Dissociated Thoughts

2/20/22 - Muddy Waters

February 20, 2022

Sometimes, a girl is just in the mood to hear the Blues. Like many other music types, Blues music has a way of moving the listener, of affecting their emotions through rhythm and melody. My favorite Blues singer is Muddy Waters, whose style is considered to be Electric Blues. I find his music soothing, his voice moving.

A little about Muddy Waters:
         Muddy Waters, born April 1913, was given the name McKinley Morganfield. He was born in a very small town in Mississippi and was grew up in the cotton fields. He was given the nickname "Muddy" as a small child due to his love of splashing in the muddy waters of Deer Creek, a creek that ran through the plantation where he lived and worked. His formal education ended in elementary school when he was taken out of school in order to work the fields. He quickly discovered that church and music were effective in helping his mind escape from the rigors of the cotton fields. His musical ability began with the harmonica and grew to include the guitar. The earliest recording of his work was in 1941, when he was recorded by Alan Lomax for a project the Library of Congress was doing, highlighting the musical styles of the South. In 1943, he moved to Chicago. He bought his first electric guitar in 1944 and created his electric ensemble. In 1946 he had albums with both Columbia Records and Aristocrat Records. He quickly became known for his unique style of Blues as "The Father of Modern Chicago Blues," as he was the only Blues performer of the time utilizing an electric guitar. His style of music influenced bands such as The Rolling Stones, Led Zepplin, ZZ Top, AC/DC, and Cream - musicians like Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, and BB King. During his musical career, Muddy's music won six Grammy's, five Blues Foundation awards, and had four songs on the list of "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". Muddy Waters was also inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1980, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992. Oh! And in 1994, the U.S. Postal Service commissioned a 29 cent stamp featuring the musician. Suffice it to say the man was amazing, and his music will live on forever.

The song I chose is amongst my many favorite songs by Muddy Waters (I have numerous albums I still enjoy listening to). The title of the song is Got My Mojo Working. Got My Mojo Working was written by Preston "Red" Foster and was first recorded by R&B singer Ann Cole in 1956. Muddy adapted the song to fit the feel of Electric Blues in 1957 and "the best recorded version of the song" was released in 1960. The song was a staple at live concerts throughout Muddy's career.

Lyrics for Got My Mojo Working: ▼

Songwriters: Preston Foster

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

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

Other Cool Facts: ▼

The British band The Rolling Stones named themselves after Muddy Waters' 1950 song "Rollin' Stone".
The Rolling Stones joined Muddy Waters live on stage in 1981 at Chicago's Checkerboard Lounge
         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3qfTk730Cw
Muddy's headstone reads "The Mojo is Gone - The Master Has Won"
Two years after his death, the city of Chicago paid tribute to him by designating the one-block section between 900 and 1000 East 43rd Street near his former home on the south side "Honorary Muddy Waters Drive".