“Got your spell on me, baby”

Helen is looking for a song relating to ‘Magic’ this week. There are plenty out there, certainly.

To be perfectly honest, the first one that came into my head was Barry Manilow’s ‘Could It Be Magic?’ Hmmm…oui, mais non, as the French are wont to say. More attuned to my tastes, there’s ‘Do You Believe In Magic?’ by The Lovin’ Spoonful or Donovan’s ‘Season Of The Witch’.

Not to be forgotten also is Peter, Paul and Mary’s open-to-various-interpretations ‘Puff The Magic Dragon’.

Over the years, though, the one ‘magic’ song I’ve probably listened to more than any other is this one, which still gets the occasional airing. I should probably listen to it more often.

Got a black magic woman
Got a black magic woman

I’ve got a black magic woman
Got me so blind I can’t see
That she’s a black magic woman
She’s tryin’ to make a devil out of me

Don’t turn your back on me, baby
Don’t turn your back on me, baby

Yes, don’t turn your back on me baby
Stop messin’ around with your tricks
Don’t turn your back on me baby
You just might pick up my magic sticks

Got your spell on me baby
Got your spell on me baby

Yes you got your spell on me baby
Turning my heart into stone
I need you so bad – magic woman
I can’t leave you alone

Lyrics by Peter Green

Most people, understandably, associate this with Santana, and I had a copy of the ‘Abraxas’ album on which it features (a purchase doubtless inspired by their appearance in the Woodstock movie).

However, it was written by Peter Green of the original – and, in my view, the proper – Fleetwood Mac. They may well have played it when I saw them at University in 1970 or 1971 but I’m not entirely sure.

Somehow, therefore, it seems only right that the video should feature both Peter Green and Carlos Santana.

Song Lyric Sunday 9 July 2017