Witchcraft
Frank Sinatra & Anita Baker Lyrics
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That sly come hither stare
That strips my conscience bare
It's witchcraft
And I've got no defense for it
The heat is too intense for it
What good would common sense for it do
'Cause it's witchcraft, wicked witchcraft
And although, I know, it's strictly taboo
When you arouse the need in me
My heart says, "Yes, indeed," in me
Proceed with what your leading me to
It's such an ancient pitch
But one I wouldn't switch
'Cause there's no nicer witch than you
'Cause it's witchcraft, that crazy witchcraft
And although, I know, it's strictly taboo
When you arouse the need in me
My heart says, "Yes, indeed," in me
Proceed with what your leading me to
It's such an ancient pitch
But one that I'd never switch
'Cause there's no nicer witch than you
The lyrics of Frank Sinatra's song Witchcraft describe a man whose desire is being controlled by a woman, or more specifically, a witch. The singer describes the woman in haunting and enchanting ways, citing her "sly come hither stare" and the way she arouses his need for her. The singer is unable to resist her powers, as "those fingers in my hair" strip his conscience bare.
Despite knowing that his feelings for her are taboo, the singer is willing to follow her lead, as there is "no nicer witch than you." The song has been interpreted as a metaphor for a toxic or addictive relationship, in which the singer is fully aware of the dangers, but unable to resist the pull of his desire. The song also brings to mind the metaphor of the witch as a symbol of female power and sexuality, possibly subverting traditional gender norms.
Line by Line Meaning
Those fingers in my hair
The way you touch me electrifies me and leaves me helpless.
That sly come hither stare
The way you look at me is both seductive and daring, making me want to follow you everywhere.
That strips my conscience bare
Your charms penetrate my every thought and leave me only wanting more of your undivided attention.
It's witchcraft
Your spells and enchantments have me fully under your grasp, unable to resist your teasing ways.
And I've got no defense for it
I am powerless to the enchantments of your magic, and I cannot resist your alluring ways.
The heat is too intense for it
The passion and fire you inspire in me is too strong, too irresistible for me to avoid.
What good would common sense for it do
Logic and reason no longer hold any sway over me when it comes to the temptation of being with you.
'Cause it's witchcraft, wicked witchcraft
The power and force of your charms and spells have me bewitched and in your thrall.
And although, I know, it's strictly taboo
I know that it is forbidden and dangerous to give in to the power of magic, but I cannot resist my desires for you.
When you arouse the need in me
When I am with you, your sensual touches and enchanting magic arouse me beyond belief.
My heart says, "Yes, indeed," in me
My heart races with anticipation of being with you and indulging in the pleasure of your witchcraft.
Proceed with what your leading me to
I cannot resist your spellbinding charms and am willing to follow you wherever you go, even if it means dancing with the devil himself.
It's such an ancient pitch
The power and temptation of forbidden magic has existed since the beginning of time, and I am caught up in its grasp.
But one I wouldn't switch
Despite knowing the dangers of giving in to magic, I would not choose to escape the thrill of being with you.
'Cause there's no nicer witch than you
Of all the magic and sorcery in the world, none are as enchanting and captivating as you.
'Cause it's witchcraft, that crazy witchcraft
The power of magic is both amazing and sometimes dangerous, especially when it's in the hands of someone who knows how to use it to their advantage.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Carolyn Leigh, Cy Coleman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
M F
I played in the violin section on this recording at Capitol Records. Sinatra was still amazing! Gerald Vinci was the concertmaster . Great times!
JMSD - Juan M. Sanchez Delaico -
And Al Schmitt engeniering! awsome that you was there!!
Fou
I guess that makes you my hero.
Fou
The morning Final
katiefrankie6
It’s gorgeous and this is my favorite duet of them all. A Halloween must!!!
vitordragon
Simply amazing - their voices, the orchestra, the song! It´s 1h38 in the morning and I´m listening to them while the city sleeps. Perfect!
Richard Marshall Bowman
It doesn't get much better than this. Two gifted artists doing what they do......so well.....doing it together. Brilliant! I LOVE this.
Yvette Centeno
Dois grandes cantores, que dizer ? Só ouvir e sentir-se maravilhado.
Álvaro Teixeira
Well, question is: how come a human being can sing like Anita?? She has this astonishing voice and along with Frank that´s probably the best thing you can for your ears... just listen and check.
Terence Dove
As a musician myself, I’ve listened to different versions of WITCHCRAFT from different artists and orchestras, of course. BUT…the beginning of THIS version (with violins) had me seriously considering this as my favorite. The pairing of Frank Sinatra and Anita Baker cemented that decision. It’s a shame that Nelson wasn’t alive then to hear this particular arrangement, of which he might have been most proud…