The Song Lyric Sunday tour of musical instruments reaches the drums this week. This wasn’t too difficult for me to decide on, although it certainly can’t have been easy providing the backing for the mercurial genius of Jimi Hendrix. By and large, though, Noel Redding (bass) and Mitch Mitchell (drums) did a pretty good job.
I can still remember, when in my final year at school, participating in earnest discussions about the relative merits, as rock drummers, of Mitch Mitchell and Ginger Baker. I don’t think we really had the slightest idea what we were on about, a view perhaps confirmed by the fact that I don’t ever remember anyone putting in a good word for Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham or, come to that, The Who’s Keith Moon.
There’s no serious doubt, though, that Mitch Mitchell was right up there with the very best of them. Perhaps it helped that he started out as a jazz drummer. Just listen to his work here on ‘Fire’ from the ‘Are You Experienced?’ album.
You don’t care for me
I don’t care about that
You got a new fool, ha!
I like it like that
I have only one burning desire
Let me stand next to your fire
Let me stand next to your fire (Hey! Let me stand next to your fire)
Let me stand next to your fire (Whoa, let me stand baby)
Let me stand next to your fire (Let me stand)
Let me stand next to your fire (Yeah baby)
Listen here, baby
And stop acting so crazy
You say your mom ain’t home
It ain’t my concern
Just play with me and you won’t get burned
I have only one itching desire
Let me stand next to your fire
Let me stand next to your fire (Yeah! Let me stand baby)
Let me stand next to your fire (Let me stand)
Let me stand next to your fire (Oh, let me stand)
Let me stand next to your fire (Oh!)
Oh! Move over, Rover
And let Jimi take over
Yeah, you know what I’m talking about
Yeah, get on with it, baby
Yeah
That’s what I’m talking about
Now dig this!
Ha!
Now listen, baby
You try to give me your money
You better save it, babe
Save it for your rainy day
I have only one burning desire
Let me stand next to your fire
Let me stand next to your fire (Oh! Let me stand)
Let me stand next to your fire (Let me stand)
Let me stand next to your fire (I ain’t gonna do you no harm)
Let me stand next to your fire
Ow, yeah, you better move over baby
I ain’t gonna hurt ya baby
Ah, I ain’t talkin’ with your old lady
Ow, ah yes this is Jimi talkin’ to you
Yeah, baby, doo
Written by Jimi Hendrix
And as a bonus, here’s Mitch being unleashed into a drum solo during a performance of ‘Voodoo Chile’.
the only deadhead in the hameau 
Mitch Mitchell was highly skilled at changing rhythms, and never very predictable, so he was able to respond to Hendrix’s own original solo lines. Hendrix was invited to spend the Christmas holiday at Noel Redding’s mother’s house. It was cold, so Jimi asked Redding’s mother if he could stand next to her fireplace to warm up. The family dog, a German Shepherd, was also warming himself up laying by the fire, which inspired to write the line, “Move over Rover, and let Jimi take over.”
Very good choice! It’s been a long time since I’d heard this one. That drum solo was amazing! 🙂