He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in Arkansas. Wells moved to Chicago in 1948 and first made his mark at age 18 playing in Muddy Waters' band. He later worked with Buddy Guy in the 1960s and recorded for Delmark Records. His most memorable songs are "Messin' With the Kid" and "Little by Little," and his best-known album, 1965's Hoodoo Man Blues, which evokes the smoky atmosphere of the era's Westside Chicago blues bars.
Wells made an appearance in the 1998 movie Blues Brothers 2000, the sequel to The Blues Brothers. The movie was released less than a month after his death.
On his passing in 1998, Junior Wells was interred in the Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago.
Hoodoo Man
Junior Wells 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
In the song "Hoodoo Man" by Junior Wells, the singer wonders what's been happening to him lately – everything feels different, like time is dragging on. He's holding his head up high and trying to make the person he's talking to understand what's going on. Wells then goes on to describe a strange encounter he had with this person – he buzzed her bell in the morning and her elevator was running slowly. He then tries to make her understand that somebody put a curse on him, a Hoodoo Man.
The lyrics of "Hoodoo Man" seem to suggest that the singer is struggling with some form of spiritual or emotional malaise, and is looking to uncover the source of their problems. The repetitive nature of the narrative further emphasizes the feeling of disorientation and confusion that the singer is experiencing. The Hoodoo Man, the figure responsible for this misfortune, is a kind of bogeyman in African-American folklore, and refers to someone who practices Hoodoo, a form of spiritual practice that involves the use of charms and spells to influence the outcome of events.
Widely regarded as a classic blues song, "Hoodoo Man" has been covered by several notable artists, including Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, and Buddy Guy. The song is also notable for featuring an all-star band, including Buddy Guy on guitar, Otis Spann on piano, and Bill Wyman from The Rolling Stones on bass. The original recording of "Hoodoo Man" was released on the album of the same name in 1965, and was produced by Bob Koester.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I wonder, what's exactly the matter
I am feeling uneasy and unsure about what is happening
Child you know the time
You are aware of the current situation
Seemed like an hour
Time feels like it is moving very slowly
Everything had changed
The circumstances have dramatically altered
But I hold up my head
I remain brave and strong
Girl, I'm just trying to make you understand
I want you to comprehend my perspective
Well now, everybody tell me
Others are claiming to have information about the situation
Somebody hoodoo'd the hoodoo man
Someone has put a curse on me, a practitioner of hoodoo
Well now, I buzzed your bell this morning
I tried to visit you earlier
You had your elevator run slow
You purposely made it difficult for me to visit
I buzzed your bell in, woman
I attempted to get your attention
Take me on the third floor
I wanted to come up to see you
Well now, everybody tell me
Once again, others are spreading information about me
Somebody hoodoo'd the hoodoo man
The curse on me seems to be confirmed by multiple sources
I hold up my head
I remain unbroken, despite adversity
Girl, I'm just trying to make you understand
I need you to sympathize with my plight
Contributed by Hunter B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jamesanderson6733
I met both Otis Rush and Junior Wells. This is real Black Chicago Blues. No need for over distortion. Its all about Soul.
@ibrahimalvin1915
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@phillipdarwin3214
@Ibrahim Alvin instablaster =)
@ibrahimalvin1915
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@ibrahimalvin1915
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@phillipdarwin3214
@Ibrahim Alvin You are welcome :)
@chiguy416
Heard this song on Idiocracy and it led me down a rabbit hole of discovering Blues music. Still one of my favorites in 2023.
@fendermon
This should be put in a time capsule and shot into space so that future generations and aliens know we once had soul. RIP Amos Wells
@kulusadira8658
RIP Junior Wells
@RicardoLOPEZ-dj6uh
fendermon I agree 100% with you!!!