“Not necessarily stoned, but beautiful”
Whenever the time comes around to select an artiste for a new month here on Song Lyric Sunday, my go-to source is the very comprehensive ihopeidiebeforeigetold.com (and no, I am not being paid for this endorsement).
As usual, I started to scroll though the myriad names, sorted in date order. I’d got almost right to the end before I knew what my choice was going to be: James Marshall Hendrix, born 27 November 1942 (and died 18 September 1970, less than three weeks after I’d been front and centre to see his rather subdued performance at the Isle of Wight Festival).
I’d been hooked from first listening and naturally had all his albums, including the eponymous debut album from 1967, of which this was the closing track.
The accompanying video plays the song, certainly, but also features some of the matchless Hendrix guitar wizardry. Play loud.
If you can just get your mind together
Then come on across to me
We’ll hold hands, and then we’ll watch the sunrise
From the bottom of the sea
But first, are you experienced?
Or have you ever been experienced?
Well, I have
I know, I know you probably scream and cry
That your little world won’t let you go
But who in your measly little world
Are you trying to prove that
You’re made out of gold and, uh, can’t be sold?
So uh, are you experienced?
Have you ever been experienced?
Well, I have
Ah, let me prove it to you
Trumpets and violins I can, uh, hear in the distance
I think they’re calling our names
Maybe now you can’t hear them, but you will, ha-ha
If you just take hold of my hand
Oh, but are you experienced?
Have you ever been experienced?
Not necessarily stoned, but beautiful
Written by Jimi Hendrix
