Aired on Treasure Island Oldies – Jul 30, 2023
During Tom Locke’s April 2015 visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum in Cleveland, he had cause to meet with the director of the Library & Archives, Andy Leach.
At the time, Leach was in the midst of preparing a private exhibit of rare artifacts to be shown to a number of presenters at the upcoming induction ceremonies that year.
In this collection of music memorabilia was the original piece of paper containing the lyrics to what has become an iconic song …
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The singer/songwriter who penned these lyrics is no longer with us but has been referenced as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, if not the greatest.
When reflecting on the song he wrote, many of us naturally assume that it had to do with drugs.
However, in his book, Classic Rock Stories, Tim Morris quotes the legendary singer/songwriter/guitarist as saying:
The key to the meaning of the song lies in the line, “that girl put a spell on me,” – the song just progressed from there. It’s got nothing to do with drugs. It’s about this guy. This girl turned this cat on and he doesn’t know if it’s bad or good. That’s all. He doesn’t know if it’s tomorrow or just the end of time, for instance. He likes this girl so much that he doesn’t know what he’s in … a sort of daze, I suppose. That’s what this song is all about.
Let’s be honest, how many of you guys out there experienced a time in your youth when you were smitten and/or mesmerized by a girl who walked into your life and turned it upside down?
Well, according to Jim Hendrix, he had such an experience, one that put him into a “Purple Haze,” this week’s Tom Locke moment in time.
YouTube video of this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGoDaYjdfSg
This “Moments In Time” story is yet another example of a “golden oldie” or forgotten favorite that earned its place in the evolution of Rock & Roll.
Lyrics to Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix
