Little Wing
Derek and the Dominos Lyrics


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Well she's walking through the clouds
With a circus mind that's running 'round.
Butterflies and zebras, fairy tales,
That's all she ever thinks about.

When I'm sad she comes to me
With a thousand smiles she gives to me free.
Said, "It's all right, take anything you want,
Anything you want, anything."

Well she's walking through the clouds
With a circus mind that's running 'round.
Butterflies and zebras, fairy tales,
That's all she ever thinks about.

When I'm sad she comes to me
With a thousand smiles she gives to me free.
Said, "It's all right, take anything you want,
Anything you want, anything."





Fly on, little wing.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Derek and the Dominos's song "Little Wing" are interesting because they are open to interpretation. At first glance, the lyrics appear to be about a woman who is a dreamer, someone who lives in a fanciful world of "butterflies and zebras" and "fairy tales." This person is always "walking through the clouds," indicating that she is disconnected from reality in some way. However, the second half of the song turns the lyrics on their head. When the singer is sad, this dreamer comes to him and offers him "a thousand smiles" free of charge, telling him that he can have anything he wants.


This could be interpreted two ways. One interpretation is that this woman is simply a figment of the singer's imagination, a projection of his own desire to escape reality. He imagines her as someone who is always happy and carefree, someone who can offer him a temporary respite from his own sadness. Another interpretation is that this woman is someone he knows in real life, someone who is always cheerful and kind, and who can help him feel better when he is down. Regardless of which interpretation you choose, the message of the song is clear: when life gets you down, it's important to have someone who can offer you a ray of hope and a reason to keep going.


Line by Line Meaning

Well she's walking through the clouds
The subject of the song is daydreaming and lost in her own thoughts.


With a circus mind that's running 'round.
Her mind is like a circus; full of imagination and always active.


Butterflies and zebras, fairy tales,
She thinks about fantasy and enchantment constantly, embodying childlike innocence.


That's all she ever thinks about.
This is her escape from reality and she does not want or need anything else.


When I'm sad she comes to me
She can sense when the artist is in distress and reaches out to them.


With a thousand smiles she gives to me free.
She has a heart that overflows with love and she generously shares it with others.


Said, "It's all right, take anything you want,
She gives the singer permission to take what they need, providing comfort and reassurance.


Anything you want, anything."
She is willing to go above and beyond to help the artist and support them.


Fly on, little wing.
The singer encourages the subject to continue dreaming and soaring higher, even if it means leaving behind their current reality for a while.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jimi Hendrix

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@asaucerfullofsecrets

I firmly believe this recording contains some of the finest guitar solos ever... they're so good they make me cry

@markb20

Beautifully put.

@jeffbrindle3196

I cry at music all the time.....

@kelvinsantos5466

Agreed...

There are a few notes that never fail to bring a cpl tears...

@luismarioguerrerosanchez4747

Well, Clapton is God

@jokkergar

@Luis Mario Guerrero Sánchez this is allman on lead actually

40 More Replies...

@TwinMillMC

This is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard in my entire life.

@rebuttalc2075

Great cover of a classic! Only bad part about hendrix original is how short it is yet everyone who covers ot stretches it out and does it justice. Love SRV’s cover of it as well

@podulox

@Rebuttal C Still relevant, eleven years later...
(the comment... Not the song - The song should be on Voyager I (& Voyager II))

@tbean42000

My absolute favorite cover of “Little Wing”. Of course Hendrix is brilliant, and SRV’s instrumental is lit! But this right here is ethereal and next-level. IMHO!

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