Gillan was born in Hounslow, Middlesex, England. He joined the band Deep Purple in 1969. In 1970, he sang the part of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, he went into brief retirement before forming the Ian Gillan Band. The early band sound had a distinct jazz-rock aspect which proved unpopular and was replaced by a more high powered hard rock sound as Gillan reformed the lineup and shortened the groups name to Gillan. With the release of Mr. Universe Ian Gillan was back in the UK charts and through several more line up changes released a string of hit singles and successful albums including Glory Road, Future Shock, Double Trouble, and finally Magic.
Then he announced the band would fold as he needed to rest his damaged vocal cords. In 1983 he joined Black Sabbath to record the Born Again album before rejoining a reunited Deep Purple shortly after completing the Born Again tour in early 1984. He left Purple again in 1989, but rejoined for good in 1992. He remains in the band today.
Gillan is now working on a project to document his 40-year career, tentatively called Gillan's Inn. Tony Iommi, Jeff Healey, various members of Deep Purple and many others will be featured on this 2006 DVD project.
New Orleans
Ian Gillan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
Well come on everybody take a trip with me
Well down the Mississippi down to New Orleans
The Honey Suckle's bloomin' on the Honey Suckle vine
And love is a blooming there all the time
Down the Mississippi down to New Orleans
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
Well come on everybody take a trip with me
Well down the Mississippi down to New Orleans
Oh well the magnolia blossom fills the air
If you ain't been to heaven then you ain't been there
You got French Moss growing from big oak tree
Down the Mississippi down to New Orleans
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
I said look out child yeah, yeah, yeah
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
I said hey
The lyrics to Ian Gillan's song New Orleans paint a vivid picture of the atmosphere and the various sights and sounds of this exciting city. The song is an invitation to the listener to tag along on a trip from the Mississippi River all the way down to New Orleans.
The opening lines, "I said a hey, hey, hey yeah" are reminiscent of a call to gather, and the repetition of this line creates a sense of momentum and excitement. The following lines introduce the setting of the song with the Honey Suckle's bloom and love that is persistently in the air. The next lines describe the women of the South as Mississippi Queens. Here, Gillan is referencing the grace and beauty of Southern women as they sail down the Mississippi River.
As the song progresses, the imagery shifts from floral to the fragrant scent of magnolia blossoms. Gillan connects this scent to the idea of heaven, suggesting that this vibrant city is a slice of paradise. Finally, the lyrics describe the sight of French moss growing from large oak trees, which further emphasizes the romantic quality of the city.
Overall, Ian Gillan's New Orleans is an ode to this celebrated Southern city, highlighting the many alluring aspects of New Orleans, including the beauty of nature, the hospitality of Southern women and the overall joyful atmosphere.
Line by Line Meaning
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
Hey everyone, come along with me on this journey
Well come on everybody take a trip with me
Join me on a trip to New Orleans
Well down the Mississippi down to New Orleans
We're headed down the Mississippi River to New Orleans
The Honey Suckle's bloomin' on the Honey Suckle vine
The sweet fragrance of honeysuckles is in the air
And love is a blooming there all the time
New Orleans is a city full of love and passion
You know every Southern Bell is a Mississippi Queen
Each woman in the South is her own queen, waiting to be discovered
Oh well the magnolia blossom fills the air
The fresh scent of magnolia flowers is pervasive
If you ain't been to heaven then you ain't been there
This trip to New Orleans is like going to heaven
You got French Moss growing from big oak tree
Spanish moss is hanging from the trees, giving New Orleans its unique look
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
Hey everyone, let's enjoy the music and culture of New Orleans
I said look out child yeah, yeah, yeah
Get ready for an unforgettable experience in New Orleans
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
Come along everybody, it's going to be great
Contributed by Oliver T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rita Bogner
Gillan is excellent as usual...He is a very talented..musician and..his Haar is fantastic..
Terry Allen
My favourite front man of all time, no one screamed like Ian Gillan.
Jon Mallek
Halford crushes him.
Henry Krinkle
@Jon Mallek Yes, if you like camp s&m
Jon Mallek
@Henry Krinkle Huh?
Andrew Nemtusak
@Jon Mallek nobody does what Ian did on In Rock, let alone 'crushes him'. Gillan is The Man.
Michelle Mysliwiec
@Jon Mallek
Ummm, No.
Paul Hyland
Heard this when I was 13. Now that I am 54, I found it again. Great!!!
GoT Fan
A great song.... and this is the very best version I've ever heard. Gillans unbelievable Voice in the old times....
Ivan Sandvik
Little Richard...RIP