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The words and phrases listed below are the back-ends of hyperlinks that start in the actual lyrics on this site. Although some words and phrases may not be typical blues lingo they are nevertheless listed here because they help to clarify the meaning and context of the lyrics they are found in. Finally, the content of the list is based on having the non-U.S.-English-native speaking blues fans in mind as well.

Before you proceed...
This page is not intended as a work of science. Sources for this page are mostly visitor contributions, other internet web sites and, if available, relevant literature. Quality, accuracy and substantiation of the content may vary. Motivated suggestions and criticism are always welcome.

blue notes	race music/records	ragtime	rhythm & blues (r&b)	syncopation
Tin Pan Alley	vaudeville	.	.	.

Word/phrase	Meaning
alcorub	1 - Tom "Bassman" Bartenbach, Puebla, Mexico wrote: "Alcorub refers to rubbing alcohol for sore muscles and bones. However, this was also used to sniff, much as other, more destructive substances are used today. A way to get a high. This stuff tasted lousy when ingested, so they sniffed it instead. Thanks to Tom "Bassman" Bartenbach for this contribution; 2 - Willie Lomax wrote to me: "Alcorub refers to "rubbing alcohol" i.e. isopropyl alcohol. It is inexpensive, easily obtainable, and although it is a cumulative poison, some desperate alcoholics have been known to drink it - with adverse effects. Thanks to Willie Lomax for this contribution; 3 - Greg Gurtizen says: "I believe that alcorub was a "Patent Medicine" of the time that alcoholics would use when they couldn't get their sterno (canned heat) aka "squeeze". Thanks to Greg Gurtizen for this contribution. __________ This phrase can be found in: Tommy Johnson, Canned Heat Blues
back door man/friend	1 - the lover of a married woman who sneaks out the back door before the man of the house gets home __________ This phrase can be found in: Blind Boy Fuller, I Crave My Pigmeat, Howlin' Wolf, Back Door Man Lightnin' Hopkins, Back Door Friend

ball(ing) the jack

1 - origin: balling the jack is a phrase from the jargon of railroadsmen in the beginning of this century in America and simply means going at top speed (highballing). The "jack" is the locomotive and "ballin'" means to work fast or get rollin'. Balling the jack (and variants like balling or having a ball) later acquired other, non-railroad related meanings like having a wild good time (drinking), to move quickly, going flat out, dancing, having sex and in gambling circles of risking everything on a single throw of the dice or turn of a card and in general use risking everything on one attempt or effort. Following visitor contributed information confirms these meanings: 2 - metaphor for having sex, see also balling the jack and grinding. Dave Vanderslice says: "Means literally: use a jack hammer, but also to have sex." Thanks to Dave Vanderslice for his contribution to the list; 3 - name of a once popular dance, dancestep. Gray "Grayotis" Martin writes: "Ball the Jack---also likely a juke joint dance, with a reference to the act of sexual intercourse. "Ball" in verb form, is a slang word for sex, in white and black lingo. Thanks to Gray Martin for this contribution; Southern Louisiana's John "JohnnyB" Bradford says: "The "eagle rock" and "ball and the jack" are 1940's dance moves. Thanks to John "JohnnyB" Bradford for this contribution to the list; Found this description of the Ballin' The Jack (Eagle Rock?) dance: "First you put your two knees close up tight, then you sway 'em to the left Then you sway 'em to the right, step around the floor kind of nice and light Then you twist around and twist around with all your might, Stretch your lovin' arms straight out into space, Then you do the Eagle Rock with style and grace. Swing your foot way 'round then bring it back. Now that's what I call Ballin' the Jack." 4 - going fast, doing the best. Jesse Fowler adds: "I know that it meant going fast (especially on a freight train). Thanks to Jesse Fowler for this contribution to the list. Paul Simmons wrote: " Balling the jack can also be an early reference to having your hands (ball of your hands) on a Jackhammer and pushing down with a great effort. I've often heard the term used to mean that you're "working it hard" in whatever your doing...For example I've heard people working on road crews say, "you best be ballin' it and not just doggin' it"... or translated, "you should be working and not just doing the motions". Think of it more as an adjective rather than a verb." Thanks to Paul Simmons for this contribution to the list 5 - Den Joy Cope says: "I believe this is ballin' the jack, not sure but it could have that very BLUE meaning of sex with a jack (nowadays a john), perhaps from the bawdy houses and juke joints that Bessie surely was familiar with. It was also a dance(dancestep) during the jitterbug period I think, but this was probably AFTER the original usage.". Thanks to Den Joy Cope for this contribution to the list; Many visitors sent in suggestions on this phrase, too many to post here. I'd like to thank ALL people who sent in some info on this phrase! __________ This phrase can be found in: Bessie Smith, Baby Doll & St. Louis Blues, Big Bill Broonzy, I Feel So Good

barrelhouse	1 - a cheap drinking and usually dancing establishment. The term "barrel house" originates, logically, from a place where barrels of alcoholic beverages can be found. The meaning of the term later changed to refer to the type, and rough style of music which emulated from these establishments; 2 - strident, uninhibited, and forcefully rhythmic style of jazz or blues. Take the Barrel House Piano Greats Historical Tour from the Memphis Guide __________ This word can be found in: Big Bill Broonzy, I Feel So Good, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Change My Luck Blues Ma Rainey, Barrel House Blues, Muddy Waters, Rollin' And Tumblin' Robert Johnson, Traveling Riverside Blues
biscuit/ biscuit roller	1 - Among metaphors themes used in blues music, culinary themes are especially comon. A desirable young girl was called a biscuit and a good lover was called a biscuit roller. __________ This word/phrase can be found in: Robert Johnson, If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day Alvin Youngblood Hart, Big Mama's Door
black cat bone	1 - hoodoo magic, good luck charm, especially to bring back the wayward lover. Costly and valued, its scarcity was largely due to the elaborate ceremony which was required for its preparation - the fainthearted and/or animal lovers are advised to skip the next part, ;-). Every black cat has within its body one bone that will either grant the owner invisibility or can be used to bring back a lost lover. To secure this bone, a black cat must be thrown alive into a kettle of boiling water at midnight. The animal dies in agony, and the practitioner boils the carcass until the meat falls off the bones. Some say that the special bone will be the top one left when the water boils away, others say it can only be found by placing each bone in turn beneath the tongue while an assistant stands by to notify the practitioner that he has become invisible, and still others swear that if all the bones are thrown into a stream that runs north (uncommon in most of North America), the desired bone will be one that floats on the water and heads south. Once found, the black cat bone is carried in a mojo bag and anointed with Van Van Oil to bring back a lost lover. The oil or fat of the cat is bottled for use as a candle dressing and for anointing gambler's charms. __________ This phrase can be found in: Muddy Waters, Got My Mojo Working (see note!) Buddy Guy, When My Left Eye Jumps, The Jeff Healey Band, Hoochie Coochie Man Muddy Waters, (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man

the blues

1 - The Blues... It's 12-bar, bent-note melody is the anthem of a race bonding itself together with cries of shared self victimization. Bad luck and trouble are always present, and always the result of others, pressing upon unfortunate and down trodden poor souls, yearning to be free from lifes' responsibilities. Never ending beats repeat the chants of sorrow, and the pity of a lost soul many times over. These are the Blues; 2 - Found under the blazing sun of the Northern Mississippi cotton fields, it's father, the old African tribal call and response, and it's mother, the Gospel sounds which bellowed from the church choirs; 3 - A lead worker would chant the opening lines, and the chorus of workers would answer, falling into a regular pattern to match the task at hand. This ancient African call and response chant is the core of the Blues, found both in African American church pulpits (an elevated platform or high reading desk used in preaching or conducting a worship service), and antebellum (existing before the Civil War) plantations; 4 - W.C. Handy was the first trained musician to capture the sounds of Blues on paper. In 1909, Handy penned the first written Blues song "Mr. Crump Blues" in the Pee Wee's Saloon on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennesse. read more about W.C. Handy in this essay; 5 - "If you wants to know about the Blues, you got's to go back to the church" -- Muddy Waters --; 6 - "We were always singing in the fields. Not real singing, you know, just hollerin', but we made up our songs about things that was happenin' to us at the time, and I think that's where the Blues started" -- Son House --; 7 - see also A Brief History of the Blues (by Robert M. Baker): - The Blue Tonalities And What Defines The Blues; - Blues Lyrics; - Construction Of The Blues.

boogie chillun

1 - thanks to one of the site's visitors we now know that chillun, like in boogie chillun or mambo chillun as used by John Lee Hooker in several of his songs, is simply a southern pronunciation of the word "children", thanks Alan Wexler for your contribution. The word boogie has several meanings: to move quickly, to get going, to dance to (rock) music and to party. __________ This phrase can be found in: John Lee Hooker, Boogie Chillun

boogie-woogie

1 - a percussive style of playing blues on the piano characterized by a steady rhythmic ground bass of eighth notes in quadruple time and a series of improvised melodic variations. Read more about the history of boogie-woogie and Boogie Woogie Piano: From Barrelhouse to Carnegie Hall. __________ This phrase can be found in: Big Bill Broonzy, Joe_Turner_Blues & Joe_Turner_No_2_(Blues_Of_1892) Little Walter, Tell Me Mama, Omar & The Howlers, Booger Boy

canned heat

1 - a particularly lethal drink which was obtained by extracting the alcohol from solidified methylated spirits which was sold as a fuel for outdoor cooking. Canned heat could be bought from street dealers who had made a business out of this process. A similar drink was obtained by drawing off contaminated alcohol from proprietory brands of boot polish; 2 - Steven Soms wrote: "This was a cooking fuel based on denatured alcohol, like Sterno. I think "Canned Heat" was a brand name that has become a generic term. Tommy Johnson was addicted to this stuff, and it probably didn't do him much good. I believe there may be a US expression "sterno drinker" relating to this. Here in Australia the equivalent term would be "metho drinker" from methylated spirits, our local name for denatured alcohol." Thanks to Steven Sims for this contribution to the list; 3 - Jim Burger confirms Steven's version: "I'm pretty sure that canned heat is basically sterno, alcohol-based, liquid, in a can (obviously). When one is down on his luck, this stuff comes a lot cheaper than a bottle of Jack, but it doesn't leave such a good taste in the mouth and can probly drive ya blind. Hence Tommy's lament..." thanks to Jim Burger for this contribution to the list. __________ This phrase can be found in: Memphis Jug Band, Better Leave That Stuff Alone (lyrics not yet available) Sloppy Henry, Canned Heat Blues (lyrics not yet available) Tommy Johnson, Canned Heat Blues

captain	1 - captain was one of the forms of address the Southern white man demanded from black employees; 2 - the captain of a prison. __________ This word can be found in: Big Bill Broonzy, John Henry, Leadbelly, Jumpin' Judy&Midnight Special&Take This Hammer Robert Johnson, Last Fair Deal Gone Down, Son House, Country Farm Blues Blind Lemon Jefferson, Prison Cell Blues
Casey Jones	A locomotive engineer that became a hero and a folk figure at the end of the 19th cenury. Read more about it here! __________ This name can be found in: Mississippi John Hurt, Casey Jones
c c rider	see easy rider
coffee grinder/ grinding	1 - metaphor for lover or love making. Many metaphors used in the blues were derived from the process of cooking and other closely related culinary terms. The shade of color of a black person also played a role: "honey " was used for a light-skinned person and "coffee" for a deeper shade thus resulting in terms like "honey dripper" and "coffee grinder" as methaphors for a lover. Grinding (coffee in a grinder or wheat in a mill) therefore means having sex, see also balling the jack. __________ This phrase can be found in: Lucille Bogan, Coffee Grindin' Blues, Bessie Smith, Empty Bed Blues Memphis Slim, Grinder Man Blues, Memphis Minnie, What's The Matter With The Mill Muddy Waters, Can't Get No Grindin' (lyrics noy yet available)
cold in hand	1 - having no money. Thanks to "T-man" Tilman Michalke for this contribution to the list. __________ This phrase can be found in: Lucille Bogan, Drinking Blues, Bukka White, District Attorney Blues Bumble Bee Slim, No Woman No Nickle (lyrics not yet available)

crepe(r)	1 - crepe or creper, a hackneyed (stresses being worn out by overuse so as to become dull and meaningless) symbol of mourning. The woman in question would post it (on the door) to declare the death of her feelings for a man. __________ This word can be found in: Son House, Jinx Blues & I Ain't Goin' Cry No More & Special Rider Blues
doney/doe	1 - a "no good doney" is, according to Steven LaVere, a woman of low character (it's a slang term which is no longer in usage today). Thanks to "T-man" Tilman Michalke for this contribution to the list. __________ This word can be found in: Charley Patton, Revenue Man Blues (Version 1) & (Version 2) Elmore James, Dust My Broom, Robert Johnson, I Believe I'll Dust My Broom
dry long so	1 - the phrase "dry long so" is a dialectic description of being poor. In the context of the Robert Johnson song it relates to not having enough food and clothing and other essential things to last through the winter; 2 - possibly: "dry long so", meaning pointlessly, without a cause. __________ This phrase can be found in: Robert Johnson, Come On In My Kitchen (Take 1), Skip James, Hard Time Killing Floor
dust my broom	1 - probably: (getting ready to ) leave. "T-man" Tilman Michalke concurs and says: I guess Mr. Johnson is cleaning his room because he is about to move out. There might also be a sexual connotation. Thanks to "T-man" Tilman Michalke for this contribution to the list; Melissa Fazzina wrote: I was listening to Elmore James the other day and Dust My Broom never seemed to make any sense to me, but I had one of those sudden epiphanies....: it hit me that what he's talking about is probably (IMHO), breaking up with his current girlfriend. So that "Dust my broom." maybe synonymous with "Shaking her off" or "shaking loose from her. If you listen to the other words, "I'm quittin' the best gal I'm lovin'. Now my friends can get in my room". Or "I'm gonna write her a letter" (a "dear Jane letter"). Then in the next verse, he's listing her short comings (why he'd want to cut her loose), and in the final verse, coming right out and saying he's going to leave. Thanks to Melissa Fazinni for this contribution to the list __________ This phrase can be found in: Elmore James, Dust My Broom, Robert Johnson, I Believe I'll Dust My Broom

eagle rock

1 - a popular black dance from the 1920's, performed with the arms outstretched with wings and the body rocking from side to side. Found this description of the Eagle Rock (Ballin' The Jack ?)dance: "First you put your two knees close up tight, then you sway 'em to the left Then you sway 'em to the right, step around the floor kind of nice and light Then you twist around and twist around with all your might, Stretch your lovin' arms straight out into space, then you do the Eagle Rock with style and grace. Swing your foot way 'round then bring it back. Now that's what I call Ballin' the Jack." Southern Louisiana's John "JohnnyB" Bradford says: "The "eagle rock" and "ball the jack" are 1940's (actually 1920's, BH) dance moves. Thanks to John "JohnnyB" Bradford for this contribution to the list. __________ This phrase can be found in: Bessie Smith, Baby Doll, Blind Willie McTell, Kind Mama

easy rider	1 - The easy rider, also known as see see rider or c c rider (see also rider), is a blues metaphor for the sexual partner. Originally it referred to the guitar hung on the back of the traveling bluesman. The word easy has different meanings for the female and male lover: applied to a woman it is an expression of admiration but applied to a male it usually carries the meaning of reckless and unfaithful; 2 - According to Alex Washburn "In one Alan Lomax' folk song collections it says that the abbreviation "C.C." means "Cavalry Corporal" and that they had no female soldiers at that time (19th century). Now the conclusion from this fact was that the singer or the original songwriter must have been a gay... Well, in my opinion the songwriter even could be a woman singing this song to her soldier lover. Anyway, the author then said that "C.C.Rider" became "See See Rider" and "Easy Rider" because of prudery...". Thanks to Alex Washburn; 3 - Southern Louisiana's John "JohnnyB" Bradford says: "An easy rider is the husband or significant other of a whore - thus the name. He doesn't work or pay for sex. It's his easily. Thanks to John "JohnnyB" Bradford for this contribution to the list __________ This phrase can be found in: Big Bill Broonzy, C C Rider (1) & C C Rider (2), Ma Rainey, Jelly Bean Blues & See See Rider Mississippi John Hurt, See See Rider, New! Bessie Smith, Rocking Chair Blues
faror	1 - a Mississippi blues synonym for girl friend. The spelling of faror is problematic. It's pronounced like "pharaoh". The late Johnnie Temple provided blues researcher Gayle Wardlow with this spelling of the word; 2 - Southern Louisiana's John "JohnnyB" Bradford says: "FAROR (pronounced fair-oh) is Southern slang for "Fair one". Thanks to John "JohnnyB" Bradford for this contribution to the list. __________ This word can be found in: Mississippi John Hurt, Big Leg Blues, Mississippi Sheiks, Stop Look And Listen No. 2 Tommy Johnson, Cool Drink Of Water Blues (Version 1)
fat mouth	1 - is a flatterer, kind of a buffoonish loudmouth who tries to woo a woman with praise. __________ This phrase can be found in: Tommy Johnson, Big Fat Mama Blues
flagging (a train, a ride)	1 - to signal with or as if with a flag to stop "I flagged the train", often used with "down"; 2 - to hitch a (train) ride ___________ This phrase can be found in: Memphis Minnie, In My Girlish Days, Bessie Smith, St. Louis Blues Charley Patton, '34 Blues, Charlie Musselwhite, She May Be Your Woman Lil' Son Jackson, Homeless Blues, Robert Johnson, Cross Road Blues (Take 1) & (Take 2)

Georgia Crawl	1 - Steven Sims wrote: "This would be a Georgia dance, probably a rather sexy one like a lot of blues dances were. Apart from the references by McTell like "she can really do the Georgia Crawl", there is a song "Geogia Crawl" by Henry Williams and Eddie Anthony (pals of Peg Leg Howell in Atlanta). I really recommend this song - a wild and enthusiastic violin/guitar duet, with immortal lines like: I can shake it east, shake it west, Way down south I can shake it the best, Doin' the Georgia Crawl, aw, Georgia Crawl...". Thanks to Steven Sims for this contribution to the list. __________ This phrase can be found in: Blind Willie McTell, Kind Mama & Broke Down Engine
goin' up the line/ goin' down the line	1 - probably: a "line" is a railroad route, therefore "goin' up the line" probably means traveling north on a train and "goin' down the line" traveling south. Thanks to Dan Clark for this contribution. "T-man" Tilman Michalke says: Dan Clark is right. But I do not think that "up" necessarily refers to a northern direction though. Thanks to "T-man" Tilman Michalke for this contribution to the list; 2 - Butch Mercer has another suggestion: It is my understanding, this expression was used by men (during the era of the war between the states). When the opportunity arose for a chance to relax in the cities, a trip to the prostitution houses or areas was favorably called "Going up the line or down the line". Thanks to Butch Mercer for this contribution to the list. 3 - Steven Drahozal wrote: ""Goin' down the line" does indeed refer to railroad lines, but its a derivative of being sold down the river. This expression came about from slaves who were sold into the Deep South, or "sold down the river". This is bad because it usually meant going to the Carolinas, or Florida or Georgia and working in the rice fields or clearing swamps. Many slaves died of malaria doing this." Thanks to Steven Drahozal for this contribution to the list. ___________ This phrase can be found in: B.B. King, Everyday I Have The Blues (Version 3) Little Walter, Up The Line, Memphis Minnie, Chickasaw Train Blues & Ma Rainey
goofer/ goofy dust	1 - powdered earth gathered from a grave, preferably that of a child, which is sprinkled on a victims pillow, around its home or in its clothes in order to cast a spell on the victim or bring death (voodoo). See also hot foot powder. Thanks to "T-man" Tilman Michalke for this contribution to the list. __________ This word/phrase can be found in: B.B. King, You Put It On Me, New! Bessie Smith, Lady Luck Blues Willie Mabon, I Don't Know (lyrics noy yet available)

high yeller (yellow)	1 - black person with a light(er) skin complexion. Brown skin is another skin color related term often used in blues songs. See also skin color. __________ This phrase can be found in: Bessie Smith, I've Got What It Takes & Young Woman's Blues Blind Willie McTell, Lord, Send Me An Angel & Talkin' To Myself Ida Cox, Cherry Picking Blues, Ma Rainey, Big Feeling Blues Mississippi John Hurt, Big Leg Blues
hobo	1 - fare dodger on a freight train. Thanks to "T-man" Tilman Michalke for this contribution to the list.; 2 - Hobo derived from hoe-boy. When there wasn't enough food on the farm to feed everybody, the younger men hit the tracks hoping to find day work along the way (1930's). Each took with him his own hoe (hoe: an implement with a thin flat blade on a long handle used especially for cultivating, weeding, or loosening the earth around plants), so as to be more employable, and also as a cheap (therefore only available) protective weapon during those desparate times. Often showing up in droves at planting time, they were called hoe-boys. Thanks to Bo for this contribution to the list. 3 - a homeless and usually penniless vagabond, tramp; 4 - a migratory worker The National Hobo Association web site! __________ This word can be found in: Memphis Minnie, Outdoor Blues, Howlin' Wolf, Evil John Lee Hooker, Hobo Blues, New! Bessie Smith, Young Woman's Blues King Solomon Hill, The Gone Dead Train, Hans Theessink, Sidewalk Hobo
hokum	origin: probably blend of hocus-pocus and bunkum (derived form Buncombe county, N.C., from a remark made by its congressman, who defended an irrelevant speech by claiming that he was speaking to Buncombe, meaning insincere or foolish talk). 1 - a sub genre in urban blues which was popular in the late 20's/early 30's. It is characterized by danceable rhythms and clever lyrics which heavily relied on double entendres. Hokum's most important artist was Tampa Red (It's Tight Like That, 1928). The term can be found in the name of his band: The Hokum Boys. Thanks to "T-man" Tilman Michalke for this contribution to the list. 2 - a device used (as by showmen) to evoke a desired audience response; 3 - pretentious nonsense. __________ This word can be found in:
honey dripper	1 - metaphor for a lover, for more information see coffee grinder. __________ This phrase can be found in: Big Joe Turner, Little Bittie Gal's Blues
hoochie coochie man	1 - the word hooch is slang for alcoholic liquor especially when inferior or illicitly made or obtained. Haven't found a (slang) meaning for the word cooch(ie) but it most likely refers to the female genitals. The term hoochie coochie man would then refer to a man (who prides himself) getting his share of booze and women; 2 - one who preaches voodoo; 3 - conjure 'doctors', male or female 4 - but then again Jack King says: "The definition (2 and 3, BH) you have is wrong. A "hootchie cootchie" is a woman's sex, and a 'hootchie cootchie man" is her lover. You can check this out with any true blues people (male or female). The term "hootchie cootchie" is sometimes shortened to "cootchie" in everday conversation. Thanks to Jack King for this contribution to the list; 5 - John Garst recalls: "From my youth, I recall "she danced the hoochie coochie." See this link for some of the words to "Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis". Thanks to John Garst for this contribution to the list; 6 - Pop's the Bluesman from Green Bay, WI, writes: "The term cootchie is slang for a womans vagina. Doin' the the hootchie cootchie means to do the deed!. Thanks to Pop's the Bluesman for this contribution to the list. We will dance the hoochie-coochie You will be my tootsie-wootsie If you will meet me in St. Louis, Louis Meet me at the fair!--"Meet Me in St. Louis" This refers to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition: the World's Fair of 1904. Thanks to John Garst for this contribution to the list __________ This phrase can be found in: The Jeff Healey Band, Hoochie Coochie Man, Willie Dixon, (I'm your) Hoochie Coochie Man Muddy Waters, (I'm your) Hoochie Coochie Man & Mannish Boy

hoodoo	1 - hoodoo or voodoo, a body of practices of sympathetic magic traditional especially among blacks in the southern U.S. Hoodoo is the preffered word by black people for voodoo. For more information about hoodoo/voodoo see also voodoo.; 2 - something that brings bad luck; 3 - Hoodoo is an American term, originating in the 19th century or earlier, for African-American folk magic. Hoodoo is not a religion nor a denomination of a religion, although it incorporates elements from African and European religions in terms of its core beliefs. Hoodoo consists of a large body of African folkloric magic with a considerable admixture of American Indian botanical knowledge and European folklore. Other names for hoodoo include "conjuration," "witchcraft," and "rootwork." The first two are simply English words for the practice of magic; the last is a recognition of the preeminence that dried roots play in the making of charms and the casting of spells. Hoodoo is used as a noun to name both the system of magic ("He used hoodoo on her") and its practitioners ("Doctor Buzzard was a great hoodoo in his day"). It is also an adjective ("he needed help from a hoodoo woman") and a verb ("she hoodoo'ed that man until he couldn't love no one but her"). __________ This word can be found in: Blind Willie McTell, The Dyin' Crapshooter's Blues, Junior Wells, Hoodoo Man Memphis Minnie, Hoodoo Lady, New! Muddy Waters, Got My Mojo Working (see note!) Omar & The Howlers, Hoo Doo Ball & Leave Here Runnin'
hot foot powder	1 - Hot Foot Powder and Hot Foot Oil are old Southern hoodoo formulas that are used to rid oneself or one's home of unwanted people, to send enemies packing and to keep peace in the home by eliminating troublemakers. Similar formulas, known as Drive Away Oil or Get Away Oil contain virtually the same ingredients, namely a proprietary blend of Guinea Red Pepper, sulfur, and essential oils that include Black Pepper and other herbal extracts. The scent is hot and spicy, but it is not at all unpleasant. __________ This phrase can be found in: Robert Johnson, Hellhound On My Trail
jelly/ jelly roll	1 - jelly roll, literally, a jam (jelly) rolled and lightly baked confection, in blues songs a metaphor for the female genitals. Jelly is used as a term for female. Among metaphors used in blues music, culinary themes are especially comon. The term jelly roll simply arose from the motions of sexual intercourse. A male lover admired his "jelly bean" and prided himself on being a "good jelly-roll baker" and the female lover the way she could "jello"; 2 - John Nova Lomax wrote: "Enjoyed your list, but couldn't help but note the ommission of "jelly roll" and "jelly". I think they are two of the nicest and dare I say most descriptive euphemisms ever for a vagina.". Thanks to John Nova Lomax for this contribution to the list. __________ These words can be found in: Bessie Smith, Nobody In Town Can Bake A Sweet Jelly Roll Like Mine Bessie Smith, Aggravatin' Papa & Preachin' The Blues & St. Louis Blues Blind Boy Fuller, Hungry Calf Blues, New! Ida Cox, Fogyism Johnny Winter, Good Morning Little School Girl Lil Johnson, If You Can Dish It (I Can Take It) & Sam, The Hot Dog Man Lil Johnson, You'll Never Miss Your Jelly Till Your Jelly Roller's Gone Lonnie Johnson, Go Back To Your No Good Man Memphis Minnie, Frisco Town, New! R.L. Burnside, Georgia Women Charley Patton, Shake It And Break It Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, That Good Old Jelly
jinx	1 - one that brings bad luck; 2 - the state or spell of bad luck brought on by a jinx __________ This word can be found in: Bessie Smith, Mama's Got The Blues & Yodling Blues Blind Willie McTell, Scarey Day Blues Memphis Minnie, Call The Fire Wagon & Wants Cake When I'm Hungry Charley Patton, Revenue Man Blues (1) & (Version 2) & Screamin' And Hollerin' The Blues

jitterbug(gin')	1 - the jitterbug was a popular dance in the 1940's (music: boogie woogie). Thanks to "T-man" Tilman Michalke for this contribution to the list.; 2 - a sense of panic or extreme nervousness, to be nervous or act in a nervous way "had a bad case of the jitters before his performance"; 3 - irregular random movement; 4 - vibratory motion; 5 - to make continuous fast repetitive movements __________ This word can be found in: Bukka White, Bukka's Jitterbug Swing, John Lee Hooker, Groundhog Blues Sonny Boy Williamson I (John Lee), Groundhog Blues
jivin'	1 - None other then Dr. Hoodoo himself shares following with us: "I understand that the context in english is a bit troubling to try to figure out certain words but the term "Jive" is actually southern slang for speaking a lie or untruth... in B.B. Kings "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother" the line "She could be jivin' too" means, effectively "she could be lying too". The term found its way into swing somehow, and was later bastardized into meaning "smooth talking" in the Beegees' "Jive Talkin'". Thanks to Dr. Hoodoo for this contribution to the list; 2 - jive, a style of jazz played by big bands popular in the 1930's with flowing rhythms but less complex than later styles of jazz [synonyms: swing, swing music], jivin', dance to jive music, dance the jive. 3 - talking, smooth talking; 4 - the slang talk of jazz musicians and enthusiasts; 5 - a marijuana cigarette; 6 - sexual intercourse. __________ This word can be found in: Lucille Bogan, B.D. Woman's Blues, New! Albert Collins, Broke & Trash Talkin' Bo Diddley, Ooh Baby, Albert King, I Get Evil, B. B. King, Nobody Loves Me But My Mother Big Maceo Merriweather, Poor Kelly Blues, Hans Theessink, Johnny & The Devil The Jeff Healey Band, Don't Let Your Chance Go By, Keb' Mo', You Can Love Yourself Lightnin' Hopkins, My Grandpa Is Too Old & The Foot Race Is On Little Walter, It's Too Late Brother & Just Your Fool, T-Bone Walker, T-Bone Blues John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Ridin' On The L&N John Mooney, 3 Sides 2 Every Story, New! Junior Parker, Jivin' Woman
John(ny) (the) Concheroe/ Conqueroo/ Conqueror	1 - When Willie