Voodoo Child (Slight Return) is often referred to as Jimi Hendrix’s swan song. It became the last track on the last album of the legendary musician and the last composition that the best guitarist of all time performed live.
It was also his first number one on the UK Singles Chart. True, Jimi managed to top the chart only after his death. Let’s remember how the famous work with a magnificent guitar solo was born.
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) by Jimi Hendrix song story
The song is based on a 15-minute Voodoo Chile blues recorded the day before during the production of the Electric Ladyland album. In turn, Voodoo Chile is a reworked version of the Catfish Blues track, but that’s another story that deserves a separate article.
On May 3, 1968, Jimi, Steve Winwood, and Jack Casady came into the studio to film a documentary for ABC. Noel Redding spoke about further events:
We learned that song in the studio… We were filmed while we were playing it.
Ultimate Hendrix 2009
Further memoirs of Hendrix:
When we started to perform [Voodoo Child], someone filmed us. We played it three times because they wanted to film us in the studio, make us one of the scenes. You know, like, “Make it look like you guys are just recording.” “Okay, let’s play it in mi – one, two, three” – so we took on Voodoo Child.
‘Scuse Me While I Kiss the Sky: The Life of Jimi Hendrix, 1981
According to Jimi, they improvised without thinking about what they were playing. Unfortunately, that recording has been lost.
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) by Jimi Hendrix song meaning
Hendrix did not explain what the song was about. To understand the main idea of the composition will help an excerpt from the book of Charles Murray:
Symbols and allusions to voodoo are constantly found in country blues and the urban electric country blues of the Chicago school… In the case of Hendrix, this is pure metaphor. Of course, formally he was not initiated into the mysteries of voodoo in any way … in Voodoo Chile … he declares as clearly as possible that he is devoted to the blues, that he honors, respects and understands its deepest and wisest traditions.
Crosstown Traffic
Release and achievements
Voodoo Child completes Electric Ladyland (1968), which The Jimi Hendrix Experience dedicated to their female fans.
Jimi performed the song at all live performances, constantly improvising. Sometimes the composition stretched for almost twenty minutes. Various versions of Voodoo Child have appeared on his live albums.
In October 1970, after Jimi’s death, Track Records released the track as a single called Voodoo Chile, causing confusion. The song topped the UK charts.
Rolling Stone magazine included the track in its list of the five hundred greatest songs of all time.
Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Child Video
There is no official music video for Voodoo Child (Slight Return). Let’s see the most popular amateur video on the net.
Next up is the Voodoo Child (Slight Return) music video from The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Voodoo Child cover versions
The song has been played by many famous musicians including Yngwie Malmsteem and Gary Moore.
The Stevie Ray Vaughan version received a 1985 Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance (Yes’s Cinema won the award).
Interesting Facts
- Speaking on January 1, 1970, Hendrix introduced the song as “the national anthem of the Black Panthers”.
- Jimi performed Voodoo Child (Slight Return) at a concert in Germany on September 6, 1970, twelve days before his death.
- Miles Davis acknowledged the influence of the song on his work. One of the songs on the Bitches Brew album is called Miles Runs the Voodoo Down.
- Music Radar readers voted Voodoo Child’s riff the best in rock and roll history.
Voodoo Child Lyrics by Jimi Hendrix
Well, I stand up next to a mountain
And I chop it down with the edge of my hand
Well, I stand up next to a mountain
Chop it down with the edge of my hand
Well, I pick up all the pieces and make an island
Might even raise just a little sand
Cause I’m a voodoo child
Lord knows I’m a voodoo child
I want to say one more last thing
I didn’t mean to take you up all your sweet time
I’ll give it right back to you one of these days
I said, I didn’t mean to take you up all your sweet time
I’ll give it right back to you one of these days
And if I don’t meet you no more in this world
Then I’ll, I’ll meet you in the next one
And don’t be late, don’t be late
Cause I’m a voodoo child
Lord knows I’m a voodoo child
I’m a voodoo child
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) Lyrics by Jimi Hendrix Alternate
I stand up next to the mountain
And I break it with the edge of my hand
I stand up next to the mountain
I break it with the edge of my hand
I pick up all the debris and create an island
Maybe add some sand
‘Cause I’m a voodoo child
God knows I’m a voodoo child
Finally, I want to say
That I didn’t want to take up all your precious time
One day I will return it to you
I told you I didn’t mean to take up all your precious time
One day I will return it to you
And if I don’t meet you in this world,
Then I’ll meet you next
And don’t be late, don’t be late
‘Cause I’m a voodoo child
God knows I’m a voodoo child
I am a voodoo child
Song Quotes
… Hendrix took delta blues as a basis and not only made it psychedelic, but also cast a spell by performing the words of the song in the voice of a voodoo sorcerer.
Denise Sullivan
