Back in my university days, I was really into blues. I played guitar and harmonica and got the nickname “Mojo.” In fact, I worked with another guy who called himself “C. C.” and we were “C. C. and Mojo.” So, when Jim said that the theme this week was “a song that reminds you of yourself,” I knew exactly what to use.
“Got My Mojo Workin'” was written by Preston “Red” Foster and originally released as a single by singer Ann Cole in 1956. Muddy Waters took the song, rewrote the lyrics, and soon it became his signature song. The video is from a 1966 TV show and features James Cotton on harmonica, Otis Spann on piano, Sammy Lawhorn on guitar, Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson on bass, and Francis Clay on drums.
Got my mojo workin’, but it just won’t work on you
Got my mojo workin’, but it just won’t work on you
I wanna love you so bad, I don’t know what to do
Going down to Louisiana to get me a mojo hand
Going down to Louisiana to get me a mojo hand
I’m gonna have all you women, getcha under my command
Got my mojo workin’
Got my mojo workin’
Got my mojo workin’
Got my mojo workin’
Got my mojo workin’, but it just won’t work on you
I got a gypsy woman givin’ me advice
I got a gypsy woman givin’ me advice
I got a whole lot of tricks keepin’ here on ice
Got my mojo workin’
Got my mojo workin’
Got my mojo workin’
Got my mojo workin’
Got my mojo workin’, but it just won’t work on you
[harmonica solo]
Got my mojo workin’
Got my mojo workin’
Got my mojo workin’
Got my mojo workin’
Got my mojo workin’, but it….
just won’t work on you
Source: Musixmatch
And that’s Song Lyric Sunday (and Song of the Day) for October 23, 2022.
The Sound of One Hand Typing 
That’s so cool about your university days. This is a great song by this legendary man.
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Glad you liked it!
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A great song to be sure. It’s my understanding that after a lawsuit the writing credit was given to Preston for the Waters version. A technical matter I suppose as there is no denying it’s a Blues classic.
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I always wondered about that. Then again blues songwriters tended to steal from each other fairly regularly. A lot of Muddy’s older stuff was taken directly from Robert Johnson and had his name on it, e.g. “Two Trains Running,” “Rollin’ And Tumblin’,” etc. The difference was Robert wasn’t around anymore…
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So true, there’s dozens, if not hundreds of similar‘borrowing’ examples in Blues music. Not that it doesn’t happen in other genre, but as you mentioned Johnson, he too did a fair bit of ‘lifting’ from others.
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Or as I always say, good songwriters write good lyrics, great songwriters steal good lyrics…
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True true true.
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Love the song and that great performance Mojo 😉
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Haven’t been Mojo in a long time… although I’m still as heavy into blues, just not playing due to physical limitations after the stroke…
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I think you can still be Mojo since you can still play those blues in your soul! But I get it since I also struggle to play instruments now…
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Brilliant choice John.
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Thanks!
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Excellent selection, John!
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Thanks!
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Most welcome!
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Great choice John 💜
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Glad you liked it!
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Hi John – he certainly gave a new influence to the music industry … thanks for sharing – cheers Hilary
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He’s an icon in the blues world, along with Howlin’ Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson. Glad you enjoyed it!
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