Jimi Hendrix – Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

This song explosion is like an atom bomb going off. From the first words “Well, I stand up next to a mountain and I chop it down with the edge of my hand” you know Jimi means business. This is no boy band or pop song…Jimi is shooting to kill. This song is off of the great 1968 Electric Ladyland album. From the tone of the guitar and how he spits out the lyrics, the song is a masterpiece. The guitar riff is one of the best.

Voodoo Child (Slight Return) did not chart in Billboard but did go to #1 in the UK and it was Jimi’s only number 1 single there.

From Songfacts.

This was recorded after Hendrix had finished the long, slow blues of “Voodoo Chile,” a 15-minute jam that appears earlier on the album. An ABC film crew came into the studio to do a piece on The Experience, and told them to “make like you’re playing, boys.” Jimi said, “Okay, let’s do this in E.” The TV footage was lost.

Steve Winwood played organ on this. He was a member of the band Traffic, and often played on the same bill with Hendrix. When Jimi was recording this in New York, he had Winwood come by and play.

This was voted the best guitar riff in rock’n’roll history, by readers of Music Radar. The website said “From its wah-wah into the the rhythm parts and the astonishing solo, this is still regarded by many as the high watermark of electric guitar expression.” Guns n’Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine” came second in the poll and Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” third.

Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”
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
And I chop it down with the edge of my hand
Well, I pick up all the pieces and make an island
Might even raise a little sand
Yeah

‘Cause I’m a voodoo child
Lord knows I’m a voodoo child, baby

I want to say one more last thing

I didn’t mean to take up all your sweet time
I’ll give it right back to you one of these days, hahaha
I said I didn’t mean to take up all your sweet time
I’ll give it right back one of these days
Oh yeah
If I don’t meet you no more in this world, then
I’ll meet you in the next one
And don’t be late
Don’t be late

‘Cause I’m a voodoo child, voodoo child
Lord knows I’m a voodoo child, baby

I’m a voodoo child, baby
I don’t take no for an answer
Question no
Lord knows I’m a voodoo child, baby

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

16 thoughts on “Jimi Hendrix – Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”

  1. I don’t know about the greatest guitar riff in rock history but it is in the discussion i guess. I don’t know why- I know Jimi is one of the greatest guitarists ever etc–and I do like him but I’ve been working on a list of my all time favorite artists and Jimi isn’t even close to my top 25. I like him but…never a fanatic like some are.

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    1. Once I started to play music I liked him more and more. I guess it’s the sounds he gets out of his guitar and where could he had went. I feel he would have started to drift toward more jazz and left the hard stuff behind.

      I’m like that toward Eddie Van Halen… I never got him like other people.

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      2. Rory Gallagher was great…Chuck is the most ripped off artist ever. He could have sued everyone. He developed Rock guitar as we know it.

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  3. When my kids were growing up, it always came as a pleasant surprise to me, how much they liked the “old ” stuff. Perhaps it shouldn’t, I grew up listening to doo-wop & I’m only sixty, but it did. My kids are in their thirties now but they still love them some Jimi Hendrix. I do too. Thanks for the memories.

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    1. I was a little dramatic in this one… but the song just excites me…always has. The sound he gets is just incredible.
      I didn’t know that about Zappa…thanks for the info.

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