Guy is known for his showmanship; for example, he plays with drumsticks and walks into the audience whilst playing, the latter being a gimmick he picked up from a local blues guitarist at an early age (joining or leaping into the audience has also long been common in both American popular and gospel music, as in the earlier work of Big Jay McNeely or the Dixie Hummingbirds).
Guy grew up in Louisiana where he learned to play guitar. In the early 1950s he began performing with bands in Baton Rouge. Soon after moving to Chicago in 1957, Guy fell under the influence of "Mighty" Muddy Waters. In 1958 he won a record contract with Artistic Records after beating the West Side guitarists Magic Sam and Otis Rush in a "Head Cutting Contest" at the Blue Flame Club. Soon afterwards he recorded for the Cobra label.
In the early 1960s, Guy was a session guitarist for Chess Records. He recorded on Junior Wells sessions for Delmark Records under the pseudonym Friendly Chap in 1965 and 1966. His career took off during a blues revival period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and was sparked by Eric Clapton's request that Guy be part of the '24 nights' all-star blues guitar lineup at London's Royal Albert Hall and Guy's subsequent signing with Silvertone Records.
Hoochie Coochie Man
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
before i was born
i gotta boy child comin'
he's gonna be a son of a gun
he's gonna make pretty womans
jump and shout
then they will wanna know
what is all about
everybody knows i'm here...
well you know i'm a hoochie coochie man
everybody knows i'm here...
i gotta black cat bone,
i gotta mo jo too.
i got the john the conquer root
i'm gonna mess with you.
i'm gonna make you girls,
lead me by my hand
then the world will know the hoochie coochie man
but you know i'm here,
everybody knows i'm here...
well you know i'm a hoochie coochie man
everybody knows i'm here...
on the seven hour, on the seven day
on the seven month, seven doctor say
he was born for good luck and that you'll see
i got seven hundred dollars, don't you mess with me
but you know i'm here,
everybody knows i'm here...
well you know i'm a hoochie coochie man
everybody knows i'm here...
Buddy Guy's "Hoochie Coochie Man" is a powerful and mystical blues song that tells the story of a man who has been blessed with special powers and abilities. He was prophesized by a gipsy woman to be a "son of a gun" who would make women "jump and shout" and create a stir wherever he goes. The man is a self-proclaimed "Hoochie Coochie Man" and believes that he was born for good luck. He possesses a black cat bone, a mo jo, and the John the Conquer root which give him supernatural powers and enable him to "mess with you."
The man proclaims that he will make the women of the world "lead [him] by [his] hand" and shows a great deal of confidence in his abilities. He claims to have $700 and warns others not to mess with him. As the song concludes, he reminds everyone that "everybody knows [he's] here" and that he truly is the "Hoochie Coochie Man."
Overall, this song celebrates the power and mystique of the blues, as well as the prowess of certain individuals who are blessed with unique abilities. The song's lyrics contain a lot of references to mystical and supernatural objects, which add to the overall feeling of mystery and power that the song creates.
Line by Line Meaning
that gipsy woman told my mother
My mother was told by a fortune-telling gypsy woman
before i was born
This prediction was made before my birth
i gotta boy child comin'
The fortune was about my unborn child, who would be a boy
he's gonna be a son of a gun
This boy will be very capable and successful
he's gonna make pretty womans
He will attract and charm beautiful women
jump and shout
These women will be very excited to be around him
then they will wanna know
The women will be curious about who he is and what he does
what is all about
They will want to understand his allure and magnetism
but you know i'm here,
I am present and available
everybody knows i'm here...
My reputation precedes me
well you know i'm a hoochie coochie man
I am a master of seduction and pleasure
i gotta black cat bone,
I possess a powerful and rare ingredient for magic
i gotta mo jo too.
I also have a mysterious object for good fortune
i got the john the conquer root
Additionally, I have a powerful herb for success
i'm gonna mess with you.
I will use these resources to control and manipulate you
i'm gonna make you girls,
I will use my abilities to make women fall for me
lead me by my hand
They will be under my spell and do whatever I ask
then the world will know the hoochie coochie man
I will become famous and renowned for my skills
on the seven hour, on the seven day
I was born under the lucky number seven
on the seven month, seven doctor say
Even seven doctors predicted good fortune for me
he was born for good luck and that you'll see
It is clear that I was destined for greatness
i got seven hundred dollars, don't you mess with me
I have wealth and power, so be careful not to cross me
Contributed by Eliana A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@unclejimbo3582
Micheal, I hear what you are saying. I'm picking up what you are laying down, I really am. But I'm 50+ years old, and I don't hear none of the big ones, on a regular basis, or none at all, talk about Muddy. His name is brought up on guitar specials and award shows, but who will take up the reins after buddy is gone.
Soon, both men will be forgotten, and the truth of it will be too.
How can the origin of a thing continue other than the action it caused.
No sir, the memory of the man will fade, but what he built won't ever.
That is legend, and I bet, how it should be.
The man is flawed, but what he builds becomes more and more perfect, through time.
Amen?
in my opinion
God gave us these men and what they created for us.
perfection in a ugly world
@neza280
He IS the last real blues man standing.
@cephalonbondarev2833
Go check out Kingfish Ingram. He's carrying the torch for Albert, Freddie, and B.B.
@fatssalvador9140
An absolutely true statement!!
@curtrod
true that
@user-jd3dr2ly5j
always feeling good to hear Buddy Guy playing the best of blues. hat off.
@michaelgreen5206
Buddy Guy is a National treasure and is a world icon for the Blues...love you Buddy and thanks for showing us the light!!! Muddy on his deathbed told Buddy to keep the Blues alive and he has come through handsomely! Remember that the Blues is the roots from which all other fruits are gotten implying there would be no Jazz, Rock-N-Roll, or any other genre!
@unclejimbo3582
Micheal, I hear what you are saying. I'm picking up what you are laying down, I really am. But I'm 50+ years old, and I don't hear none of the big ones, on a regular basis, or none at all, talk about Muddy. His name is brought up on guitar specials and award shows, but who will take up the reins after buddy is gone.
Soon, both men will be forgotten, and the truth of it will be too.
How can the origin of a thing continue other than the action it caused.
No sir, the memory of the man will fade, but what he built won't ever.
That is legend, and I bet, how it should be.
The man is flawed, but what he builds becomes more and more perfect, through time.
Amen?
in my opinion
God gave us these men and what they created for us.
perfection in a ugly world
@jamesjohnston8347
Could listen to him all day
@Michael-kk5wr
@@unclejimbo3582 ill do my best!!!!!!!!!!!!
@JesgateOnDown
also keeps it alive by showcasing young blues prodigies 🙌🏽