, and we miss you already. Good luck to you in
> your mission to bring hoodoo to Scandinavia. Your fond former
teacher
> > and now colleague, cat)
> >
> >>>>>>>>It was nice meeting Johannes (Jackie, with my three girls in
> tow) and I say it thrice, you must record this song, you must record
> this song,YOU MUST RECORD THIS SONG! (I can hear Robert Johnson/
Eric
> > Clapton on the geetar)
>
>
> Jackie Mathers 496
>
It was nice meeting you and your clan as well, Jackie.
Im not much of a musician but if anyone can here music to this, feel
free to use the lyrics.
I expect complimentary copies sent to me, cat nad Jackie of course.

By the way... I warmly recommend using the Lucky Mojo Safe Travel
formula stuff.
Here is a story to testify about their greatness:

I used it when I left Sweden (A simple incense/prayer ritual and a
few quincux-dots with the Safe Travel Oil on the bag) and I used it
when going back from the USA. (quincux on the bags and a friend
setting a road opener candle anointed with Safe Travel oil)

Now on the way back my bags were filled to the brim with Lucky Mojo
stuff. Getting through customs would have been a nightmare if they
even got close to these well smelling bags.

I also worried a bit about things breaking since it was a backpack
and a cracked plastic suitcase.

After departing from SF Airport I lost my luggage ticket. And the
flight from Philadelphia to Munich was delayed so I missed my
connecting flight to Sweden and had to go by Kopenhagen in Denmark
instead. The personel at Munich Airport had no record of my luggage
and they guessed it had been stuck in San Francisco.

But, lo and behold, 29 hours later the bags arrive at Goteborg
airport with the same plane as me.

And customs..they were on their coffe break and there wasnt a customs
officer in sight when I passed through.

And nothing in the bags had been broken. Not as much as a scratch on
the antique tea cup or the fragile hanging Devils Figure.

How's that for a Safe Travel eh?

best regards

/Johannes Gårdbäck #321
Grad. Stud, Grad. Apprentice.

(That's cool. You made your luggage so invisible to customs that it became invisible to the airline personnel -- and even to YOU, because you lost your own luggae ticket!!! That's the kind of work we call "don't let your left hand know what your right hand do." That's deep. --cat)

Unread post by **Dr Johannes** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:58 pm

I just met a blues singer named Mavis Staples and her sister Yvonne.
I know nothing about bluse singers but she seems the type to ask about
Hoodoo. Do you know about her cat?

Johannes Gardback #321 GGA

(Uh, well, she is one of the totally best gospel singers ever, of all time. I went to see her and her family play many times, back in the day, bith at big venues and in churches. Her late father, Roebuck Staples, was probably the best gospel guitarist of the 1960s, The Great Reverberator. He was a friend of Martin Luther King Jr. and he stretched the definition of "gospel" to include many political songs during the 1960s. I have posted links to Staple Singers videos in the African American Video of the Day series. Check out the Staple Singers (Mavis, Yvonne, Cleotha, Pervis, and their father Roebuck (a.k.a. "Pops") Staples) at itunes and youtube. There are MANY youtube video clips of them at various stages of their careers, and the itunes selections will also span quite a lot of time. Top hits include "Respect Yourself", "Why (Am I Treated So Bad?)", "Don't Knock", "Uncloudy Day", "I'll Take You There", "Pray On, My Child", "Swing Down, Sweet Chariot", "Wade in the Water", "Get Right Church and Let's Go Home", "The Day Has Passed and Gone", "I Wish I Had Answered", and "Be Careful of Stones That You Throw". Basically, just purchase the entire CD of "Pray On, My Child" at itunes and there you have their earliest, purest sound, recorded for Vee-jay in the early 1960s. Then add a couple of their 1970s "soul-blues-gospel" peieces like "I'll Take You There" and "Respect Yurself" and you will have their political-gospel sound. As for whether or not Mavis and Yvonne Staples know much about roots work or conjure, well, they are pretty churchy folks, but they were raised in Chicago and i am sure they know a few tricks or at least have some typical family customs and beliefs, even if they are not active practitioners. Go ahead and ask! I'd sure love to hear what Mavis has to say. --cat Oh, and P.S., because Roebuck always subsumed his incredible guitar work to the needs of the family singing group and the conventions of the 3-minute single record, i suggest that any true fan of his will really enjoy picking up a copy of the classical guitarist Sandy Bull's 10-minute improvisatory exegesis on the Staples sound, available at itunes by searching under the artist name Sandy Bull for the title "Gospel Tune", from the album "Fantasias for Guitar and Banjo." The extremely slow opening section that is sampled at the itunes store will give you almost no idea of how good this piece is. Trust me, it is raging hot-hot-hot, and its construction is a mark of the deep respect that other musicians have always had for Roebuck Staples' guitar style.)

Unread post by **HeatherNijoli** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:13 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "Johannes" <votangreen@...> wrote:
> >
> I just met a blues singer named Mavis Staples and her sister Yvonne.
> I know nothing about bluse singers but she seems the type to ask about
> Hoodoo. Do you know about her cat?
>
> Johannes Gardback #321 GGA
>
> (Uh, well, she is one of the totally best gospel singers ever, of
all time. I went to see her and her family play many times - cat)

I, too, love the Staples singers. I have many of their records in my
collection and also have several extra copies of her/their 45 rpm
records if anyone wants to email me about them. My sister's band
played with her at Bonnaroo festival last year and said Mavis was just
the brightest and coolest personality.

I collect 60's soul records and find the spirit of this music to be so
fun and positive and soulful. It is the perfect thing got me to listen
to in order to get into my right state of mind to study/do work. They
don't make it like they used to, do they?

Heather Nijoli Robinon #1371

Unread post by **Dr Johannes** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:57 pm

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "Johannes" <votangreen@...> wrote:
> >
> I just met a blues singer named Mavis Staples and her sister
Yvonne.
> > I know nothing about bluse singers but she seems the type to ask
about
> > Hoodoo. Do you know about her cat?
>
> Johannes Gardback #321 GGA
>
> (Uh, well, she is one of the totally best gospel singers ever, of
all time. I went to see her and her family play many times, back in
the day, bith at big venues and in churches. Her late father,
Roebuck Staples, was probably the best gospel guitarist of the
1960s, The Great Reverberator. He was a friend of Martin Luther King
Jr. and he stretched the definition of "gospel" to include many
political songs during the 1960s. I have posted links to Staple
Singers videos in the African American Video of the Day series.
Check out the Staple Singers (Mavis, Yvonne, Cleotha, Pervis, and
their father Roebuck (a.k.a. "Pops") Staples) at itunes and youtube.
There are MANY youtube video clips of them at various stages of
their careers, and the itunes selections will also span quite a lot
of time. Top hits include "Respect Yourself", "Why (Am I Treated So
Bad?)", "Don't Knock", "Uncloudy Day", "I'll Take You There", "Pray
On, My Child", "Swing Down, Sweet Chariot", "Wade in the
Water", "Get Right Church and Let's Go Home", "The Day Has Passed
and Gone", "I Wish I Had Answered", and "Be Careful of Stones That
You Throw". Basically, just purchase the entire CD of "Pray On, My
Child" at itunes and there you have their earliest, purest sound,
recorded for Vee-jay in the early 1960s. Then add a couple of their
1970s "soul-blues-gospel" peieces like "I'll Take You There"
and "Respect Yurself" and you will have their political-gospel
sound. As for whether or not Mavis and Yvonne Staples know much
about roots work or conjure, well, they are pretty churchy folks,
but they were raised in Chicago and i am sure they know a few tricks
or at least have some typical family customs and beliefs, even if
they are not active practitioners. Go ahead and ask! I'd sure love
to hear what Mavis has to say. --cat Oh, and P.S., because Roebuck
always subsumed his incredible guitar work to the needs of the
family singing group and the conventions of the 3-minute single
record, i suggest that any true fan of his will really enjoy picking
up a copy of the classical guitarist Sandy Bull's 10-minute
improvisatory exegesis on the Staples sound, available at itunes by
searching under the artist name Sandy Bull for the title "Gospel
Tune", from the album "Fantasias for Guitar and Banjo." The
extremely slow opening section that is sampled at the itunes store
will give you almost no idea of how good this piece is. Trust me, it
is raging hot-hot-hot, and its construction is a mark of the deep
respect that other musicians have always had for Roebuck Staples'
guitar style.)
> >

I thought I recognized the last name from somewhere.
Well they were cool ladies I must say. Asking in a way that is both
polite and disarming when it comes to beliefs and old conjure it
tricky and takes time, and time ran out unfortunally so I got no
answer.
I think I am going to print a card saying: "
No, I am not disrespectful not looking for a good laugh. I am
actually very interested in your beliefs and the beliefs that your
old grandparents had. Yes, I do practice the old magic myself and I
do beliave in it. Yes, perhaps I am The Devil but I mean you no
harm. IF you tell me all you know!"

Johannes Gardback (#321 GGA)
therootdoctor.se

Unread post by **Priestess Najah** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 5:01 pm

Yeah, yeah, three cheers for the Staples Singers! Grew up on them myself.. Love their sound and their voices. Makes me get my groove on every time I hear their music. Thanks for the information on "Pops". Way cool. What a nice gift, Johannes!

Sincerely,
Najah Lightfoot Bagley #1262

Tardy · Unread post by **Tardy** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:58 pm

Hello,

I'm a librarian and I catalog sheet music and 78 rpms for a living. I
know! How fabulous! Anyway today I got to catalog a song from 1924 by Al
Bernard called "Blue Black Hoodoo Blues". Here's the first stanza:

Woke up this mornin' uneasy feelin'
Somethin' was wrong with me,
Looked out my window, out on my porch,
What was it I did see?
Some salt and pepper, all in a circle, a rabbit foot in it laid.
Right near that circle, beside that circle, a note to me which said,
"The river's near you, wide and deep, you'll soon be knowin' just how to
weep"

I thought it was interesting

Djesi/Garth
#501 (grad)

(Wow. I would very much like the entirety of the lyrics as well as the name of the composer(s). If there is an artwork cover, i would also appreciate a scan. I would like to add the lyris to by Blues Lyrics and Hoodoo web site at

http://luckymojo.com/blues.html

-- and of course i will credit you and/or your institution for the help.

Thank you! --cat)

Tardy · Unread post by **Tardy** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:05 pm

Cat here's the full lyrics:

Composer is Al Bernard 1888-1949

"Blue black Hoodoo Blues"

Verse 1

Woke up this mornin' uneasy feelin'
Somethin' was wrong with me,
Looked out my window, out on my porch,
What was it I did see?
Some salt and pepper, all in a circle,
a rabbit foot in it laid.
Right near that circle, beside that circle,
a note to me which said,
"The river's near you, wide and deep,
you'll soon be knowin' just how to
weep"

Chorus:

Now I'm wearin' away with the blue black hoodoo blues,
just like a prisoner in jail who mopes around and rues.
It seems a woman, some dark skin woman,
has done mistookin' me,
the Voodoo Doctor, hard luch concoctor,
said what's to be, will be.
My peace done left me, my mind's a blank,
the mis'ry's got me, my heart done sank,
I know that I am gonna wither away,
but I will say,
Gonna get a gun and a good hard brick,
Drug store gin with an awful kick,
and drive away those blue black hoodoo blues

Verse 2

Now I'm down on the levee in Louisiana,
Soon I'll be on my way,
Down on old Rampart, I'll see my sweet,
To him I'm gonna say,
I'll never leave you, I'm done with roamin',
I've left the Northland for sure,
Right near you always,
right 'side you always,
To travel 'round I'm cured,
The river's near me, wide and deep,
Please take me back, Hon, or in I'll leap.

Chorus repeats.

--

Garth Tardy
University of Missouri Kansas-City
Miller Nichols Library Special Collections.

(Thanks! Note the use of the term "Voodoo doctor" -- Al Bernard was a white vaudeville composer, not an African American blues musician. Also it is interesting to note that the song is written from the point of view of a female narrator. This may be because the song was written for a woman singer -- but it is also known that Al Bernard was a comic singer who not only performed in blackface, but on occassion sang female parts in falsetto. --cat)

Unread post by **Sister Jacqueline** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:54 pm

cat,

Here is something for you. Remember your gift of musical CD"s you
burned for us birthday party attendees a few years ago?

Why don't you make your own compilation and put it out? I bet a lot
of the students would LOVE to play it while gettin' in the mood to
make a mojo bag....

I play mine on long road trips, makes the time pass easier..

Jacqueline Mathers (G) 496

(With so many people downloading free mp3s these days, i'm not sure if here is a market for actual CDs -- but i would love to try. Any student with an interest in this and a knowledge of the bulk production of CDs -- please contact me! cat)

Unread post by **neptunetrinemoon** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:54 pm

Hi Miss Cat and all,
I heard recently a line from a rap song ('The Warning' by Biggie
Smalls, and released in 1994):

"Got the rottweilars by the door
and I feed them Gunpowder
So they can devour
the Criminals
tryin a drop my decimals"

- Reynolds Avlon, #1396

(Hey, that's neat! Thanks! --cat)

Unread post by **Jessi Ross** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:52 pm

after seeing this post, i was listening to the radio and i heard "blueprint
2" by jay z. now i do love hip-hop,but i am not a huge jay-z fan though.
however i thought this song should be mentioned as well. i have included the
begininning of the song, the HOOK and the last couple of lines. it is a
battle song against nas...
"I got my mojo back baby, oh behave
Naw, naw, don't be afraid
Y'all and your articles, hard to spit at Jay
Y'all from afar threw thoughts my way
What you thought, I would naught have nothing to say? Nope!
Y'all fell into the booby trap
I set the trap just to see dude react, and now
And now you'se can't leave
You opened the door god, I'm at you annually
And I'm sorry Miss Rosie Perez
I call a spade a spade, it just is what it is
But you can't give cred to anything dude says
Same dude to give you ice and you owe him some head
(Shortyyyy!) It's time to wake up the dead
You sound a little naive in them articles that I read

*[Hook (x2)]*
H, O V A
The Blueprint 2 baby, on the way
H, O V A
I got my mojo back baby, oh behave...

last lines:
I won't rest till you on one knee
You want war then it's war's gonna be, nigga
Until you on one knee, you want war then it's war's gonna be, nigga"

hope you enjoyed more hoodoo in pop culture...

-jessi ross #1444

On Fri, Feb 6, 2009 at 4:29 AM, <hrcourse@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

> Hoodoo Rootwork Course
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hrcourse; ... kyMzM5Ng-->
> Messages In This Digest (1 Message) 1a. Re: FW: hoodoo in song<#11f4b910c7079d39_1a>From: neptunetrinemoon
> View All Topics<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hrcourse/ ... m=p&tidx=1>| Create
> New Topic<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hrcourse/ ... MzOTIzMzk2>
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> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hrcourse/ ... MzOTIzMzk2> Posted
> by: "neptunetrinemoon" neptunetrinemoon@yahoo.com
> <neptunetrinemoon@yahoo.com?Subject=+Re%3A%20FW%3A%20hoodoo%20in%20song>
> neptunetrinemoon <http://profiles.yahoo.com/neptunetrinemoon> Thu
> Feb 5, 2009 5:54 pm (PST) Hi Miss Cat and all,
> I heard recently a line from a rap song ('The Warning' by Biggie
> Smalls, and released in 1994):
>
> "Got the rottweilars by the door
> and I feed them Gunpowder
> So they can devour
> the Criminals
> tryin a drop my decimals"
>
> - Reynolds Avlon, #1396
>
> (Hey, that's neat! Thanks! --cat)
>
> Back to top <#11f4b910c7079d39_toc>
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> <neptunetrinemoon@yahoo.com?Subject=Re%3A%20FW%3A%20hoodoo%20in%20song> | Reply
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Unread post by **neptunetrinemoon** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:52 pm

Hi Miss Cat and all,
glad you liked it.
It is very interesting.
Biggie Smalls grew up in the
notoriously tough neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant
in Brooklyn.

Interestingly,
another song of his ( 'Kick in the Door') uses as it's main riff a
sample from the first 4 or so seconds of Scremin Jay Hawkins' "I put
a spell on you"! (dum dum de-dum dum dum), which Dr. Kioni has as the
main song on his MySpace page. So far as I know though, nothing
purposefull, as the song has no Hoodoo refrences, and the music part
was mixed by someone else.

If you want to check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZV6nZRHtls

you'll hear it in the first 10 seconds or so, and then it's repeated
the whole song, though in my opinion it never gets stale.

though I warn all with fragile ears to steer clear >;-)

- Reynolds Avlon #1396

--- In hrcourse@yahoogroups.com, "neptunetrinemoon"
<neptunetrinemoon@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Miss Cat and all,
> I heard recently a line from a rap song ('The Warning' by Biggie
> Smalls, and released in 1994):
>
> "Got the rottweilars by the door
> and I feed them Gunpowder
> So they can devour
> the Criminals
> tryin a drop my decimals"
>
> - Reynolds Avlon, #1396
>
> (Hey, that's neat! Thanks! --cat)
>

Doctor Possum · Unread post by **Doctor Possum** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:52 pm

Hi, Folks,

Thought I would share this wonderful tidbit. I was on Youtube today, and looked under the name of Marie LaVeau and found a very serious and beautiful song about this beloved ancestress and early mover and shaker in the New Orleans Voodoo scene. The song is simply beautiful and it is by a guy named Doctor John. I encourage all members of this group to listen to this masterpiece of music about this mysterious and famous Voodoo priestess.

Blessings!

Douglas Helvie
A.k.a Doctor Possum

Unread post by **Beverly Welch** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:28 pm

Hi, Folks,

Thought I would share this wonderful tidbit. I was on Youtube today, and looked under the name of Marie LaVeau and found a very serious and beautiful song about this beloved ancestress and early mover and shaker in the New Orleans Voodoo scene. The song is simply beautiful and it is by a guy named Doctor John. I encourage all members of this group to listen to this masterpiece of music about this mysterious and famous Voodoo priestess.

Blessings!

Douglas Helvie
A.k.a Doctor Possum

-----

I am well acquainted with the Dr. John song about Madame LeVeau. He actually does a lot of hoodoo related material. The song "Marie LeVeau" is on his CDï¿½ titled Dr. John: N'Awlinz Dis, Dat or D'Udda. The entire CD is good and includes some great artists including Mavis Staples, Eddie Bo and Cyril Neville. I don't know about the You Tube version, but on the CD, Cyril Neville is the vocalist. The song was written by Robert Gurley.

Beverly Welch #803(g)

Unread post by **ocsana13** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 5:00 pm

----- Original Message -----
From: Beverly Welch
To: hrcourse@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 8:57 PM
Subject: Re: [hrc] Serious song about Marie LaVeau.

Hi, Folks,

Thought I would share this wonderful tidbit. I was on Youtube today, and looked under the name of Marie LaVeau and found a very serious and beautiful song about this beloved ancestress and early mover and shaker in the New Orleans Voodoo scene. The song is simply beautiful and it is by a guy named Doctor John. I encourage all members of this group to listen to this masterpiece of music about this mysterious and famous Voodoo priestess.

Blessings!

Douglas Helvie
A.k.a Doctor Possum

-----

I am well acquainted with the Dr. John song about Madame LeVeau. He actually does a lot of hoodoo related material. The song "Marie LeVeau" is on his CDï¿½ titled Dr. John: N'Awlinz Dis, Dat or D'Udda. The entire CD is good and includes some great artists including Mavis Staples, Eddie Bo and Cyril Neville. I don't know about the You Tube version, but on the CD, Cyril Neville is the vocalist. The song was written by Robert Gurley.

Beverly Welch #803(g)

His autobiography is entitled "Under a Hoodoo Moon" and apparently he owned a Hoodoo store in New Orleans at some point. He does describe some of his hoodoo work in the book, some of which jives with cat's teachings and some of which doesn't.

Susan Asselin #668(G)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Unread post by **Beverly Welch** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:58 am

Yes. Dr. John seems to incorporate Santeria elements into his "hoodoo" music as well and there are often references to the Orishas in his music. His musical artistry also presents a strong social conscience and there are several songs such as "Dream Warrior" from his recent CD about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, where he writes/sings about avenging certain politicians using revenge dream work.
Beverly Welch #803(g)

________________________________
From: Rev. Mother Susan <ripples3@cox.net>
To: hrcourse@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 9:39:21 AM
Subject: Re: [hrc] Serious song about Marie LaVeau.

----- Original Message -----
From: Beverly Welch
To: hrcourse@yahoogroup s.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 8:57 PM
Subject: Re: [hrc] Serious song about Marie LaVeau.

Hi, Folks,

Thought I would share this wonderful tidbit. I was on Youtube today, and looked under the name of Marie LaVeau and found a very serious and beautiful song about this beloved ancestress and early mover and shaker in the New Orleans Voodoo scene. The song is simply beautiful and it is by a guy named Doctor John. I encourage all members of this group to listen to this masterpiece of music about this mysterious and famous Voodoo priestess.

Blessings!

Douglas Helvie
A.k.a Doctor Possum

-----

I am well acquainted with the Dr. John song about Madame LeVeau. He actually does a lot of hoodoo related material. The song "Marie LeVeau" is on his CDï¿½ titled Dr. John: N'Awlinz Dis, Dat or D'Udda. The entire CD is good and includes some great artists including Mavis Staples, Eddie Bo and Cyril Neville. I don't know about the You Tube version, but on the CD, Cyril Neville is the vocalist. The song was written by Robert Gurley.

Beverly Welch #803(g)

His autobiography is entitled "Under a Hoodoo Moon" and apparently he owned a Hoodoo store in New Orleans at some point. He does describe some of his hoodoo work in the book, some of which jives with cat's teachings and some of which doesn't.

Susan Asselin #668(G)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

fausto · Unread post by **fausto** » Fri May 22, 2009 4:53 am

In 2004, Southern Culture on the Skids, a rockabilly/surf band famous for celebrating redneck stereotypes, released a song called "Mojo Box". In the song, the narrator has bought a spell kit (the mojo box of the title) which he intends to use to win back a lost love. Sold to him by a Hoodoo man, the kit includes a mojo hand, as well as a mojo cologne, which he sprays over "everything that he owns" (possibly a reference to Hoyt's Cologne or a confusion between cologne and oil). The only versions of this I've heard were recorded live, and I cant make out all the lyrics (or find them anywhere online).

Here's a link to a video of the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05VtsGVJ ... PL&index=6

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Fri May 22, 2009 1:14 pm

Thanks for the link. That's a nice, hard-driving song. Sraying or sprinkling cologne on a mojo -- and "everything else" -- is quite common in hoodoo, and pobably does not indicate "confusion between cologne and oil." Lots of folks prefer colognes, especially Hoyt's Coligne, to oils when i comes to feeding mojo hands and dressing their stuff.

Astariell · Unread post by **Astariell** » Wed May 27, 2009 12:17 pm

Hi,

I tried also to find the lyrics and I think we have to wait until the lyrics people come around to publishing the lyrics......I tried through various sources and you are going to have to dig deeper then the internet....I recommend some of the blues sites and asking the blues people.......

If I come across them, will inform you....I love and play the blues myself....Wrote a great song, "Mojo Man'....lot of history with the Gullah....about a musician who wears blue glasses...etc....

Great song and great band....keep trying and let me know if you get them....Good Luck!!!

Unread post by **Mike Rock** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 3:54 pm

Cat have you all considered starting a Twitter feed for the shop? It's
a quick easy way to send out news blurbs about the shop, new items in
stock, etc. Setting up an account takes less than a minute too.

All you other shop owners might consider too.

mike rock 360

--
http://www.mike-rock.com

Unread post by **Mother Mystic** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:28 am

I'm already there.
Susan Asselin #668
Mother Mystic
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Rock
To: hrc-grads@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, July 05, 2009 6:53 PM
Subject: [hrc-grads] Twitter for Lucky Mojo Curio?

Cat have you all considered starting a Twitter feed for the shop? It's
a quick easy way to send out news blurbs about the shop, new items in
stock, etc. Setting up an account takes less than a minute too.

All you other shop owners might consider too.

mike rock 360

--
http://www.mike- rock.com

Unread post by **Priestess Najah** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:48 pm

--- On Mon, 7/6/09, Rev. Mother Susan <ripples3@cox.net> wrote:
From: Rev. Mother Susan <ripples3@cox.net>
Subject: Re: [hrc-grads] Twitter for Lucky Mojo Curio?
To: hrc-grads@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, July 6, 2009, 8:26 AM

I'm already there.
Susan Asselin #668
Mother Mystic

>>>I'm there too. I'm SisterMoon13. And I have a Twitter badge on my website.

Najah Lightfoot Bagley #1262G

Unread post by **Oseaana** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:49 am

--- In hrc-grads@yahoogroups.com, Najah Lightfoot Bagley <cleverlady3@...> wrote:
> I'm there too. I'm SisterMoon13. And I have a Twitter badge on my website.
>
> Najah Lightfoot Bagley #1262G

I'm on Twitter as Oseaana (personal and business stuff) and TheMoonlitSea (mostly business stuff).

I'm also on Facebook, Oseaana December.

Oh and I wanted to let everyone know about the launch of my new website at PumpkinCottageConjure.com. I moved my conjure and spellwork supplies to that website. My crafty crafts can still be found at TheMoonlitSea.net

~O
(Lisa Parker #464G)

Trapper · Unread post by **Trapper** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:20 am

Hi there,

I'm new in here, so first I would like to introduce myself:

I am a journalist from Germany and acutally I am writing a book about horror in rock music history. Following the trace back to Screaming Jay Hawkins I ended up this homepage, which is really overwhelming.

>
>I hope you have the time to help me out with some questions? I would like to know: Which one is the oldest song you know, containing lets call it "supernatural" topics?

I want to go back to where it all started. It's not easy to find and I would like to rely on some experts.
>
>I'd be very glad if you could help me. And of course I'd be proud to mention you in my credits.

Regards
Trapper

Unread post by **Mama Micki** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:46 am

How about "Black Magic" by Frank Sinatra?

Trapper · Unread post by **Trapper** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 11:08 am

Well, according to the lucky mojo blues lyrics & hoodoo site it could be "Lady Luck Blues" by Bessie Smith which is from 1923.

But I am not sure about that. I'm looking for the origins and I suppose 'em to be old songs the cotton workers used to sing. Songs about their religion and hoodoo practices.

btw: please excuse my English. It used to better back in the days I went to school

Trapper · Unread post by **Trapper** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 11:56 am

Okay, searching this site and the internet "Cotton-Eyed Joe" seems to be one of the oldest songs that can be found. That old, that no one knows it's origin. But it seems to be pre-Civil War.

But as it hasn't been recorded until 1925 I have to go on. Looking for the first song to be recorded...

Lulu2 · Unread post by **Lulu2** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 7:46 am

Hello I am sure most of you have heard this song, the first time I heard this song was by Kitty, Daisy and Lewis, which i later found out that Muddy sang the original version. However I like Kitty daisy and Lewis version better

. Can someone give me the 411 on this song? i just love this song. thanks.

"Got my mojo working, but it just won't work on you
Got my mojo working, but it just won't work on you
I wanna love you so bad till I don't know what to do

Got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
but it just won't work on you

I'm going down to Louisiana to get me a mojo hand
I'm going down to Louisiana to get me a mojo hand
I'm gonna have all you women right here at my command

Got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
but it just won't work on you

I got a gypsy woman giving me advice
I got a gypsy woman giving me advice
She got some red hot tips
I'm keepin' them on ice.

Got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
but it just won't work on you

Unread post by **Umbandista** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:12 am

Found this on a site with historical photos and documents from New
Orleans:

http://old-new-orleans.com/NO_Gris_Gris.html

Kathy Weir #551

(Cool! Thanks! --cat)

Unread post by **Joseph Magnuson** » Sat May 15, 2010 6:34 pm

I was just wondering if "Baby Keeps Stealin' Lovin' On Me' by the Mississippi
Sheiks was left off of the LM/Hoodoo/Blues archives? It is one of my favorite
recent finds (reissue, of course) and I wanted to ask about it...

"...it will be all over when I get my mojo hand" is the greatest line of the
entire song, so I thought I'd ask you...

Hope this finds you well and in good company!

-Joseph

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Sat May 15, 2010 6:36 pm

I don't have a transcription of this one and would LOVE to have it.

Unread post by **Joseph Magnuson** » Sat May 15, 2010 6:42 pm

I would love to transcribe it! I just bought the new Monk Records reissue of the MS and was hoping it would be included...it was not... However I do have a cd/digital file of this song and it is certainly clear enough that I could crack it... I will be at the shop tomorrow though and then my wife and I are staying in Point Reyes Seashore Lodge that night for my birthday. I could have it transcribed and posted here by Tuesday though (day after my birthday)...

It really is a wonderful song and great representation of aspects of hoodoo...

Also, it is a song done in the thirties and in the country/fiddle/almost 'hillbilly' type blues, so I thought that's why it may have been left off the archive list...

-Joseph

Unread post by **Joseph Magnuson** » Mon May 17, 2010 10:55 pm

It was pretty great catching you for a few minutes yesterday! Thanks for the great lodestone... i am working on the transcription as I type and should have it out to you with the MP3 in a day or two tops!

-joseph

Unread post by **Joseph Magnuson** » Tue May 18, 2010 8:37 pm

Emailing the info now...

I spent hours trying to decipher all the words...then turned to a great, great resource for the full fleshed-out lyrics...

I tried!

-joseph

MydniteSon · Unread post by **MydniteSon** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:10 pm

The song was actually written by Preston Foster in 1956 and recorded by Anne Cole.

Muddy Waters heard the song and basically tried to copyright his own version, releasing it in 1957. This lead to years of litigation between the respective companies that own the rights to those songs.

Here, I'll post some of Foster's original lyrics as sung by Ann Cole:

"Got my Mojo working but it just won't work on you
Got my Mojo working but it just won't work on you

I want to love you so that I don't know what to do
I got my black cat bones all pure and dry
I got my 4 leaf clovers all hanging high
I got my Mojo working but it just won't work on you
I want to love you so till I don't know what to do

I got my voodoo ashes all around you bed
I got my black snake roots underneath your head
I got my Mojo working but it just won't work on you
I want to love you so till I don't know what to do

Solo

I got a gypsy woman giving me advice
I got some real hot tricks, keeping her on ice
I got my Mojo working but it just won't work on you
I want to love you so till I don't know what to do

I got my rabbit foot I know it's working right
I got a strand of hair I keep day and night
I got my Mojo working but it just won't work on you
I want to love you so till I don't know what to do

I got my Mojo working but it just won't work on you
I want to love you so till I don't know what to do

Willowspell · Unread post by **Willowspell** » Wed Oct 06, 2010 6:42 pm

The original is SOO much better.

Thanks for sharing.

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Thu Oct 07, 2010 8:02 am

Ann Cole released the song. A short time later, Muddy Waters and Ann Cole were on a tour together and he heard her singing it on stage every night; he got off the tour and recorded his version from memory.

He forgot to change the female-oriented lyrics (written by Foster for Cole) that speak of a female who is keeping a female love-rival away ("keeping her on ice"). In later recordings, i believe someone pointed that strange gender-error out to him and he may have changed it. He recorded it several times.

shivagalaxina@yahoo.com · Unread post by **shivagalaxina@yahoo.com** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 10:13 am

Etta james has a great Hoodoo song too called "Got my mojo workin" off of "Blues to the Bone" c.d. That came out in 2004.

"got my mojo workin
But jus won't work on you
Got my mojo workin
But it jus won't work on you
I wanna love you till I jus don'
Know what to do

Goin down to Louisiana
Gonna get me a mojo hand
Goin down to louisiana
Gonna get me a mojo hand
Gonna have him right at my command....

Just some of the lyrics. Its a great song and a great c.d
Matthew cavalli
#1407

Elveta · Unread post by **Elveta** » Sat Nov 20, 2010 9:46 am

catherineyronwode wrote:Ann Cole released the song. A short time later, Muddy Waters and Ann Cole were on a tour together and he heard her singing it on stage every night; he got off the tour and recorded his version from memory. .."

Here he is! ("You Tube" is your friend.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhTCYqJsfqs

Unread post by **owlsfoot** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:11 pm

In case anyone with an interest in pre-War blues has not yet discovered this, I thought I would share it here. The 'Uncensored History of the Blues' podcast, sponsored by the Delta Blues Museum:

http://uncensoredhistoryoftheblues.purplebeech.com/

At this point they have 50 stored podcasts, featuring some truly fantastic (in some cases rare) recordings, and accurately transcribed lyrics for nearly every song. A lovely resource. Podcast #41 is dedicated to Hoodoo themes and is entitled, 'Hoodoo Women':

http://uncensoredhistoryoftheblues.purp ... women.html

(Cat is referenced at the bottom of the above episode, along with a link to HITAP.)

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 10:35 pm

Thanks.

Unread post by **Joseph Magnuson** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:15 pm

This is one of my absolutely favorite podcasts...amazing songs and a lot of rarities mixed in. Great theme shows...and always informative. Highly recommended!!! It's nice to see them mentioned here.

-Joseph

Unread post by **Miss Tammie Lee** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 8:25 pm

Thanks owlsfoot!

ariela · Unread post by **ariela** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 3:33 pm

there is a song with the title Hoodoo by the British band Muse. The lyrics don't seem to fit with the subject, though.

Thank you St. Jude
Thank you St. Anthony
Thank you St. Expedite

Unread post by **MissMichaele** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:30 am

That's probably because outside the Southern U.S., people have only hazy notions of what hoodoo is.

But Miss Cat got into hoodoo via the BLUES, and she has been collecting lyrics (and records) for decades. Her page on it is here:

www.luckymojo.com/blues.html

Knowledgeable folks occasionally find references to hoodoo tricks in other songs, such as Cab Calloway's "Geechee Joe" or Jimi Hendrix's "Heard My Train A-Comin'".

Hope this helps,

Miss Michaele

[Ophelia] · Unread post by **[Ophelia]** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:46 pm

Has anyone heard this song? Think it has Hoodoo references. Very cool song!

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:03 pm

I have not heard of Laika, but the title has certainly been used before, so it may be a copy of the hugely popular "Black Cat Bone" by Lightnin' Hopkins:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge2TSLmsk2k

[Ophelia] · Unread post by **[Ophelia]** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:23 pm

Wow what a song cat! I haven't heard that one before. There is always this hugely subtle yet powerful emotive element to those old songs! I can see why you fell in love with the genre (On a sidenote to this - I bet your record collection is something to behold! - Slightly jealous

The Laika version is definitely their own as I can't find any reference to this being a cover. The lyrics are very dark and the sound reminds me of The Smiths.

I think I might begin a quest into listening to all the old Blues songs that mention Hoodoo (as I have only listened to a few).

(could I apologise here for getting off topic re: drying herbs - I have the utmost respect for you, your work and the forum so I will try to not do this again, sorry).