Got My Mojo Working

Lyrics: Preston Foster?
Music: Preston Foster?

The Grateful Dead played this once in 1977 and once in 1978--really as part of a jam rather than as a separate song. The Dead revived it in 2003.

I got my mojo working, but it just don't work on you
I got my mojo working, but it just don't work on you
Feel so wound up, just don't know what to do

Going down to Louisiana, get me a mojo hand
Going down to Louisiana, to get me a mojo hand
Gonna have them pretty women, [get them in the] palm of my hand

Grateful Dead Recordings
	21 Oct 1978		Road Trips Volume 1, Number 4 ("From Egypt With Love")

Origins
The song was originally recorded by Ann Cole in the 1957. She learned it from a demo record by the composer, Preston Foster. Muddy Waters toured with her and liked the song; he added some lyrics of his own and recorded it himself - at first claiming authorship as well.

The Muddy Waters' version is much the best known nowadays:

I got my mojo working, but it just don't work on you
I got my mojo working, but it just don't work on you
I want to love you so bad, 'till I just don't know what to do

I'm going down to Louisiana, to get me a mojo hand
I'm going down to Louisiana, to get me a mojo hand
I'm gonna have all you women, get you under my command

Chorus
I got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
I got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
I got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
I got my mojo working
Got my mojo working
But it just don't work on me

I got a gypsy woman giving me advice
I got a gypsy woman giving me advice
I got a whole lot of tricks keeping here on ice

[chorus]

Ann Cole's version was musically similar, but lyrically different:

I got my mojo workin' but it just won't work on you
I got my mojo workin' but it just won't work on you
I want to love you so 'til I don't know what to do

I got my black cat bones all cured and dry
I got a four-leaf clover all hangin' high
I got my mojo workin' but it just won't work on you
I want to love you so 'til I don't know what to do

I got my hoodoo ashes all around your bed
Got my black snake roots underneath your head
I got my mojo workin' but it just won't work on you
I want to love you so 'til I don't know what to do

I got a gypsy woman givin' me advice
I got some red-hot tips I have to keep on ice
I got my mojo workin' but it just won't work on you
I want to love you so 'til I don't know what to do

I got my rabbit foot, I know it's workin right
I got this strand of hair I'll keep day and night
I got my mojo workin' but it just won't work on you
I want to love you so 'til I don't know what to do

I got my mojo workin' but it just won't work on you
I got my mojo workin' but it just won't work on you
I want to love you so 'til I don't know what to do

Further Information
For more information on recordings see Matt Schofield's Grateful Dead Family Discography
For details of every time played, see Chris Edwards Grateful Sets site