The mysterious expression Hoochie Coochie Man is known to everyone who loves the blues even a little, because this is the name of the song by Willie Dixon, which is considered a classic of the genre. In our country, thanks to the song of Sergei Chigrakov, he is known even by those who do not have a particular passion for the musical form that originated on the plantations of the southeastern American states.
But let’s try to figure out what these words can mean. Let’s also try to find out what the song Hoochie Coochie Man by Muddy Waters is about.
The story and meaning of the song Hoochie Coochie Man
Let’s start with the fact that “hoochie coochie” was the name of a sexy female dance that captivated the public during the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. It is believed that Eastern European gypsies brought it to the United States. The same term denoted the institutions in which such performances were held. The conclusion suggests itself that “hoochie coochie man” is a frequenter of such establishments, a lover of obscene shows and accessible women.
But the researchers claim that the expression “hoochie coochie man” came into use only after 1954, when Muddy Waters recorded a song by Willie Dixon (the author of the composition then played the bass guitar). By that time, everyone had forgotten about the once popular dance. Therefore, it is hardly worth associating the term directly with visitors to depraved performances.
In addition, some lines from the text of the Hoochie Coochie Man song suggest certain thoughts. For example, it mentions the bone of a black cat, which was an amulet among African Americans, and the herb Johnny Conckeroo (apparently a distorted “conqueror” – “conqueror”), allegedly possessing magical properties, which is why it was worn in a pouch around the neck.
Next, you can listen to the online song Hoochie Coochie Man performed by Willy Dixon.
So what did Dixon mean? The situation was clarified a little by his interview, which he gave in 1988. Willy spoke about the main idea behind Hoochie Coochie Man:
People believe in mysticism. How people today believe in astrology. This has been the case for generations since biblical times. People all over the world believe in it. Even before the birth of Jesus, according to the Bible. The wise men saw the stars in the east and were able to foresee what would happen. All this is mysticism. People say, “Hoochie-heap people predict the future.” You know, like those Eastern sages. They call them voodoo or hoochie-kuchi. They are also called sorcerers (English “hoodoo”) or two-headed. They have different names for everything.
As you can see, Dixon put a slightly different meaning into the meaning of this phrase, partly connecting it with mysticism, but not without sexual overtones, as follows from the words of the Hoochie Coochie Man song. According to Dave Van Ronk, Willy argued that the song should have a comic effect.
The exact date of composition of Hoochie Coochie Man is unknown. They say that before the song was released by Muddy Waters, Dixon managed to polish it in the Chicago club Zanzibar. Upon recording, it became an immediate hit and peaked at number eight on the Billboard Black Singles Chart.
Dozens of cover versions of Hoochie Coochie Man were subsequently recorded. Among the noted performers were Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, Buddy Guy, Eric Burdon, BB King, Eric Clapton and many others.
I suggest you watch the concert music video Hoochie Coochie Man by Eric Clapton.
Hoochie Coochie Man is a member of the Blues Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, it is ranked 226th.
Interesting Facts
- The band Long John Baldry and his Hoochie Coochie Men was named after the song.
- The Hoochie Coochie Men was an Australian group whose members included Bob Daisley, Tim Geyse, Jon Lord and Rob Grosser.
Hoochie Coochie Man Lyrics
The gypsy woman told my mother
Before I was born
You got a boy child’s comin’
He’s gonna be a son of a gun
He gonna make pretty women
jump and shout
Then the world wanna know
What’s this all about
But you know I’m him
Everybody knows I’m him
Well you know I’m the hoochie coochie man
Everybody knows I’m him
I got a black cat bone
I got a mojo too
I got the Johnny Conkeroo
I’m gonna mess with you
I’m gonna make you girls
Lead me by my hand
Then the world will know
The hoochie coochie man
But you know I’m him
Everybody knows I’m him
Oh you know I’m the hoochie coochie man
Everybody knows I’m him
On the seventh hours
On the seventh day
On the seventh month
The seven doctors say
He was born for good luck
And that you’ll see
I got seven hundred dollars
Don’t you mess with me
But you know I’m him
Everybody knows I’m him
Well you know I’m the hoochie coochie man
Everybody knows I’m him
Lyrics of Hoochie Coochie Man by Willie Dixon Alternate
The gypsy told my mother
Before I was born
“You will have a boy soon.
He will become a real villain.
Seeing him, beauties will
Jump and scream.
Then the whole world will know
What is what”
You know he is me
Everyone knows he is me
Well, you know I’m a hoochie hoochie guy
Everyone knows he is me
I have a black cat bone
I also have an amulet
I have johnny conkeru
I will confuse with you
I’ll sleep with you girls
Come with me by the hand
And then the whole world will know
Hoochi-heaps of a guy
But you know he is me
Everyone knows he is me
Well, you know I’m a hoochie hoochie guy
Everyone knows he is me
At the seventh hour
seventh day
seventh month
Seven doctors say
That he was born lucky
What do you see
I have seven hundred dollars
Do not mess with me
But you know he is me
Everyone knows he is me
Well, you know I’m a hoochie hoochie guy
Everyone knows he is me
