I been burnin' these candles, night after night
But somethin' just ain't sittin' right
Ain't sittin' right
Mama taught me to keep that red string tied
Said it'd shield me from the tears I cried
But baby, these days I'm feelin' so exposed
Like every protection's come undone, and it shows
Mama's gris-gris ain't working no more
Ain't working, ain't working
Mama's gris-gris ain't working no more
All your blessings just slip through the floor
Mama's gris-gris ain't working no more
Got your black cat bone in my right hand
Got your holy water in a rusty can
But these charms can't stop what's coming for me
When your love turned poison, had to let it be
Mama's gris-gris ain't working no more
Ain't working, ain't working
Mama's gris-gris ain't working no more
All your blessings just slip through the floor
Mama's gris-gris ain't working no more
See, you thought you had me bound up tight
With your sweet words and your candlelight
But I'm breaking free from these ancient chains
Your power's washing off like Louisiana rain
They say the old ways keep evil at bay
But the real evil was how you made me stay
Now I'm standing at these crossroads alone
Learning some magic of my own
Had to find my own protection
Had to make my own direction
When the old ways couldn't save me
Had to let the spirit raise me
Mama's gris-gris ain't working no more
Ain't working, ain't working
Mama's gris-gris ain't working no more
All your blessings just slip through the floor
Mama's gris-gris ain't working no more
Working no more
Gris-Gris Blues
Gris-Gris Blues
