His parents, who were farmers, died when McDowell was a youth. He started playing guitar at the age of 14 and played at dances around Rossville. Wanting a change from ploughing fields, he moved to Memphis in 1926 where he worked in a number of jobs and played music for tips. He settled in Como, Mississippi, about 40 miles south of Memphis, in 1940 or 1941, and worked steadily as a farmer, continuing to perform music at dances, and picnics. Initially he played slide guitar using a pocket knife and then a slide made from a beef rib bone, later switching to a glass slide for its clearer sound. He played with the slide on his ring finger.
A pure hill country blues musician, he played "just the straight, natural blues," and he "do not play no rock and roll." McDowell initially played the recognizable resonator guitar but, during tours and recordings beginning in the 1960s, he adopted the use of electric guitar and was probably the first original delta- or country blues musician to do so. McDowell's style is distinctive and recognizable; perhaps the dirtiest sounding guitarist ever and one of the most influential. The slide guitar styles of Bonnie Raitt as well as Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones, as well as Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys are all heavily influenced by McDowell's technique.
McDowell died of cancer in 1972 and is buried at Hammond Hill M.B. Church, between Como and Senatobia. On August 6, 1993 a memorial was placed on the gravesite of Mississippi Fred McDowell at the Hammond Hill Baptist Church cemetery by the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund.
Woke Up This Morning with My Mind On Jesus
Mississippi Fred McDowell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, woke up this mo'nin
With my mind, stayin' on Jesus
Woke up this mo'nin
With my mind, stayin' on Jesus
Halleluh, halleleluh
Stayin' on, Jesus
Singin' and playin' with my mind
Stayin' on
Well, stayin' and playin'
Halleluh, halleluh
(guitar)
Well, walkin' an talkin' with my
Stayin' on
Walkin' an talkin' with my mind
Stayin' on, Jesus
Halleluh, halleluh
Well, singin' and prayin'
Stayin' on, Jesus
Singin' an playin' with my mind
Halleluh, halleluh.
(guitar to end)
~
The song "Woke Up This Morning with My Mind on Jesus" by Mississippi Fred McDowell is a gospel blues song that expresses the singer's devotion to Jesus Christ. The repeated phrase "With my mind, stayin' on Jesus" emphasizes the importance of focusing one's thoughts and actions on Jesus, and the use of hallelujahs throughout the song further emphasizes the joy and exultation that comes with this type of devotion. The opening line "Woke up this mo'nin" suggests the action of awakening is significant as it highlights how the singer's first thoughts are of Jesus.
As the song progresses, the singer describes various ways in which he is "stayin' on" Jesus. He sings and prays, walks and talks with Jesus, and sings and plays music with Jesus on his mind. These actions paint a picture of true devotion and commitment to Jesus as the singer integrates him into all aspects of his life. The guitar also plays an important role, providing a rhythmic and melodic foundation to the song and adding to the overall emotional intensity.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, woke up this mo'nin
I woke up this morning
With my mind, stayin' on Jesus
Thinking about Jesus is on my mind
Woke up this mo'nin
I woke up this morning
With my mind, stayin' on Jesus
Thinking about Jesus is on my mind
Halleluh, halleleluh
Hallelujah, praise be to God
Well, singin' an prayin' with my
I am singing and praying with
Stayin' on, Jesus
Focus on Jesus
Singin' and playin' with my mind
I am singing and playing music in my mind
Stayin' and playin'
I remain focused and am playing music
Halleluh, halleluh
Hallelujah, praise be to God
(guitar)
Instrumental break with guitar
Well, walkin' an talkin' with my
I am walking and talking with
Stayin' on
Staying focused on Jesus
Walkin' an talkin' with my mind
I am walking and talking in my mind
Stayin' on, Jesus
I remain focused on Jesus
Halleluh, halleluh
Hallelujah, praise be to God
Well, singin' and prayin'
I am singing and praying
Stayin' on, Jesus
Staying focused on Jesus
Singin' an playin' with my mind
I am singing and playing music in my mind
Halleluh, halleluh.
Hallelujah, praise be to God
(guitar to end)
Instrumental with guitar until the end
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bruce Anthony
I can't stop listening to this song... especially on Christmas Day... Thanks!!!
adonai yah
I'm Christian too so its nice
markandrew hiley
i went to a blues festival a couple a months back, three days of freekin rock music, not what id call blues, i want to listen to blues like this. thanks for posting, mark.
ephre
@Alexander Mall Archive helpful...
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Hallelujah
racso408
there is no more blues like this
jacques fois
the music, the wailing notes, the dirge like singing, the plaintive cry born out of suffering and misery, in homage to a man whose very death was pain and suffering itself, to save men from suffering...makes my hair stand on end
Terry Masters
Praise be to Jesus!
peendaccarry
Ain't no Christian but this always gets me praising God
Mimic Cave
You can almost feel the Mississippi heat