Chilton said in the September 1994 issue of Guitar Player that he considers himself a "musical performer, not a songwriter" and that some of his songs sound only "half-baked" to him. Nonetheless, his compositions have been performed by a number of artists, including Teenage Fanclub, This Mortal Coil, The Bangles, Wilco, Graham Coxon, Garbage, Tom Bradbury, Son Volt, Counting Crows, Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, Superdrag, Evan Dando, Cat Power, Yo La Tengo, Placebo, Xiu Xiu, and His Name Is Alive. The Replacements wrote the song Alex Chilton in his honor on their 1987 Pleased to Meet Me album, produced by Jim Dickinson in Memphis.
On March 17, 2010, Alex Chilton died of an apparent heart attack in a hospital in New Orleans. He was 59.
The Oogum Boogum Song
Alex Chilton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oogum, oogum, boogum, boogum, boogum,
Now, baby, your castin' your spell on me,
I-I say, "Oogum, oogum, boogum, boogum, boogum,
Now, baby, your castin' you're spell on me."
You got me doin' funny things like a clown,
Just a-look at me.
When you wear your high-heeled boots,
With your hip hugger suit, huh!
It's all right, you're outta sight.
An' you wear that cute mini skirt,
With yore brother's sloppy shirt, huh!
I admit it, girl, that I can dig it.
An'-a I says, oogum, oogum, boogum, boogum, boogum,
Now, baby, you're castin' your spell on me.
I say, "Oogum, oogum, boogum, boogum, boogum,
Now, baby, you're castin' your spell on me."
You got me doin' funny things like a clown,
Just a-look at me.
When you wear your bell-bottom pants,
I just stand there in a trance, huh!
I can't move, you're in the groove.
Would you believe little girl,
That a-I'm crazy 'bout you? Huh!
Now goin’ with your bad self.
Ooo-ooo, ooo-hoo, now, mercy, mercy on me.
Huh! All right.
When you wear those big earrings,
Long hair, an' things-a.
You got style, girl, that shore is wild.
An' you wear that cute trench coat,
An' you're standin' an' posin'.
You got soul, you got too much soul.
I just says, "Took out the ooos there,
Took out the boos there,
Took out the boo,
Now, castin' your spell on me."
But I says, "Took out the ooos there,
[Fade.]
Took out the boos there,
Took out the boo.
Now castin' your spell on me."
I say, "Took out the ooos there,
Took out the boos there..."
The Oogum Boogum Song by Alex Chilton is a fun, funky tune about being under someone's spell. The opening line "oogum, oogum, boogum, boogum, boogum" almost sounds like a chant, and sets the tone for the whole song. The singer is clearly smitten with a woman who has a lot of style; she wears high-heeled boots, hip hugger suits, cute mini skirts, and bell-bottom pants. He's entranced by her long hair, big earrings, and even her brother's sloppy shirts. Whenever she's around, he feels like a clown, doing funny things that he can't explain. It's clear that she's got too much soul for him to resist, and he's powerless to escape her charms.
The Oogum Boogum Song is a playful celebration of infatuation - the feeling of being utterly consumed by someone you're crazy about. The lyrics are full of clever and memorable descriptions of the woman in question, and the way she makes the singer feel. The funky, danceable melody perfectly captures the vibe of the song, and makes it impossible not to move along with it. Overall, the Oogum Boogum Song is a joyously infectious tune that never fails to put a smile on your face.
Line by Line Meaning
Oogum, oogum, boogum, boogum, boogum,
You have a mysterious and irresistible power over me.
Now, baby, your castin' your spell on me,
You are using your charm and charisma to enchant me.
I-I say, "Oogum, oogum, boogum, boogum, boogum,
I am reiterating the effects of your spell over and over.
Now, baby, your castin' you're spell on me."
Your spell continues to be effective on me.
You got me doin' funny things like a clown,
Your influence over me is so strong that I am acting like a silly, foolish person.
Just a-look at me.
My behavior is obvious and evident for all to see.
When you wear your high-heeled boots,
Your choice of footwear has a particular effect on me.
With your hip hugger suit, huh!
Your outfit enhances your curves and figure.
It's all right, you're outta sight.
You are looking fabulous and fantastic.
An' you wear that cute mini skirt,
Your short skirt has a seductive quality.
With yore brother's sloppy shirt, huh!
The casual, oversized shirt adds to your allure.
I admit it, girl, that I can dig it.
I confess that I am attracted to you and your style.
An'-a I says, oogum, oogum, boogum, boogum, boogum,
I am proclaiming the ongoing influence of your spell on me.
When you wear your bell-bottom pants,
Your flared trousers have a transformative effect on me.
I just stand there in a trance, huh!
I am hypnotized and captivated by your appearance.
I can't move, you're in the groove.
Your sense of rhythm and style leaves me immobilized.
Would you believe little girl,
It may be hard to believe, but...
That a-I'm crazy 'bout you? Huh!
I am completely infatuated with you.
Now goin’ with your bad self.
You should continue to pursue your own interests and style confidently without worrying about me.
Ooo-ooo, ooo-hoo, now, mercy, mercy on me.
I am pleading for mercy in the face of your overwhelming power over me.
When you wear those big earrings,
Your large earrings are a specific trigger for your spell on me.
Long hair, an' things-a.
Your other distinctive physical features also contribute to your charm.
You got style, girl, that shore is wild.
Your unconventional sense of style is exciting and captivating.
An' you wear that cute trench coat,
Your stylish and elegant coat adds to your overall attractiveness.
An' you're standin' an' posin'.
Your confident and poised demeanor enhances your appeal.
You got soul, you got too much soul.
Your essence and spirit are so powerful that they overwhelm me.
I just says, "Took out the ooos there,
I am trying to change the words of the spell to lessen its impact.
Took out the boos there,
I am removing any negative or scary aspects of the spell.
Took out the boo,
I am reducing the overall strength and impact of the spell.
Now, castin' your spell on me."
Your spell continues to have an effect on me despite my attempts to change it.
But I says, "Took out the ooos there,
I continue to try to weaken the spell by changing its words.
[Fade.]
The song gradually fades out to its conclusion.
Took out the boos there,
I am still trying to remove any negative or scary aspects of the spell.
Took out the boo.
I am still trying to reduce the overall strength and impact of the spell.
Now castin' your spell on me."
Despite my efforts, your spell continues to have an effect on me.
I say, "Took out the ooos there,
I continue to try to change the words of the spell.
Took out the boos there...
I am still trying to remove any negative or scary aspects of the spell.
Contributed by Jayce K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.