John Mayall is often referred to as the "Father of the British blues." His well-known band is still called John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. They started out in the late 1950s in England, using Chicago style blues as a starting basis for their sound, which has evolved from album to album. And while at one point John Mayall was playing a fairly jazzy sound, he has always come back to the blues.
One of the interesting features of the Bluesbreakers is that members have changed on a very regular basis, and many have gone on to well deserved fame and fortune with other bands and as solo acts. Past members include: Eric Clapton, and Jack Bruce, (also of Cream), Peter Green, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, and Mick Taylor, (who went on to a five -year stint with the Stones.) The studio album recorded with Clapton, entitled John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, was recorded in 1966, and is widely considered to be one of the great classic blues albums on either side of the stormy Atlantic. Cream came round right after.
John Mayall stands out for several reasons - his standing up for the blues, while experimenting with different approaches, his ability to attract the best of musicians; and perhaps most notably his willingness to work with musicians who far outshine him in sheer ability. And he himself sounds very good!
From:Wikipedia
Medicine Man
John Mayall Lyrics
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Something I would never plan
Got a little trouble
Help me any way you can
I'm out of circulation
So take me to your medicine man
Never knowing who to choose
Find yourself a winner
Then you find you picked to lose
Now I've gone and lost
And I don't want no "Told you so's"
Maybe you were lucky
Funny, that's the way it goes
The song "Medicine Man" by John Mayall is about a man who has encountered bad luck and is asking for help from a "medicine man". The singer has gotten into trouble and seems to have lost control of his life. He's "out of circulation" and is asking for someone to assist him in healing his wounds.
The song's lyrics suggest that life is a gamble and that sometimes we make choices that we regret. The singer is aware that he's made a mistake and has lost something that he valued. The line "Loving is a gamble, never knowing who to choose" implies that love can be tricky and unpredictable. The phrase "then you find you picked to lose" implies that sometimes the choices we make don't always turn out as planned.
The chorus of the song is "take me to your medicine man", which suggests that the singer is seeking some form of healing or guidance from the medicine man. The song implies that the singer has lost control and is seeking help to regain balance in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a bit of bad luck
I experienced an unfortunate event
Something I would never plan
Something that was not within my control
Got a little trouble
Encountered some difficulty
Help me any way you can
Please assist me to alleviate my problem
I'm out of circulation
I am socially isolated and disconnected
So take me to your medicine man
Please guide me to someone who can provide healing or resolution
Loving is a gamble
Engaging in a romantic relationship requires taking a risk
Never knowing who to choose
It is challenging to determine the right person to pursue a relationship with
Find yourself a winner
Identify a suitable partner
Then you find you picked to lose
Despite your efforts, the chosen partner is not a good fit
Now I've gone and lost
I have failed to achieve my desired outcome
And I don't want no "Told you so's"
I do not wish to hear criticism or blame for my actions
Maybe you were lucky
Perhaps you made the right choice by chance
Funny, that's the way it goes
It is ironic that a random outcome occurred
Contributed by Eva O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.