George Benson is a jazz guitarist born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on … Read Full Bio ↴George Benson is a jazz guitarist born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on 22 March 1943. He started out playing straight-ahead instrumental jazz with organist Jack McDuff. Benson got his first experience playing with his several-year stint with McDuff's group. In 1964, at the age of 21, Benson recorded his first album as leader, The New Boss Guitar, with Brother Jack McDuff on organ.

Benson's next recording was It's Uptown with the George Benson Quartet with Lonnie Smith on organ and Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax. This album showcases Benson's talent in constructing swinging bebop lines at blistering tempos. Benson followed it up with "The George Benson Cookbook," also with Lonnie Smith and Ronnie Cuber.

One of his major hits is the song "This Masquerade", which is included in the top-selling album Breezin' . This album represents a shift to more commercially oriented music which brought Benson a wider audience but alienated some jazz fans. Other singles that have made the Billboard Hot 100 charts include "On Broadway" (1978), "Love Ballad" (1979), "Give Me The Night" (1980) and "Turn Your Love Around" (1982).

Benson continues to play outstanding jazz guitar, as evidenced on recordings such as Jimmy Smith's Off the Top, Benson's own live album Par Excellence, and Tenderly, on which Benson is accompanied by McCoy Tyner on piano.

For his contribution to the recording industry, George Benson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7055 Hollywood Blvd.

Witchcraft
George Benson Lyrics

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Those fingers in my hair
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 you're 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're leading me to

It's such an ancient pitch

But one that I'd never switch
'Cause there's no nicer witch than you

Overall Meaning

George Benson's song "Witchcraft" is a timeless classic that expresses the irresistible allure of the opposite sex. Through the lyrics, he highlights the magical power and enchantment that women possess over men. The song is essentially a love letter describing the seductive qualities of a woman who has him under her spell.

In the first verse, Benson delves into the physical and emotional aspects of the power that the woman holds over him. He describes the woman's fingers in his hair, the sly come-hither stare that leaves him feeling exposed and vulnerable, and the heat that he cannot ignore. In the second verse, he discusses the irrationality of the situation. He is fully aware that it is strictly taboo, but the woman has control over him, and his common sense has no place in the situation. The chorus emphasizes the witchcraft theme as he repeats the phrase that there's no nicer witch than the one he is encountering.

Benson's song is a testament to the fact that love and attraction can be both magical and inexplicable. The combination of the lyrics and the music make this song a magical treat that listeners of all ages will enjoy. Overall, the song serves as a perfect metaphor for the power of love and the control that one person has over another.

Line by Line Meaning

Those fingers in my hair
The feeling of touch from someone's fingers in my hair is so captivating

That sly come hither stare
The look of someone who wants to have a little fun with me

That strips my conscience bare
My conscience is being exposed and it's making me feel vulnerable

It's witchcraft
This feeling is not natural and there's something more to it

And I've got no defense for it
I don't know how to resist this feeling

The heat is too intense for it
This feeling is overwhelming me with passion

What good would common sense for it do
Even if I logically knew better, I still couldn't resist this feeling

'Cause it's witchcraft, wicked witchcraft
This feeling is so powerful and unexplainable, it's like magic

And although, I know, it's strictly taboo
I know I shouldn't be feeling this way, but I can't help it

When you arouse the need in me
When you make me feel this way

My heart says yes indeed in me
My heart is telling me to follow this feeling