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John Lee Hooker — The Healer (w/ Carlos Santana)
Album: The Healer
Avg rating:
7.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2291









Released: 1989
Length: 5:28
Plays (last 30 days): 3
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, oh Lord, Lord
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm

Blues a healer, all over the world
Blues a healer, healer
All over the world, all over the world
It healed me, it can heal you

Healed me to heal you early one morning
It can heal you the blues can heal you, yeah, yeah
It healed me, healed me, it healed me
I was down, I was down, it healed me

Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord
Yes it did, yes it did, look now
A woman left me, the blues healed me
My woman left me, left me, early one morning
Blues healed me, it healed me, healed me, yeah, yeah

Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord
Hmm, have mercy
The blues, the blues is a healer
Blues, blues, is a healing healer

It healed, healed, healed
Heal, heal, heal, heal
All over the world, all over the world
It's a healer

One night, I was laying down
Feeling so bad, so low, so low
My woman had left me
Blues came along and healed me

Heal, heal, heal, heal
Carlos, it healed me, Carlos
Carlos, it healed me
The blues, it healed, it healed, healer

Hey, hey, healed me, healed me, healer
Hey, blues a healer, the blues a healer
All over the world, all over the world, hmm

Lord, Lord, Lord, blues a healer
All over the world, all over the world
Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord
Healed me, healed, healed, healed
It healed me, it healed me, to heal me
Can heal you, can heal you, heal you, if you let it
Comments (215)add comment
As I think Santana is thinking, as cosmopolitan, the meaning of the lyrics must been understood in a more metaphysical way, somehow like " Everybody make everybody successful"! But not in the monetary way, in the being of humans, and the needs we all have, instead.
What about you?
That BEAT. 
Heal me?
Thank goodness nobody did.
I Love this Song!!
Santanaized for your protection....
 Carl wrote:


Hope u still have it!


Yes Mr, Carl! Still here rocking out, found you'd commented only by the RP Main Mix taking me back here 4 years later :)
I think this is my favourite song of ALL TIME!!!
 unclehud wrote:

Obviously Carlos Santana on guitar.  Obviously John Lee Hooker on mumble.  At least an 8 ...




 PilotGeorgy wrote:

One of my all time favourite tracks! I literally just made an account to make this comment haha



Hope u still have it!
Tropical blues
 gigikent wrote:

what is the wind instrument (presumably) that is weird-sounding/sensual at the begining? 


I can't find any info on it, but I wonder if it is Chester D Thompson on a keyboard sample of some kind of pan flute or ocarina?
 justin4kick wrote:

heal de heal, blue de blues, heal, heal, blue, blue, etc...

I don't think JLH ever wrote down any of his lyrics 


LOL You really have me laughing! Perfect. Love the song, btw.

what is the wind instrument (presumably) that is weird-sounding/sensual at the begining? 
Just love this man✌️

"YOU'RE WELCOME, Mr. Hooker, ANY time." ~
- Carlos
I have always loved how each of these two sonic magicians can enter and fully inhabit some otherworldly realm when playing their immortal jams! HEAL ME
Quite honestly I wouldn't mind seeing a sprinkling of 80s/90s smooth jazz added to the lineup.
Simply Wonderful!
 joejennings wrote:

Good tune!


Understatement!
Good tune!
 unclehud wrote:

Obviously Carlos Santana on guitar.  Obviously John Lee Hooker on mumble.  At least an 8 ...



Laughed SO hard at this... 
 unclehud wrote:

Obviously Carlos Santana on guitar.  Obviously John Lee Hooker on mumble.  At least an 8 ...




Cool blend of jazzy and bluesy!
Where does it grab you?

 
RobbieRP wrote:
This song just grabbed me when I was 18 and even now in 2020 it still does every time and I don't know why.
 

This song just grabbed me when I was 18 and even now in 2020 it still does every time and I don't know why.
Best Hooker Ever~!
in the very few first moves you know this is going to be a fine tune
This, kiddiwinks, is how it is done. The whole album is an 11 or 12.

Now, go away and practice. A Lot.
Obviously Carlos Santana on guitar.  Obviously John Lee Hooker on mumble.  At least an 8 ...
Dang, what a great track! Still love it ... so much energy
Damn.
oh hell yes
One of my all time favourite tracks! I literally just made an account to make this comment haha
Rating me:  7 - Quite Likeable       only 
heal de heal, blue de blues, heal, heal, blue, blue, etc...

I don't think JLH ever wrote down any of his lyrics 
I like it!
If you're going to make a comeback album in your 70's then "The Healer" is probably the way to do it    
MAGIC
hot DAMN!
Goshhhhh!!!!! {#Sunny}{#Guitarist}
{#Devil_pimp} zesty!
Way to blandify John Lee Hooker (and Santana for that matter).
Fantastic, Love the Blues, Love Hooker, Love Santana!
 joempie wrote:
No matter how great it is what Santana does, I can't stand the sound of it...

 
What an incredibly great loss for you!  To each his own!  I had to crank it, close my eyes, and enjoy!
 joempie wrote:
No matter how great it is what Santana does, I can't stand the sound of it...

 
No matter how grammatical it is what Santana speaks, I barely make stand of your first clause. 
Beautiful piece    {#Yes}
 S-curvy wrote:

It was also right before JLH died, so it could be that JLH was just old and kinda pooped.

 
When RP first played this I thought it was so coollll. I bought the CD and after listening to the tracks they began to fall flat. Great music but it is a little stylized, "cheesy. "
However, I saw Santana 6 months ago and he was "awesome" and not cheesy. 
Not a bad track for a 72 year-old to release was it?
 rscherm wrote:
Love both these artists, but, come on, this is a dull derivative of the good stuff these guys have done. Also, this was when Santana had that cheesy keyboard sound following him around like some smooth jazz artist.

 
It was also right before JLH died, so it could be that JLH was just old and kinda pooped.
I could do without the flute for sure!
No matter how great it is what Santana does, I can't stand the sound of it...
{#Bananajam}...... an "OUTSTANDING" combination  ......   {#Bananajam}
Most excellent.
Great combo: John Lee & Carlos.  Don't need to look at web page to know who's on guitar.
Jimi to JLH ya gotta thank Bill
Over production, too polished sound,...tons of reverb,..but still, awesome...
don't get any better.....{#Bananajam}{#Guitarist}
Love both these artists, but, come on, this is a dull derivative of the good stuff these guys have done. Also, this was when Santana had that cheesy keyboard sound following him around like some smooth jazz artist.
The very definition of sucko-barfo for me
Nice Segway after that obscure hendrix tune, RP guy :-)
Hey miii... oh oh da da da da... miii mii... doo doo...

It seems thet pitch-shifted a babbling infant to get the vocal track. 
I can honestly say that this is the first time I've enjoyed JLH
OUTSTANDING!!     {#Bananapiano}{#Drummer}{#Bananajam}
Why are some of you complaining about Santana, and Santana playing with Hooker? 
Some big blues players consider JLH one of the premier blues artists.
And I remind you that before Santana the guitarist was with Santana (the band of the first three albums), and before Woodstock, he headed up the Santana BLUES Band.  In these 40+ years, he's played with virtually every major blues guitarist and singer. Why should JLH not be one of them? 
Odd. This is one Santana song I could do without ever hearing again, I've always admired his playing but I've never been a fan of JLH, the repetitive singing thing....and as has been said, Santana is here for a name drop, really. It's odd because Bill played it right after "Rainy day, Dream away", which is probably the one Hendrix song I can listen to.
So glad you are continuing your therapy sessions, Cyn: they will certainly pay off someday...


Cynaera wrote:
I'm not a fan of John Lee Hooker - never have been - but the first time I heard this song (on FM radio here in this little squeegee-beep town), I was floored.  Something about the resonance, as if they're playing in a cavernous room with fantastic acoustics.  It's one of the very few songs by Hooker that I can tolerate, but I tolerate it well.  {#Mrgreen}
 

 redtail1 wrote:
... this synthesizer-preset dreck. 
 
So well-said. Hotel breakfast music. 
Vaguely Latin? Check.

Self-indulgent solos all over the verses? Check.

I wasn't surprised to see Santana's name on this synthesizer-preset dreck. He's been coasting for thirty years.


Carlos Santana & Ry Cooder - The Healer, Live

Carlos Santana with Ry Cooder performing The Healer at the All Our Colors benefit concert, Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, 10-10-1992. Love that slide. www.rycooderstuff.co.uk


I'm not a fan of John Lee Hooker - never have been - but the first time I heard this song (on FM radio here in this little squeegee-beep town), I was floored.  Something about the resonance, as if they're playing in a cavernous room with fantastic acoustics.  It's one of the very few songs by Hooker that I can tolerate, but I tolerate it well.  {#Mrgreen}
halfway through this song in the middle of the instrumental section I thought 'this is elevator music' , howver then read the credits and saw it was JLHooker. Hmmmmm surprised, lacks punch too much for my liking
 david1045 wrote:
I rated this song a 3...I now feel like that may have been a little generous. I never want to hear this song again. 
 
Wow I thought being deaf would have more advantages for ya?

I rated this song a 3...I now feel like that may have been a little generous. I never want to hear this song again. 
 Stingray wrote:
Wasn't it DON WAS producing?
 
Liner notes say Mike Kappus and Jim Gaines.

i have come to view Santana as the Kenny G of the electric guitar
 helgigermany wrote:
Cant stand to much HOOKER! But this is nice because Carlos Santana is around!!
 

Once I LOVED Santana and still cherish his early works especially
(first 5-6 albums)!

But, frankly, more and more he tramples on my nerves!

Wasn't it DON WAS producing?
Damn that is good!
{#Bananajam}
 ziggytrix wrote:
If you've ever played a healer in an MMO with voice chat, you're prolly suppressing a thought like dammit, I don't see anyone named "ME" here
 

You gone deep baby!
Cant stand to much HOOKER! But this is nice because Carlos Santana is around!!
If you've ever played a healer in an MMO with voice chat, you're prolly suppressing a thought like dammit, I don't see anyone named "ME" here
I think this is a perfect sultry sensual blues song and a terrific duo.

Thank you Carlos for making the concerted effort to seek diverse styles and artists to collaborate with.
 andrewimft wrote:
Santana saves John Lee Hooker, the most overrated blues guy ever. ... maybe I never heard his early stuff.
 

This is one of those incredible comments like, "Oh you mean that Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings?  Maybe I should listen to some of his early stuff."

Ahhhhhhh just perfect for a sultry evening in Brighton Town......(well it's a city really...)
I love this track!
HOOKING!

Why you did not play HENDRIX to the last bit?


As I have to work this afternoon, great to hear some good mellow tracks.....
I still think it is actually a very sensual song. Don't knock it until you have tried it.
It's a shame to see people getting slammed for expressing an opinion. I too think J.L.H. is overrated, but if people think that I'm wrong - so what? It's not like I came round and beat up your wee brother.
A great combination of talent that produced a great song.  John Lee also collaborated with Bonnie Raitt on this album.  He still had it.
 Rotterdam wrote:


Well, I think it's a fisherman in his wet-gear fighting to get into the wheelhouse, whose windows are steamed up.
But what I really wanted to say was, gosh I love this music.
 
You said the right words, indeed!!


 lawman wrote:
What's that damn' cover supposed to be ?  What a flipping mess!
 

Well, I think it's a fisherman in his wet-gear fighting to get into the wheelhouse, whose windows are steamed up.
But what I really wanted to say was, gosh I love this music.
Devine.  Awesome sound mix.
What's that damn' cover supposed to be ?  What a flipping mess!
 andrewimft wrote:
Santana saves John Lee Hooker, the most overrated blues guy ever. Hooker is interminably always playing the same riff, the same singing style to endless repetition. Not sure what gave him such a good rep... maybe I never heard his early stuff. This is way better than Hooker's screechingly dull version of this song with his own band without Santana. This isn't singing that Hooker is doing by the way, it's some kind of awful whatever. If he's a 100 years old, I'll forgive him, otherwise not.
 
The most overrated blues guy ever? Thats why he commands such respect from his peers. He was over 70 when this was recorded so no he wasn't at the top of his game but alot of people loved that raspy voice. Since John Lee is not with us guess he's not waiting for such a blues expert to forgive him. I was just intersted in the comments on this song and couldn't believe that such disrespect was given to two legends as there was another comment by another "expert" that Carlos only plays 6 notes ,I don't suppose he has ever watched him play. Music is a positive experience, not a negative one that so many comments are bringing. If I don't care for a song thats fine somebody else obviously will or it won't stay on the playlist very long, be tolerant please, life is too short to be so negative

Blues is the healer!
absolutely!
*9*
!Superb! -   ** 9 **
simply awesome.
 DigitalJer wrote:

You're probably correct, in that Carlos Santana is a more technical player than JLH.  However, JLH is about the blues..the deep feeling that playing the blues both comes from, and exudes...and less so about being a virtuoso, if that makes sense.
 

SURE DOES! But check the phrasing of both artists, would be interesting to know the production sequence of this track.............

 andrewimft wrote:

Santana saves John Lee Hooker, the most overrated blues guy ever. Hooker is interminably always playing the same riff, the same singing style to endless repetition.


 
You're probably correct, in that Carlos Santana is a more technical player than JLH.  However, JLH is about the blues..the deep feeling that playing the blues both comes from, and exudes...and less so about being a virtuoso, if that makes sense.


Oh what a blissful track! This is going straight to the chill playlist on my MP3 ready for the beach next week....mmmm
Santana saves John Lee Hooker, the most overrated blues guy ever. Hooker is interminably always playing the same riff, the same singing style to endless repetition. Not sure what gave him such a good rep... maybe I never heard his early stuff. This is way better than Hooker's screechingly dull version of this song with his own band without Santana. This isn't singing that Hooker is doing by the way, it's some kind of awful whatever. If he's a 100 years old, I'll forgive him, otherwise not.
santana .....w/ j l hooker.duh"" santana with .........??? tone def!!!
This is painfully bad. A sort of smooth jazz bluesy-like, non-bluesy like dirge. Buh-bye RP for now....
eastcoast wrote:
Probably the best song on the album, I could leave the rest.
That comment doesn't recommend the album then, does it? If this is the best number...
spaceman wrote:
I'm sorry but this really sounds awful... synthie bass, canned and overused pan flute synthie sound, uninspired guitar noodling, incoherent vocals, ... all in all it sounds like it was made especially to be played as supermarket background muzak. Not worthy of JLH, at all.
If this song would have been released last year I could agree with you. But this was released in 1989 and at that time the pan flute sound wasn't overused and the synthie bass sounded new and cool. The only thing that's still current is Santana's guitar noodling which he still does today. If you cringe when hearing musical styles from 19 years ago and judge each song by what is considered cool today (or in any other limited time period for that matter), this may not be the right radio station for you.
love the intro, like the song.
Jimi followed by John Lee!! Good Morning.
I'm sorry but this really sounds awful... synthie bass, canned and overused pan flute synthie sound, uninspired guitar noodling, incoherent vocals, ... all in all it sounds like it was made especially to be played as supermarket background muzak. Not worthy of JLH, at all.
friday in night in colombia, im alone cool blues!!!
DigitalJer wrote:
Some of these comments are totally uncalled for.
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Hey it's not my fault it sucks.
You are no exception.
DigitalJer wrote:
No kidding, ppl are slamming a great original blues song, performed by two amazing artists. Some of these comments are totally uncalled for.
Hey it's not my fault it sucks.
Sunman wrote:
I think it's a great mix of styles...surprised at all the negative comments.
No kidding, ppl are slamming a great original blues song, performed by two amazing artists. Some of these comments are totally uncalled for.
Sunman wrote:
I think it's a great mix of styles...surprised at all the negative comments.
Ditto. Listen, move a little.
ZOMG real Santana now please. :D
Doesn't Santana have enough money already? Maybe he should use and buy a guitar that has more than the 6 notes he always plays...
Pop goes the Blues.
davin wrote:
Wishful thinking - a flute does not make it so, and the producer on this is no Enigma, that's for certain.
Sounds like an Enigma-Sade intro to me......
tasty stuff!
The question is, how many times can Santana recycle the same riff and remain relevant?