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.
Worried Mind
Mississippi Fred McDowell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An you made me moan
When you caused me to leave my
My happy home
But someday
Ya ain't gonna worry my mind any mo'
Tol' ev'rybody
In yo' neighborhood
What a dirty mistreater
Didn't mean ya no good
But bye-bye, baby
You ain't gonna worry my mind any mo'
(guitar)
When I was in gambling
An tried to win
You'd taken my money
Give to yo', yo' other man
But bye-bye, baby
Ya ain't gonna worry my mind any mo'
Bye-bye, baby
Ya ain't gonna worry
Worry my mind any
Mind, any mo', Lord
(guitar)
When I was sick down
Baby, on my bed
Ya come to see me
An you walked away
But bye-bye
Ya ain't gon' worry my mind any mo'
(guitar)
If I had money
Like Henry Ford
I'd buy me a woman, on
On ev'ry road
But bye-bye, honey
I ain't gon' worry yo' mind any mo'
Bye-bye, baby
I ain't gon' worry yo'
Worry yo' mind
Mind, any mo'
No.
(guitar to end)
~
The lyrics to Mississippi Fred McDowell's song "Worried Mind" are a reflection on a painful breakup from a romantic relationship that caused the singer a great deal of heartache. The first verse "You made me weep and you made me moan when you caused me to leave my happy home" speaks to the sorrow that the singer experienced when leaving what was once a happy place due to the actions of his former partner. However, the chorus of "But someday you ain't gonna worry my mind any mo'" shows the singer's determination to move on from the heartache and not let it continue to cause him pain in the future.
The verse "When I was in gambling and tried to win, you'd taken my money, give to yo' yo' other man" speaks to what he lost in the relationship, such as his hard-earned money, which his partner would give to someone else. The verses highlight the mistreatment and dishonesty on the part of the partner. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is ready to move on, as he says "bye-bye baby, you ain't gonna worry my mind any mo'" and freed himself from the emotional burden caused by the former relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
You made me weep
You caused me to cry
An you made me moan
You caused me to groan
When you caused me to leave my
When you made me abandon
My happy home
My place of joy
But someday
Eventually
Ya ain't gonna worry my mind any mo'
You won't bother me anymore
Tol' ev'rybody
Told everybody
In yo' neighborhood
In your area
What a dirty mistreater
What a cruel person
Didn't mean ya no good
Had bad intentions towards you
But bye-bye, baby
Goodbye, dear
When I was in gambling
When I was gambling
An tried to win
And tried to succeed
You'd taken my money
You took my money
Give to yo', yo' other man
Gave it to your other partner
Bye-bye, baby
Goodbye, dear
Ya ain't gonna worry my mind any mo'
You won't bother me anymore
Bye-bye, baby
Goodbye, dear
Ya ain't gonna worry
You won't bother
Worry my mind any
Bother me anymore
Mind, any mo', Lord
Anymore, Lord
When I was sick down
When I was ill
Baby, on my bed
Honey, by my bed
Ya come to see me
You visited me
An you walked away
And you left
But bye-bye
Goodbye
If I had money
If I were wealthy
Like Henry Ford
As much as Henry Ford
I'd buy me a woman, on
I would purchase a woman in
On ev'ry road
On every street
Bye-bye, honey
Goodbye, dear
I ain't gon' worry yo' mind any mo'
I won't bother you anymore
Bye-bye, baby
Goodbye, dear
I ain't gon' worry yo'
I won't bother you
Worry yo' mind
Bother you
Mind, any mo'
Anymore
No.
No
Contributed by Muhammad D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Don Arneson
Fred says "Make your guitar say what you say". He got to the core of the blues for me in the 70"s, does now too.
James Mcallister
This is the coolest version of this song I have ever heard,,fred makes this his...
Bruce Cauvet
Fred mcdowell, fantastic!
Tony Freeman
All rise for our national treasure.
Nico Puch
Topissime!!!
Craig McCauley
Cool blues!
Dave Hillfunk
Fred McDowell is the Daddy !!!
Bruce Cauvet
Already luv her
Ultimate Powa
I guess they call it Electric Worry, cause it's with an electric guitar. O.o
INDY OSKARS
"Muddy Waters done invented eelectricity"
-Willie Brown ("Crossroads" film)