While it’s true that h… Read Full Bio ↴Ash Grunwald is an Australian blues musician.
While it’s true that his music is steeped in the Delta blues tradition of the legendary acoustic musicians who proliferated in pre-World War II America’s deep South and the giants of electric blues who shaped rock and roll, it’s the young Victorian’s willingness to combine these influences with grooves and sounds common in contemporary music that sets him apart.
A soulful singer and guitar player, Grunwald immediately drew attention with the release of 2002’s ‘Introducing … Ash Grunwald’ a collection of originals and blues standards that included ‘Smokestack Lightnin’ (Howlin’ Wolf) ‘The Sky Is Crying’ (Elmore James), and ‘Rolling and Tumbling’ (Robert Johnson) recorded live with only acoustic guitar and foot percussion consisting of a stomp box and tambourine.
The positive response to Grunwald’s debut resulted in two Victorian Blues awards for Emerging Talent and Album of the Year.
The following year he scored two Australian Blues awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Best New Talent in addition to the MBAS’ Blues Performer of the Year. He also reached the final of the International Blues Performer of the Year in Memphis.
In 2004 Grunwald released his follow up album, I Don’t Believe, once again recorded solo and live.
Since his initial release he’d been made aware of two Tom Waits albums, Swordfishtrombones and Bone Machine. In a daring move he emulated Waits’ experimental bang and clang percussion using hammers, spanners, pots, etc, in addition to a boss loop station as a bed for his lap steel, dobro, and acoustic guitars.
The album included six originals, two of Waits’ compositions, "Going out West" and "Jesus Gonna Be Here" (a-cappella with handclaps) and blues standards "Walking Blues" and "Cross Roads" (Robert Johnson), "Empire State" (Son House), and "How Many More Years" (Howlin’ Wolf).
On the strength of this release Ash won an ARIA award nomination for Best Blues And Roots Album, and the Victorian Blues award for Male Vocalist Of The Year (equal with Lloyd Spiegel) and in 2005 the MBAS Vic / Tas award for Solo / Duo Of The Year (equal with Dave Hogan).
For the ‘Live At The Corner’ album (songs from his first two releases plus Willie Dixon’s ‘Spoonful’ featuring Ian Collard on harmonica) Ash won the 2005 MBAS Vic / Tas and Australian Blues award’s Album Of The Year in addition to being nominated once again for the Best Blues And Roots album at the ARIA’s.
Ash has built a substantial following performing at countless live venues around the country and at major festivals including Byron Bay, Port Fairy, Falls, Apollo Bay, Fremantle, Cockatoo Island and Margaret River.
In May 2005, Ash was invited to take over the reins as host of Triple J’s popular Thursday night show Roots ‘N All.
Ash Grunwald continues to forge his own identity with the release of twelve original songs on album number four, ‘Give Signs’ recorded on his own label Delta Groove Records. As usual it will be live and solo. And as usual, it is another terrific offering from this talented performer.
Mojo
Ash Grunwald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My mojo
Give me, my mojo, give it back
My mojo
Give me, my mojo, I want it back
My mojo
Give me my mojo, give it back
My mojo
Well you took something from me
Just wasn't yours to own
Well you took something from me
Baby just wasn't yours to own
Baby bring me back my mojo
I begging please bring it home
Well you took me in the bedroom
Do me on the floor
Even put a spell on me and now my mind is gone
I want it back
My mojo
Give me my mojo, give it back
My mojo
Give me my mojo, I want it back
My mojo
Give me my mojo, give it back
My mojo
Give me my mojo, I want it back
Give it back
I want it back
Now you know what I'm talking about
I want it back, I want it back, I want it back
You don't know about the thing I've been going through
There's so many things that a man can no longer do
If there's one thing I need is my mojo, all day and night
I don't need no possession but I need them in my life
Yeah you took me in the bedroom
Do me on the floor
Even put a spell on me and now my mind is gone
Baby please
You know it just wasn't yours to own
I want it back
My mojo, give me
My mojo, give it back
My mojo, give me
My mojo, I want it back
My mojo, give me my mojo, give it back
My mojo, give me my mojo, I want it back, back
My mojo, give me my mojo, give it back
My mojo, give me my mojo, I want it back
My mojo, give me
Now you know what I'm talking about
My mojo, give me my mojo
I want it back, back, back, back, back, back
The song "Mojo" by Australian artist Ash Grunwald is a blues-rock anthem that explores the loss of one's personal power or allure, which is referred to as "mojo." The song begins with the singer pleading for the return of his lost mojo, repeating "Give me, my mojo, give it back". This sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer details how someone has taken his mojo from him and he desperately wants it back.
The second verse implies that the loss of his mojo has caused sexual performance issues. The bridge emphasizes the importance of the mojo in the singer's life and how it is necessary for him to feel like himself. The song ends with a final plea for the return of his mojo.
While the lyrics may seem simplistic on the surface, they convey a deeper meaning that touches on themes of self-identity, personal power, and loss. The song is an interesting take on the classic blues theme of losing one's power and the desperation that ensues.
Line by Line Meaning
I want it back
The singer is expressing his desire to get back his "mojo", which seems to be something that's been taken away from him
My mojo
Mojo refers to a man's virility, sexual energy, and confidence
Give me, my mojo, give it back
The singer is pleading with the person who took his mojo to give it back to him
Well you took something from me
The singer is acknowledging that someone has taken something from him, which he refers to as his "mojo"
Just wasn't yours to own
The singer is asserting that the person who took his mojo did not have the right to do so
Baby bring me back my mojo
The singer is requesting that the person who took his mojo bring it back to him
I begging please bring it home
The singer is pleading with the person who took his mojo to bring it back to him
Well you took me in the bedroom
The singer is referring to a sexual encounter he had with the person who took his mojo
Do me on the floor
The singer is describing a sexual act that he engaged in with the person who took his mojo
Even put a spell on me and now my mind is gone
The singer is suggesting that the person who took his mojo used some kind of magic or trickery to steal it from him, and as a result, he has lost his confidence and focus
You don't know about the thing I've been going through
The singer is suggesting that the person he is addressing doesn't know how much the loss of his mojo has affected him
There's so many things that a man can no longer do
The singer is highlighting the fact that the loss of his mojo has affected his ability to do things that he was once capable of
If there's one thing I need is my mojo, all day and night
The singer is emphasizing that he really needs his mojo back in order to function normally
I don't need no possession but I need them in my life
The singer is suggesting that he doesn't need material possessions, but he definitely needs his mojo in his life
Now you know what I'm talking about
The singer is addressing the person he is singing to and suggesting that they now understand his situation
Writer(s): Phillip Eric Norman, Pip Eric Norman, Ashley Mark Groenewald
Contributed by Jayden M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stefan Posa
I can totally relate to this song, gotta love the blues.
Sharon Nealon
Love love this song:)