Purple Haze
Jimi Hendrix攀 Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Purple haze, all in my brain
Lately things they don't seem the same
Actin' funny, but I don't know why
Excuse me while I kiss the sky

Purple haze, all around
Don't know if I'm comin' up or down
Am I happy or in misery?
What ever it is, that girl put a spell on me

Help me
Help me
Oh, no, no

Ooo, ahhh
Ooo, ahhh
Ooo, ahhh
Ooo, ahhh, yeah!

Purple haze all in my eyes
Don't know if it's day or night
You got me blowin', blowin' my mind
Is it tomorrow, or just the end of time?

Ooo
Help me
Ahh, yea-yeah, purple haze
Oh, no, oh
Oh, help me
Tell me, tell me, purple haze
I can't go on like this
Purple haze
You're makin' me blow my mind




Purple haze, n-no, nooo
Purple haze

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jimi Hendrix Experience's "Purple Haze" are reflective of the psychedelic rock era of the 1960s. The song outlines the experience of being in a trance-like state, facilitated by hallucinogens, where reality becomes hazy, and the mind feels changed. Across the song, there is a sense of detachment from reality, with Jimi questioning whether he is "coming up or down," and whether he is "happy or in misery." The lyrics seemingly draw on the effects of the drug lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), which was popularized in the 1960s and provoked a widespread cultural shift. The song and its lyrics speak to the feelings of not being fully present in the world and a sense of not fitting in, which were common among the counterculture movement.


The lyrics of "Purple Haze" capture the essence of an altered state of consciousness, as well as the breadth of emotions that accompany such a state. The words "excuse me while I kiss the sky" in the chorus suggest the feeling of a heightened state of being, and the phrase's poetic power has made it perhaps the most defining aspect of the song. Despite Hendrix's use of narcotics, it's important to remember that he's referring to a general sense of confusion, not encouraging drug use.


Line by Line Meaning

Purple haze, all in my brain
The singer's mind is consumed by something overwhelming, represented by the 'purple haze,' and it's affecting their thoughts.


Lately things they don't seem the same
The singer has noticed a change in their perception of the world around them, likely due to the 'purple haze' in their brain.


Actin' funny, but I don't know why
The singer's behavior has been altered by the 'purple haze,' but they don't understand why they're acting so strangely.


Excuse me while I kiss the sky
The singer is so consumed by the 'purple haze' that they feel like they're transcending reality and want to kiss the sky as a representation of that feeling.


Purple haze, all around
The 'purple haze' has taken over not just the singer's mind, but also their surroundings.


Don't know if I'm comin' up or down
The singer is so disoriented by the 'purple haze' that they can't tell whether they're ascending or descending mentally.


Am I happy or in misery?
The singer's emotional state has been so disrupted by the 'purple haze' that they don't know whether they're feeling good or bad.


What ever it is, that girl put a spell on me
The 'purple haze' that's affecting the singer is attributed to a girl who has enchanted them in some way.


Help me
The singer is in distress and wants someone to help them cope with the overwhelming effects of the 'purple haze.'


Ooo, ahhh
The singer is making indescribable noises that likely represent their confusion and disorientation.


Purple haze all in my eyes
The singer's vision is affected by the 'purple haze,' making it difficult to see the world clearly.


Don't know if it's day or night
The 'purple haze' is so pervasive that the singer cannot even tell what time of day it is.


You got me blowin', blowin' my mind
The 'purple haze' is blowing the singer's mind, causing them to feel overwhelmed and confused.


Is it tomorrow, or just the end of time?
The singer is questioning whether their current state of being is indicative of a larger change in the world, or if the 'purple haze' is just affecting their perception of time.


Ahh, yea-yeah, purple haze
The singer is vocalizing their frustration with the 'purple haze' and the effects it's having on them.


Oh, no, oh
The singer is exclaiming in distress as the effects of the 'purple haze' continue to impact them.


Tell me, tell me, purple haze
The singer is demanding answers about what's happening to them and how they can overcome the 'purple haze.'


I can't go on like this
The singer is at their wits' end due to the overwhelming effects of the 'purple haze' and cannot continue living in this state.


You're makin' me blow my mind
The 'purple haze' is causing the singer's mind to feel overloaded and blown, making it difficult to function normally.


Purple haze, n-no, nooo
The singer is expressing their dislike and discomfort with the 'purple haze' and wants to escape its influence.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIMI HENDRIX

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@harrystanford1114

Fun fact : if Jimi Hendrix is not your favourite guitarist, he is your favourite guitarist's favourite guitarist.

@sexypigeonlover4631

this is true. mine is george harrison
Edit: Spelling corrected

@emrekarsidag188

Yeah, jimmy page

@harrystanford1114

@@emrekarsidag188 he is my favourite too 🔥

@emrekarsidag188

@@harrystanford1114 finally, a fellow

@Foxikaze

I like Kurt Cobain and Jimi. Two of my inspirations

539 More Replies...

@AidenProjects

50 years since Jimi passed but he is still gaining new fans everyday

@Victor-mu8rf

Literally today was my first day listening to him lmao

@graciebergheger7129

My baby cousin Hendrix was born today (he’s named after Jimi) crazy how the circle of life works

@flushwrite

He didn't pass away. Aliens dropped him off said show them how it's done and took him back after that

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