I Put a Spell on You
Nina Simone Lyrics

The lyrics to Nina Simone's iconic song, "I Put a Spell on You," capture a strong sense of possessiveness and desperation. When Simone sings "I put a spell on you because you're mine," she is conveying a deep desire to keep her lover close and prevent him from leaving her. The repetition of "do-do-do" in the opening lines serve to add a sense of urgency to the message that follows - the lover needs to stop the things he's doing to hurt Simone because she belongs to him. The following line, "I ain't lyin', no, I ain't lyin'" further emphasizes this point and highlights the fact that Simone feels disrespected and humiliated by the way her lover is treating her.

Simone's lyrics also suggest that this sense of ownership that she feels over her lover is mutual. She sings "you know I can't stand it / your runnin' 'round / you know better, daddy, I can't stand it, 'cause you put me down." Here, Simone is expressing her anger over her lover's infidelity and implying that he too should feel compelled to stay with her because of the spell that she has cast on him. Importantly, the chorus of the song includes the phrase "I put a spell on you" but it is unclear whether the "you" refers to the audience or her lover. This ambiguity allows the listener to interpret the song in their own way - is Simone singing to her actual lover or using the metaphor of a spell to represent a deeper, emotional desire to hold onto something or someone?

Overall, the lyrics of "I Put a Spell on You" are emotive, intense, and slightly unnerving. They convey the sense of desperation and heartbreak that often accompanies unrequited love or the fear of losing someone you deeply care for. The repetition of phrases throughout the song also adds to the hypnotic quality of Simone's vocals, making it a true classic in the world of music.