Guest Author - Elizabeth Bissette
I ALMOST LOST MY MIND
by Ivory Joe Hunter
When i lost my baby, I almost lost my mind
When i lost my baby, I almost lost my mind
My head is in a spin since she left me behind
I passed a million people but can't tell who I meet
I passed a million people, I can't tell who i meet
'Cause my eyes are full of tears; where can my baby be?
I went to the Gypsy and had my fortune read
I went to see a Gypsy, I had my fortune read
I hung my head in sorrow when she said what she said
Well, I can tell you, people, the news was not so good
Well, I can tell you, people, the news was not so good
She said, "Your baby has quit you, this time she's gone for good"
{spoken): Bye, baby ...
BAD LUCK WOMAN BLUES
by Papa Charlie Jackson
Did you ever have a bad luck woman on your trail?
Did you ever have a bad luck woman on your trail?
Always keeps you broke, always keeps you in jail.
I used to be happy, [as good Lord], all the time,
I used to be happy, [as good Lord], all the time,
but soon as I got this woman, [lost] all I can call mine.
My bad luck woman is a jinx and a worry too,
My bad luck woman is a jinx and a worry too,
I can't get rid of her no matter what I do.
I tried to make her quit me by callin' another woman's name,
I tried to make her quit me by callin' another woman's name,
She said, "That is all right, he loves me just the same."
She keeps a ra't's foot in her hand at night when she goes to sleep,
She keeps a ra't's foot in her hand at night when she goes to sleep,
to keep [me with] her, so I won't make no midnight creep.
My bad luck woman keeps me feelin' blues,
My bad luck woman keeps me feelin' blues,
I can't get rid of her, she sticks to me like glue.
LOW DOWN MOJO BLUES
by Blind Lemon Jefferson
I love my baby better than a farmer likes his Jersey cow
I love my baby better than a farmer likes his Jersey cow
Been tryin' to quit my sugar these two years and, man, I don't know how
When I was young, on my big-foot way to school
When I was young, on my big-foot way to school
I met a nice lookin' brownskin, made me lose my mammy's rule.
My rider's got a mojo, and she won't let me see
My rider's got a mojo, and she won't let me see
Every time I start to lovin', she ease that thing on me.
She's tryin' to fool her daddy, she's tryin' to keep that mojo hid
She's tryin' to fool her daddy, she's tryin' to keep that mojo hid
But papa's got something for to find that mojo with.
She got four speeds forward and she don't never stall
She got four speeds forward and she don't never stall
The way she bucks on her hips, it would make a panther squall.
SOLD IT TO THE DEVIL
by Merline (The Yas yas Girl) Johnson
I sold my soul, sold it to the Devil, and my heart has turned to stone
I sold my soul, sold it to the Devil, and he won't let me alone
I'm hateful and i'm evil, I carries a Gatling gun
I drink carbolic acid, be darned if i will run
But I sold it, I have sold it
Sold it to the Devil, and my heart has turned to stone.
I sold my soul, sold it to the Devil, and he won't let me alone
I live down in the valley, five hundred steps
Where the bears and the tigers, they come to take their rest
But I have sold it, I have sold it
Sold it to the Devil, and my heart has turned to stone.
I sold my soul, sold it to the Devil, and he won't let me alone
I've got a little baker shop right downtown
And everything i bake, I bakes it nice and brown
But I sold it, I have sold it
Sold it to the Devil, and my heart has turned to stone.
[spoken] Yes, I done sold my soul!
I sold it to the Devil, too!
I sold my soul, sold it to the Devil, and he won't let me alone
My life it is unhapy, it won't last me long
And everything i do, seems like i do's it wrong
But I have sold it, I have sold it
Sold it to the Devil, and my heart has turned to stone.
I sold my soul, sold it to the Devil, and he won't let me alone
I went to a place I knew so well
I shot the Devil right down in Hell
But I have sold it, I have sold it
Sold it to the Devil, and my heart has turned to stone
oh, yeah, heart has turned to stone.
SOMEBODY DONE HOODOO'D THE HOODOO MAN
by Louis Jordan
Hey, clowns, have you dug the latest jive on the (???)
No, man!
Well they got him.
They got who?
You know, that man that's been cooking up that jive,
selling it to these folks 'round town,
makin 'em have them funny dreams.
You mean the hoodoo man?
Yeah!
Oh no, that cat thought he was just too grand!
Well (???), somebody done hoodoo'd the hoodoo man
Smack me down with the story (???)
Ol' Joe Hannah from Lousiana,
A hoodoo king in every manner
But i found out with out a doubt,
The tables had turned on him
He ain't got a tooth in his head,
Poor Ol' Joe is almost dead
Somebody done hoodoo'd the hoodoo man
10, 10, double 10, 45, 15,
Joe cant drink no gin
Ain't nothing go over the devil's back
that don't buckle under his chin
His face looks just like gravel sand
And everybody's got Joe on the pan
Somebody done hoodoo'd the hoodoo man
Somebody done cooked up some stuff in a pot,
Not too cold and not to hot
They dropped a few drops in Joe's beef stew
Now he's blowing his top, he don't know what to do
They don't know who did it
They can't find out
But he's done hoodoo'd his last hoodoo without a doubt
Somebody done hoodoo'd --
Done hoodoo'd the hoodoo man
BLACK GYPSY BLUES
by Furry Lewis
My woman must be a Black Gypsy, she knows every place i go
Woman must be a Black Gypsy, she knows every place i go
She met me this mornin' with a brand new .44
When you used to my Gypsy, done just so and so
When you used to my Gypsy, you done just so and so
Now i got another baby, can't use you no mo'
Eagle Rock me, Baby, Sally Long me too
Eagle Rock me, Mama, Sally Long me too
Ain't nobody in town can Eagle Rock like you
My woman got a mouth like a lighthouse in the sea
Woman got a mouth like a lighthouse in the sea
Every time she smiles, she shine her light on me
Had the blues all of '28, started again in '29
Had the blues all of '28, and started in '29
They tell me, "New York Central's the Nickel Plated Line"
Lord, i asked for cabbage, she brought me turnip greens
Lord, i asked for cabbage, she brought me turnip greens
I asked her for water and she brought me gasoline
HOO DOO BLUES
by Lightnin' Slim
Now, when your woman start actin' funny, and begin to run aroun',
You better get you somebody, 'cause she's fittin' to put you down,
Better let her go, man, just as quick as you can,
Because that hoodoo girl is going to hoodoo the hoodoo man.
You know my woman got me on a wonder at somethin' I can't understan',
How I look at her runnin' with some other man,
After all I did, all in this world I can,
But this little hoodoo girl, she done hoodoo the hoodoo man.
(Spoken) Well, blow your harmonica, son. Yes, she got me hoodoo.
She take all my money and spend it all over town,
And when I wants to love her, man, she ain't can be foun',
Now I walk and cry, dryin' tears away with my han',
Because that little hoodoo girl, people, she done hoodoo the hoodoo man.
I'M A MOJO MAN
by Lonesome Sundown
I ain't got no rabbit foot, or no old bone
But when I leave you, baby, you'll be so all alone
'Cause I'm a mojo man, yes, I'm a mojo man
I'm gonna get my mojo workin', win you back again
I've been down in Alabama and down in Tennessee
I got a lot of pretty women runnin' after me
'Cause I'm a mojo man, yes, I'm a mojo man
I'm gonna get my mojo workin' and win you back again
(harp solo)
I've got a brand new car, painted in blue
So listen, pretty baby, I'm comin' after you
'Cause I'm a mojo man, yes, I'm a mojo man
I'm gonna get my mojo workin' and win you back again
No use pretendin', baby, you know that it's true
When i start my mojo workin', it's gonna work on you
'Cause I'm a mojo man, yes, I'm a mojo man
I'm gonna get my mojo workin' and win you back again
SPIDER'S NEST BLUES
by Hattie Hart with the Memphis Jug Band
Here comes a black spider, that means bad luck to me
Here comes a black spider, that means bad luck to me
I been feelin' kinda funny, all this hold on me
Thirty days of trouble i dreamed was meant for me
Thirty days of trouble i dreamed was meant for me
Because that jet black spider have fallen in my tea
I'm goin to New Orleans to get this toby fixed of mine
I'm goin to New Orleans to get this toby fixed of mine
I am havin' trouble, trouble; I can't keep from cryin'
mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm
mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm
mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm
Come here, somebody, let me lay my head on your breast
Come here, somebody, let me lay my head on your breast
Because i'm wounded and tangled in this spider web nest
HOODOO LADY
by Memphis Minnie
Hoodoo Lady, how do you do?
They tell me you take a boot and turn it to a brand new shoe
But don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
'Cause I'm going back to Tennessee
Hoodoo Lady, you can turn water to wine
I been wondering where have you been all this time
I'm setting here, broke, and I ain't got a dime
You ought to put something in these dukes of mine
But don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
'Cause I'm going back to Tennessee
Spoken: Boy, you better watch it 'cause she's tricky.
Hoodoo Lady, I want you to unlock my door
So I can get in and get all my clothes
But don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
'Cause I'm going back to Tennessee
Now, look-a here, Hoodoo Lady, I want you to treat me right
Bring my man back home but don't let him stay all night
And don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
'Cause I'm going back to Tennessee
Spoken: Boy, she's tricky as she can be. Better watch her, too.
Why, look-a here, Hoodoo Lady, I'm your friend
When you leave this time, come back again
But don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
'Cause I'm going back to Tennessee
Spoken: Boys, I'm scared of her!
HOODOO LADY
by Memphis Minnie
Hoodoo Lady, how do you do?
They tell me you take a boot and turn it to a brand new shoe
But don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
'Cause I'm going back to Tennessee
Hoodoo Lady, you can turn water to wine
I been wondering where have you been all this time
I'm setting here, broke, and I ain't got a dime
You ought to put something in these dukes of mine
But don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
'Cause I'm going back to Tennessee
Spoken: Boy, you better watch it 'cause she's tricky.
Hoodoo Lady, I want you to unlock my door
So I can get in and get all my clothes
But don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
'Cause I'm going back to Tennessee
Now, look-a here, Hoodoo Lady, I want you to treat me right
Bring my man back home but don't let him stay all night
And don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
'Cause I'm going back to Tennessee
Spoken: Boy, she's tricky as she can be. Better watch her, too.
Why, look-a here, Hoodoo Lady, I'm your friend
When you leave this time, come back again
But don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
Don't put that thing on me
'Cause I'm going back to Tennessee
Spoken: Boys, I'm scared of her!
