Celebrating Jimi Hendrix: His life in lyrics -

A decade of music that will last a lifetime

The electric guitar innovator left behind an enduring legacy. From his first live gig in 1959, to his early death in 1970, the musician made his mark as one of the most influential electric guitarists in history. His psychedelic lyrics combined with his unique, soulful sound turned him into a musical visionary who would come to influence generation after generation.

In this gallery, take a look at some of his most legendary songs, and the lyrics that have kept him alive years after his death.

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Jimi Hendrix - The American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter was born on November 27, 1942, and died on September 18, 1970. He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians in history.

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'Stone Free' (1966) - "Everyday in the week I'm in a different city
If I stay too long people try to pull me down
They talk about me like a dog
Talkin' about the clothes I wear
But they don't realize they're the ones who's square."

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'Red House' (1966) - "This key won't unlock this door,
Something's goin' on here
I have a bad bad feeling
That my baby don't live here no more."

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'Hey Joe' (1966) - "Hey Joe, I said where you goin' with that gun in your hand, oh
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man."

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'Purple Haze' (1967) - "Purple haze, all in my brain
Lately things they don't seem the same
Actin' funny, but I don't know why
Excuse me while I kiss the sky."

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'Up From The Skies' (1967) - "I have lived here before the days of ice
And of course this is why I'm so concerned
And I come back to find the stars misplaced
And the smell of a world that has burned."

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'Bold As Love' (1967) - "In fact I'm trying to say it's frightened like me
And all these emotions of mine keep holding me from, eh
Giving my life to a rainbow like you
But, I'm bold as love, yeah, I'm bold as love."

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'Third Stone From The Sun' (1967) - "Although your world wonders me,
With your majestic and superior cackling hen
Your people I do not understand,
So to you I shall put an end."

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'Little Wing' (1967) - "Well she's walking through the clouds
With a circus mind
That's running wild
Butterflies and zebras and moonbeams
And fairly tales."

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'I Don't Live Today' (1967) - "No sun comin' through my windows
Feel like I'm livin' at the bottom of a grave
I wish you'd hurry up and execute me
So I can be on my miserable way."

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'Are You Experienced?' (1967) - "If you can just get your mind together
Then come on across to me
We'll hold hands an' then we'll watch the sun rise from the bottom of the sea."

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'If 6 Was 9' (1967) - "White collared conservative flashing down the street,
Pointing their plastic finger at me.
They're hoping soon my kind will drop and die,
But I'm gonna wave my freak flag high, high."

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'Castles Made of Sand' (1967) - "Many moons passed and more the dream grew stronger,
Until tomorrow, he would sing his first war song,
And fight his first battle, but something went wrong,
Surprise attack killed him in his sleep that night
And so castles made of sand,
Melts into the sea, eventually."

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'May This Be Love' (1967) - "Nothing can harm me at all
My worries seem so very small
With my waterfall."

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'Fire' (1967) - "Listen here, baby
And stop acting so crazy
You say your mum ain't home,
It ain't my concern,
Just play with me and you won't get burned."

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'The Wind Cries Mary' (1967) - "After all jacks are in their boxes
And the clowns have all gone to bed
You can hear happiness staggering on down the street
Footprints dressed in red
And the wind whispers Mary."

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'Foxey Lady' (1967) - "I wanna take you home (huh), yeah
I won't do you no harm, no (ha!)
You've got to be all mine, all mine
Ooh, Foxy Lady, yeah"

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'Love or Confusion' (1967) - "Oh, my mind is so messed up goin' round 'n' round
Must there be all these colors without names
Without sounds, babe
My heart burns with feelin' but
Oh but my mind is cold and reeling
Is this love, baby
Or is it confusion?"

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'Manic Depression' (1967) - "Feeling sweet feeling
Drops from my fingers fingers
Manic depression is captured my soul."

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'1983...(A Merman I Should Turn To Be)' (1968) - "Hurray I awake from yesterday
Alive but the war is here to stay
So my love Catherina and me
Decide to take our last walk thru the noise to the sea
Not to die but to be reborn
Away from the lands so battered and torn
Forever forever."

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'Crosstown Traffic' (1968) - "I'm not the only soul who's accused of hit and run,
Tire tracks all across your back, uh-huh, I can see you had your fun.
But a darling, can't you see my signals turn from green to red
And with you I can see a traffic jam straight up ahead."

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'Izabella' (1970) - "Hey Izabella
Girl, I'm holding you in my dreams, every night
Yeah, but you know good well baby
You know we got this war to fight."

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'All Along The Watchtower' (1968) - "There must be some kind of way outta here
Said the joker to the thief
There's too much confusion
I can't get no relief."

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'Easy Rider' (1970) - "He says the free wind takes him higher
Tryin' to find his heaven above
But he's dyin' to be loved
Dyin' to be loved."

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'Voodoo Child' (1970) -

"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."

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'Freedom' (1971) - "You got my heart
speak electric water
You got my soul
screamin' and howlin'."

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'Angel' (1971) - "And she told me a story yesterday,
About the sweet love between the moon and the deep blue sea
And then she spread her wings high over me
She said she's gonna come back tomorrow."

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'Hear My Train A Comin'' (1973) - "Well, I wait around the train station
Waitin' for that train
Waitin' for the train, yeah
Take me home, yeah
From this lonesome place."

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'Somewhere' (1975) - "Way down in the background,
I can see frustrated souls of cities burnin,
And all across the water, baby,
I see weapons barkin' out the sting of death,
And up in the clouds
I can imagine ufos jumpin' themselves,
Laughin' they sayin',
Those people so uptight,
They sure know how to make a mess."

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'Valleys of Neptune' (2010) -

"I feel the ocean swaying me
Washing away all my pains
See where I was wounded,
Remember the scar?
Now you can't see a thing
And I feel no pain."

See also: Famous musicians who are self-taught

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