Gypsy Woman
Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions The Impressions Lyrics


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From nowhere through the caravan
Round the campfire light
A lovely woman in motion
With hair as dark as night
Her eyes were like that of a cat in the dark
That hypnotized me with love

She was a gypsy woman
She was a gypsy woman

She danced around and round
To a guitar melody
From the fire her face was aglow
How she enchanted me
Oh how I'd like to hold her near
And kiss and forever whisper in her ear

I love you gypsy woman
I love you gypsy woman

All through the caravan
She was dancing with all the men
Waiting for the rising sun
Everyone was having fun
I hate to see the lady go
Knowing she will never know
That I love her
That I love her

Gypsy woman
She was gypsy woman
Gypsy woman
Gypsy woman

All through the caravan
She was dancing with all the men
Waiting for the rising sun
Everyone was having fun
I hate to see the lady go
Knowing she will never know
That I love her
I love her

Gypsy woman
Gypsy woman
She was gypsy woman
Gypsy woman





She was gypsy woman
She was gypsy woman

Overall Meaning

The song "Gypsy Woman" by Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions is a romantic and dreamy tribute to a captivating and enchanting woman. The song speaks of a lovely gypsy woman who appears out of nowhere, dancing around the campfire to a guitar melody. The singer of the song is mesmerized by her dark hair and cat-like eyes that hypnotize him with love. He longs to hold her near and whisper in her ear how much he loves her.


The song creates a sense of magic and wonder, evoking the image of a free-spirited and mysterious woman who enchants everyone around her. The dancing and carefree atmosphere around the campfire add to the romantic ambiance of the song. However, there is also a sense of sadness and longing as the singer knows he will never have the chance to tell the gypsy woman how he feels.


Overall, "Gypsy Woman" is a timeless classic that celebrates the beauty and allure of a captivating woman, and the eternal longing that comes with unrequited love.


Line by Line Meaning

From nowhere through the caravan
A woman, who appeared unexpectedly, was walking through a caravan


Round the campfire light
In the light of the campfire


A lovely woman in motion
A beautiful woman moving gracefully


With hair as dark as night
Her hair was as dark as the night sky


Her eyes were like that of a cat in the dark
Her eyes shone like a cat's eyes in the darkness


That hypnotized me with love
Her gaze mesmerized the singer with love


She was a gypsy woman
The woman was a gypsy by birth


She danced around and round
She danced in circles


To a guitar melody
The music was a guitar melody


From the fire her face was aglow
Her face was illuminated by the fire


How she enchanted me
How she captivated and charmed the singer


Oh how I'd like to hold her near
The artist desires to hold her in his arms


And kiss and forever whisper in her ear
The singer wants to kiss her and tell her sweet nothings forever


I love you gypsy woman
The singer professes his love for the woman


All through the caravan
Everyone in the caravan witnessed her dancing


She was dancing with all the men
She was dancing with all the men in the caravan


Waiting for the rising sun
The caravan was waiting for the sun to rise


Everyone was having fun
Everyone was enjoying the festivities


I hate to see the lady go
The singer does not want her to leave


Knowing she will never know
Knowing that she will never know of his love for her


That I love her
The artist loves her


Gypsy woman
The woman is a gypsy


She was gypsy woman
The singer reiterates that she was a gypsy




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS L MAYFIELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@rogerrrubin

From nowhere through a caravan
Around the campfire light
A lovely woman in motion
With hair as dark as night
Her eyes were like that of a cat in the dark
That hypnotized me with love

She was a gypsy woman,
She was a gypsy woman

She danced around and round to a guitar melody
From the fire her face was all aglow
How she enchanted me
Oh, how I'd like to hold her near
And kiss and forever whisper in her ear

I love you, gypsy woman
I love you, gypsy woman

All through the caravan
She was dancing with all the men
Waiting for the rising sun
Everyone was having fun
I hate to see the lady go
Knowing she'll never know
That I love her, I love her

She was a gypsy woman
A gypsy woman, a gypsy woman, a gypsy woman



@smokinjz

From nowhere through the caravan
Round the campfire light
A lovely woman in motion
With hair as dark as night
Her eyes were like that of a cat in the dark
That hypnotized me with love
She was a gypsy woman
She was a gypsy woman
She danced around and round
To a guitar melody
From the fire her face was aglow
How she enchanted me
Oh how I'd like to hold her near
And kiss and forever whisper in her ear
I love you gypsy woman
I love you gypsy woman
All through the caravan
She was dancing with all the men
Waiting for the rising sun
Everyone was having fun
I hate to see the lady go
Knowing she will never know
That I love her
That I love her
Gypsy woman
She was gypsy woman
Gypsy woman
Gypsy woman
All through the caravan
She was dancing with all the men
Waiting for the rising sun
Everyone was having fun
I hate to see the lady go
Knowing she will never know
That I love her
I love her
Gypsy woman
Gypsy woman
She was gypsy woman
Gypsy woman
She was gypsy woman
She was gypsy woman



@sauquoit13456

On this day in 1961 {December 24th} "Gypsy Woman"* by the Impressions peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Please Mr. Postman" by the Marvelettes...
"Gypsy Woman" peaked at #20 on Billboard's Top 100 chart...
Between 1958 and 1987 the Chicago-based soul group had forty-six records on the Billboard's R&B chart, fifteen made the Top 10 with three reaching #1, "It's All right" for two weeks in November of 1963, "Choice of Colors" for one week in August of 1969, and "Finally Got Myself Together (I'm A Changed Man)" for two weeks in June of 1974...
Curtis Mayfield, who left the group in 1970, passed away at the young age of 57 on December 26th, 1999...
May he R.I.P.
* "Gypsy Woman" was the group's only #2 record, but they had six records peak at #3...
And from the 'For What's It Worth' department, the remainder of the Hot R&B Singles Top 10 on December 24th, 1961:
At #3. "Turn On Your Love Light" by Bobby Bland
#4. "Soothe Me" by the Sims Twins
#5. "Just Got To Know" by Jimmy McCracklin
#6. "I Know" by Barbara George
#7. "Lost Someone" by James Brown and the Famous Flames
#8. "Unchain My Heart" by Ray Charles
#9. "In The Dark" by 'Little' Junior Parker
#10. "There's No Other (Like My Baby)" by the Crystals



All comments from YouTube:

@cedricliggins7528

Pure Genius. RIP Mr Mayfield. Your voice and messages are sorely missed.

@bellestarr4040

Take me back to better day

@johnconway9882

The "Gentle Genius" as he was known 🙂

@paulblawie2616

Curtis Mayfield's haunting tenor gives me chills to this day - truly a genius who gifted us this rare gem.

@darrenringer9811

In the words of Wayne and Garth, we're not worthy.

@dudleylowe3831

HAUNTING VOICE: ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, A TRUE WORDSMITH 👍

@mcclendonreport

So mystical and mysterious, enchanting and enthralling. I remember this as a toddler. And I kept playing the record through my teen years. The sound is so well arranged; the bass singer, the harmony and Curtis' silky voice. Black music has got to get back to this kind of rarefied air. Absolutely sublime.

@waaziz2008

when this song was released, the Gypsies of Eastern Europe tried every way possible to bring the Impressions to their part of the world to sing this tune. In 1981, Curtis Mayfield and his band, sans the Impressions, gave a series of concerts in Eastern Europe, to the delight of the local populations of that region. Whether you like this version or not, it shows the beauty and attraction that good music has everywhere!

@josephleone8054

We sang this song so many times on hot summer nights, under the street lamps of Audobon Park to street corner Acapella harmony. The word means “without music” in singer’s harmony. At times harmony, in the right notes sounded as if there was music, none was needed, at least we thought. To have the soul of these African American singers was a trend from NY to LA across the USA. The first time I heard a group I was 9 or 10, from my block, mostly Italian and African American. I was so taken i got some friends years later and sang and drank all night.

@TheGoodWitchLolipop

​@@josephleone8054 I am that black cat! That gypsy woman! The Dark Crystal!That Dark Stone of Light! That Good Witch Lolipop! Be Blessed!

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