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.
Hoodoo Man Blues
Buddy Guy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Child you know the time
Seemed like an hour
Everything had changed
But I hold up my head
Girl, I'm just trying to make you understand
Well now, everybody tell me
Somebody hoodoo'd the hoodoo man
You had your elevator run slow
I buzzed your bell in, woman
Take me on the third floor
Well, I hold up my head
Girl, I'm just trying to make you understand
Well now, everybody tell me
Somebody hoodoo'd the hoodoo man
Well, I buzzed your bell this morning
You had your elevator run slow
I buzzed your bell in, woman
Take me on the third floor
I hold up my head
Girl, I'm just trying to make you understand
Well now, everybody tell me
Somebody hoodoo'd the hoodoo man
Well, I wonder, what's exactly the matter
Child you know the time
Seemed like an hour
Everything had changed
I hold up my head
Girl, I'm just trying to make you understand
Well now, everybody tell me
Somebody hoodoo'd the hoodoo man
The lyrics to Buddy Guy & Junior Wells's song Hoodoo Man Blues are about a man wondering what is wrong and feeling like everything in his life has changed. He holds his head up high and tries to make the woman he's talking to understand his situation. The chorus of the song talks about how everyone is telling him that someone has hoodoo'd him.
Hoodoo is a form of folk magic that originated in Africa and was brought to the United States by slaves. It involves using spells and rituals to bring about a desired outcome. The lyrics suggest that someone has put a hoodoo spell on the hoodoo man, causing him to feel lost and disoriented.
The repetition of the line "I hold up my head, girl, I'm just trying to make you understand" suggests that the hoodoo man is determined to stay strong and find his way through whatever has been done to him. The use of the elevator as a metaphor for his slow progress emphasizes the idea that he is struggling to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I wonder, what's exactly the matter
I'm perplexed and unsure of what's going on
Child you know the time
You are aware of the situation we're facing
Seemed like an hour
The time has stretched and feels much longer than it actually is
Everything had changed
The circumstances have drastically shifted
But I hold up my head
I'm still keeping my head up and trying to stay strong
Girl, I'm just trying to make you understand
I'm attempting to communicate and connect with you
Well now, everybody tell me
Many people are saying that
Somebody hoodoo'd the hoodoo man
Someone has cast a spell or curse on the magical practitioner
Well now, I buzzed your bell this morning
I tried to contact you earlier today
You had your elevator run slow
Your means of reaching me were intentionally hindered
I buzzed your bell in, woman
I attempted to enter your space
Take me on the third floor
Escort me to the highest level of understanding
Well now, everybody tell me
Many people are saying that
Somebody hoodoo'd the hoodoo man
Someone has cast a spell or curse on the magical practitioner
I hold up my head
I'm still trying to stay strong
Girl, I'm just trying to make you understand
I'm still attempting to communicate and connect with you
Well now, everybody tell me
Many people are saying that
Somebody hoodoo'd the hoodoo man
Someone has cast a spell or curse on the magical practitioner
Contributed by Hunter B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hubbali666
This should be put in a time capsule and shot into space so that future generations and aliens know we once had soul
@caleno6789
Junior Wells was one of those rare artist that could sing without instruments and still have people moving.
@GARYT1956
What a duo they were...doesn't get any better.
@zvhj7a45sz
This song runs through your veins Jr feels it and expresses the blues like no other
@paulobrien5179
Incredible vocals and harp playing
@stanblues1
I love this great blues jam! This song defines "the blues', as good or better than any song I can think of, and I have listened to a lot of stuff!
@montecristo4858
Everything about this is just perfect, The drums is spot on. The bass is just as perfect and obviously Buddys guitar sounds divine. All this is topped off by Junior Wells perfect vocals, timing and that sweet sweet harmonica. I love this, i really do. this is amazing
@ceciliawells1099
Love Jr.Wells voice it's just amazing how much talant we have...still under the spell..
@MARKIEBANUNCE
Jr. Was seriously feeling this shit, he couldn't contain it
@jamesstanlake
This is music that's played by feel rather than technique! The bkues is seemingly so simple yet has depth.