Coochie Man Research Paper

In 1954, Willie Dixon, a former boxer who became a blues musician because he found out that he could play a guitar better than he could land a punch wrote “Hoochie Coochie Man” for lead singer and band organizer, McKinley Morganfield, also known as Muddy Waters. During that time, there were not many radio stations that played black music and white radio was very racist at the time, there was not distributed everywhere in black neighborhoods of the big cities. There weren't many record shops. People bought their music at barbershops or general stores. (Johnson 2). ."Hoochie Coochie Man" was Waters' 10th hit and best-selling single ever, selling over seventy five thousand copies. It remained number eight on the R&B charts for 13 weeks. Muddy

Muddy Waters bellows, “Oh you know I'm the Hoochie Coochie Man Everybody knows I'm him!” Women all over the club begin shrieking and cooing as if in a trance or experiencing an orgasm for the first time, affirming the sharp sounds of the amplified guitar and possessive lyrics that are coming from the Hoochie Coochie Man. Hours pass and the bartender yells “last call for alcohol” as the last of the club goers take one last shot of Hennessey, dance one more dance with that special someone, and leave all of their worries on the dance floor. Muddy Waters, his guitar, and an electric amplifier played “Hoochie Coochie Man” one more time. He wanted to make sure he left the people feeling good, forgetting about the daily hardships they faced as black people, but before he leaves, he searches the crowd looking for that one woman that will “lead him by the hand” as he describes in the song. He identifies her and she contemplates leaving with him, but soon gives in as he repeats the last part of the song one more time, “Well you know I'm the Hoochie Coochie Man

Johnny Concheroo or High John the Conqueror is the most prized of the three John roots. It is used to draw money, bring luck at games or enhance personal sexual power. The practice of voodoo, had an emphasis on serpent worship and was among many of these religions brought over and was probably the most widely practiced. Voodoo, according to the Oxford dictionary is, a black religious cult practiced in the Caribbean and the southern US, combining elements of Roman Catholic ritual with traditional African magical and religious rites, and characterized by sorcery and spirit possession (Oxforddictionary.com). In the blues verses are embedded little gems of information concerning witchcraft, con- jury, mythical personages, omens, prophecy, superstition, weather lore, and folk medicine which have been preserved by the singers to reflect something of past as well (Clar 174). Within the voodoo society, there are no accidents. Each thing affects something else. Many spiritualists agree that we are not separate, but we all serve as parts of one. So, in essence, what you do unto another, you do unto you, because you ARE the other. Voodoo. View you. We are mirrors of each others souls. God is manifest through the spirits of ancestors who can bring good or harm and must be honored in ceremonies (Ferris 123