Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Hawkins studied classical piano as a child and learned guitar in his twenties. His initial goal was to become an opera singer (Hawkins has cited Paul Robeson as his musical idol in interviews), but when his initial ambitions failed he began his career as a conventional blues singer and pianist.
Hawkins was an avid and formidable boxer. In 1949, he was the middleweight boxing champion of Alaska.
In 1951, Hawkins joined guitarist Tiny Grimes's band, and was subsequently featured on some of Grimes's recordings. When Hawkins became a solo performer, he often performed in a stylish wardrobe of leopard skins, red leather and wild hats.
His most successful recording, "I Put a Spell on You" (1956), was selected as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. According to the AllMusic Guide to the Blues, "Hawkins originally envisioned the tune as a refined ballad." The entire band was intoxicated during a recording session where "Hawkins screamed, grunted, and gurgled his way through the tune with utter drunken abandon." The resulting performance was no ballad but instead a "raw, guttural track" that became his greatest commercial success and reportedly surpassed a million copies in sales, although it failed to make the Billboard pop or R&B charts.
The performance was mesmerizing, although Hawkins himself blacked out and was unable to remember the session. Afterward he had to relearn the song from the recorded version. Meanwhile the record label released a second version of the single, removing most of the grunts that had embellished the original performance; this was in response to complaints about the recording's overt sexuality. Nonetheless it was banned from radio in some areas.
Soon after the release of "I Put a Spell on You", radio disc jockey Alan Freed offered Hawkins $300 to emerge from a coffin onstage. Hawkins accepted and soon created an outlandish stage persona in which performances began with the coffin and included "gold and leopard skin costumes and notable voodoo stage props, such as his smoking skull on a stick – named Henry – and rubber snakes." These props were suggestive of voodoo, but also presented with comic overtones that invited comparison to "a black Vincent Price."
He continued to tour and record through the 1960s and 1970s, particularly in Europe, where he was very popular. He appeared in performance (as himself) in the Alan Freed bio-pic American Hot Wax in 1978. Subsequently, filmmaker Jim Jarmusch featured "I Put a Spell on You" on the soundtrack – and deep in the plot – of his film Stranger Than Paradise (1983) and then Hawkins himself as a hotel night clerk in his Mystery Train and in roles in Álex de la Iglesia's Perdita Durango and Bill Duke's adaptation of Chester Himes' A Rage in Harlem.
His 1957 single "Frenzy" (found on the early 1980s compilation of the same name) was included in the compilation CD, Songs in the Key of X: Music from and Inspired by the X-Files, in 1996. This song was featured in the show's Season 2 episode "Humbug". It was also covered by the band Batmobile. "I Put a Spell on You" was featured during the show and over the credits of Episode 303 of The Simpsons.
In 1983, Hawkins relocated to the New York area. In 1984 and 1985, Hawkins collaborated with garage rockers The Fuzztones, resulting in "Screamin' Jay Hawkins and The Fuzztones Live" album recorded at Irving Plaza in December 1984. They perform in the 1986 movie Joey.
In July 1991, Hawkins released his album Black Music for White People. The record features covers of two Tom Waits compositions: "Heart Attack and Vine" (which, later that year, was used in a European Levi's advertisement without Waits' permission, resulting in a lawsuit), and "Ice Cream Man" (which, contrary to popular belief, is a Waits original, and not a cover of the John Brim classic). Hawkins also covered the Waits song, "Whistlin' Past the Graveyard", for his album Somethin' Funny Goin' On. In 1993, his version of "Heart Attack and Vine" became his only UK hit, reaching #42 on the UK singles chart.
When Dread Zeppelin recorded their "disco" album, It's Not Unusual in 1992, producer Jah Paul Jo asked Hawkins to guest. He performed the songs "Jungle Boogie" and "Disco Inferno".
Hawkins also toured with The Clash and Nick Cave during this period, and not only became a fixture of blues festivals, but appeared at many film festivals as well, including the Telluride Film Festival premier of Mystery Train.
Hawkins died on February 12, 2000 after surgery to treat an aneurysm. He left behind many children by many women; an estimated 55 at the time of his death, and upon investigation, that number "soon became perhaps 75 offspring".
Although Hawkins was not a major success as a recording artist, his highly theatrical performances from "I Put a Spell On You" onward earned him a steady career as a live performer for decades afterward, and influenced subsequent acts. He opened for Fats Domino, Tiny Grimes and the Rolling Stones. This exposure in turn influenced rock groups such as The Cramps, Screaming Lord Sutch, Black Sabbath, Arthur Brown, Dread Zeppelin, The Horrors, Marilyn Manson, Tom Waits, Alice Cooper and Glenn Danzig.
Monkberry Moon Delight
Screamin' Jay Hawkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A piano up my nose
And the wind played a dreadful cantata (cantata)
Sore was I from the crack of an enemy′s hose
And the horrible sound of tomato (tomato)
Ketchup (ketchup)
Don't get left behind (get left behind)
When a rattle of rats had awoken
The sinews, the nerves and the veins
My piano was boldly outspoken, in attempts to repeat its refrain
So I stood with a knot in my stomach
And I gazed at that terrible sight
Of two youngsters concealed in a barrel
Sucking monkberry moon delight
Monkberry moon delight
Monkberry moon delight
Well, I know my banana is older than the rest
And my hair is a tangled beretta
When I leave my pajamas to Billy Budapest
And I don′t get the gist of your letter (your letter)
Catch up! (catch up)
Cats and kittens (cats and kittens)
Don't get left behind (get left behind)
Monkberry moon delight
Monkberry moon delight
The lyrics to "Monkberry Moon Delight" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins are known for their eccentricity and surreal imagery. The song's meaning can be subjective, but it explores themes of confusion, chaos, and perhaps a critique of societal norms.
The opening lines, "So I sat in the attic, a piano up my nose, and the wind played a dreadful cantata," suggest a sense of isolation and being overwhelmed. The image of a piano up the nose could represent the burden of creativity or the weight of artistic expression. The "dreadful cantata" signifies a chaotic and dissonant symphony played by the wind, symbolizing the disorientation and noise in the singer's mind.
The next lines, "Sore was I from the crack of an enemy's hose, and the horrible sound of tomato," introduce pain and discomfort. The crack of an enemy's hose could be a metaphor for experiencing oppression or abuse. The "horrible sound of tomato" is a strange and unexpected phrase that could signify the absurdity of life's challenges. It may imply that even the most ordinary things can become unsettling when viewed through a different lens.
The repetition of "Ketchup, soup and puree, don't get left behind," emphasizes the need to keep up and adapt in a constantly changing and confusing world. It could be interpreted as a call to stay alert and not be overwhelmed by the chaos and absurdity surrounding us.
The verse about the "rattle of rats" awakening the sinews, nerves, and veins implies a disturbing and unsettling experience. The piano's repetition of its refrain could symbolize a desire to express oneself and find a sense of stability amid chaos. The lines about "two youngsters concealed in a barrel, sucking monkberry moon delight" further add to the surreal and nonsensical nature of the song. It may suggest a critique of society, highlighting the strange and arbitrary pleasures that people indulge in.
In the last verse, Hawkins describes feeling out of touch and disconnected. The mention of a "tangled beretta" could represent confusion and disarray in one's appearance or state of mind. Leaving his pajamas to Billy Budapest might imply passing on responsibilities or deferring decisions to someone else. The line "I don't get the gist of your letter" signifies a lack of understanding or miscommunication in interpersonal relationships.
Overall, "Monkberry Moon Delight" appears to be a whimsical, surreal, and cryptic exploration of confusion, chaos, and the absurdities of life. Its lyrics invite listeners to interpret and find their own meaning within the song's unconventional imagery and wordplay.
Line by Line Meaning
So I sat in the attic
I found myself in a secluded and solitary space
A piano up my nose
Feeling overwhelmed by an excessive and intrusive presence
And the wind played a dreadful cantata (cantata)
The howling wind created a haunting and ominous symphony
Sore was I from the crack of an enemy's hose
I experienced pain and discomfort from the strike of an adversary's weapon
And the horrible sound of tomato (tomato)
I was tormented by the jarring sound of a tomato hitting me
Ketchup (ketchup)
Let's catch up or keep up with the fast-paced changes
Soup and puree (Soup and puree)
An analogy for mixing and blending different elements
Don't get left behind (get left behind)
Don't allow oneself to be left out or lag behind
When a rattle of rats had awoken
The sudden commotion caused by a group of rats stirring
The sinews, the nerves and the veins
Referring to the internal workings and intricacies of the body
My piano was boldly outspoken, in attempts to repeat its refrain
The piano forcefully expressed itself, eager to repeat its melodic pattern
So I stood with a knot in my stomach
Feeling anxious and uneasy
And I gazed at that terrible sight
Observing a distressing scene
Of two youngsters concealed in a barrel
Two young individuals hidden inside a container
Sucking monkberry moon delight
Indulging in an unknown and mystifying pleasure
Well, I know my banana is older than the rest
Acknowledging that one's uniqueness and experience sets them apart
And my hair is a tangled beretta
Describing unruly and chaotic hair
When I leave my pajamas to Billy Budapest
When I entrust my personal belongings to someone else
And I don't get the gist of your letter (your letter)
Struggling to comprehend the essence or meaning behind a written message
Catch up! (catch up)
Keep up with the pace or demands of the situation
Cats and kittens (cats and kittens)
An expression referring to various individuals or entities
Don't get left behind (get left behind)
Avoid being excluded or falling behind
Monkberry moon delight
The mysterious and pleasurable experience of the moon's enchantment
Monkberry moon delight
The continued enjoyment and fascination with the moon's allure
Writer(s): Paul Mccartney, Linda Mccartney
Contributed by Liliana H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@randymarsh5088
One of Paul McCartneys most underrated songs
@BBroadnax
My God, this song goes so effin hard.
@chuckdee121
Screamin' Jay was wonderful, wasn't he? All his stuff is great!!!
@michaelwilliams5442
I love everything about this song including the background singers
@AcidTonic
I totally wish Tom Waits would do a cover of this. After watching "Bad as Me" I just felt like coming to hear Jay Scream a bit because I was reminded of him for some reason listening to the other song.
@dogmatil7608
lol always people need to compare everything. I didn't even know this guy, but thanks to Paul I discovered him. I love that Paul's is faster, this this version with the laughing is genius as well <3 love both and just shows again how underrated RAM is.
@braincellgenocide
Holy fucking shit balls this version is fuckin awesome. I still stay true to the original, but what kind of pimp do you feel like when screamin jay is covering your shit.
@amandas.6745
'I put a spell on you' was clearly an inspiration for Paul.....
@MsFreshadenu
So fucking wild
@sparkyk5736
Post in ENGLISH, not FRENCH! This is a family Site!