Koko Taylor – I’m a Woman
In commemoration of all the womxn’s marches all over the nation, I would like to honor an often overlooked figure in a Blues world overshadowed by sorrowful self-pitying men. I’m talking of course about none other than a personal she-ro of mine, Koko Taylor. Born in 1928 in Memphis, Tennessee, Taylor went on to have a successful career spanning over four decades, often times recording songs that challenged the prescribed roles for womxn at the time.
The particular song depicted in this cartoon is based on the lyrics to her song “I’m a Woman” (1978). Adapted from Bo Diddly’s “I’m a Man” (1955), Koko Taylor took his song and made it her own, celebrating the strength, resilience, and the potential cosmic power of womxnhood. Below is a selection of the lyrics:
“I’m a woman, I’m a rushing wind
I’m a woman, I can cut stone with a pin
I’m a woman, I know my stuff
I’m a woman, I ain’t never had enough
I’m going down yonder, behind the sun
I’m gonna do something for you, that ain’t never been done
I’m gonna hold back the lightning, with the palm of my hand
Shake hands with the devil, make him crawl in the sand.”
Given the current political climate of misogyny particularly aimed at womxn of color, the implications of the cartoon are obvious. In any event, I invite you not only to listen to the entirety of “I’m a Woman,” but also seek out Koko Taylor’s diverse catalog of powerful songs.