Burning of the Midnight Lamp
Jimi Hendrix Lyrics
The morning is dead
And the day is, too
There's nothing left here to meet me
But the velvet moon
All my loneliness I have felt today
It's like a little more than enough
To make a man throw himself away
And I continue
To burn the midnight lamp
Alone
Now the smiling portrait of you
Is still hangin' on my frowning wall
It really doesn't, really doesn't bother me too much at all
It's just the ever falling dust
That makes it so hard for me to see
That forgotten earring layin' on the floor
Facing coldly towards the door
I continue
To burn the midnight lamp
Lord, alone
Loneliness is such a drag
So here I sit to face
That same old fire place
Gettin' ready for the same old explosion
Goin' through my mind
And soon enough time will tell,
About the circus in the wishing well
And someone who will buy and sell for me
Someone to toll my bell
And I continue
To burn this old lamp
Lord, alone
Darlin' can't ya hear me callin' you?
So lonely
Gonna have to blow my mind
Lonely
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT
Written by: Ellas McDaniel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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"Burning of the Midnight Lamp" is a song by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, first released as a mono single b/w "The Stars That Play with Laughing Sam's Dice" in the United Kingdom on August 19, 1967 (peaking at #18). It later appeared on the band's third and final studio album, Electric Ladyland (1968). The single features more sophisticated instrumentation and production than his earlier 1967 releases, and anticipates the richness and detail of Axis: Bold as Love (1967) and Electric Ladyland. Read Full Bio"Burning of the Midnight Lamp" is a song by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, first released as a mono single b/w "The Stars That Play with Laughing Sam's Dice" in the United Kingdom on August 19, 1967 (peaking at #18). It later appeared on the band's third and final studio album, Electric Ladyland (1968). The single features more sophisticated instrumentation and production than his earlier 1967 releases, and anticipates the richness and detail of Axis: Bold as Love (1967) and Electric Ladyland. Both songs feature the wah-wah guitar effect, a first for Hendrix and later to become a regular element of his playing. The song is also one of the few on which Hendrix plays keyboard.
Recorded July 7 and 20, 1967 at Mayfair Studios, "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" features complex instrumentation and studio production. The song opens with a delicate melody played on an electric harpsichord and wah-wah guitar that is soon joined by Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell's bass and drums. During the verses, the rhythm section playing is insistent, in contrast to the angelic background vocals and harpsichord that provide a crescendo to each verse. According to engineer Eddie Kramer, the vocals are by Cissy Houston and The Sweet Inspirations, Aretha Franklin's backup group. The mandolin effect is produced by recording two or more guitars playing the same part slowly, then speeding it up so that it plays at double speed on the record, effecting a unique timbre. The building instrumentation is repeated for each verse.
The song deals with loneliness, depression and possibly suicide. The narrator feels lonely, contemplates the passage of time, and has no reason to go on living. But he knows that suicide is wrong and tries to take it one day at a time. If he makes it to midnight, he feels like he succeeded surviving through another day. Hendrix speaks the line "Loneliness … is such a drag" during a turnaround in the middle of the song.
Hendrix's attachment to the song is evidenced by the decision to include it on Electric Ladyland over a year after first releasing it.
Recorded July 7 and 20, 1967 at Mayfair Studios, "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" features complex instrumentation and studio production. The song opens with a delicate melody played on an electric harpsichord and wah-wah guitar that is soon joined by Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell's bass and drums. During the verses, the rhythm section playing is insistent, in contrast to the angelic background vocals and harpsichord that provide a crescendo to each verse. According to engineer Eddie Kramer, the vocals are by Cissy Houston and The Sweet Inspirations, Aretha Franklin's backup group. The mandolin effect is produced by recording two or more guitars playing the same part slowly, then speeding it up so that it plays at double speed on the record, effecting a unique timbre. The building instrumentation is repeated for each verse.
The song deals with loneliness, depression and possibly suicide. The narrator feels lonely, contemplates the passage of time, and has no reason to go on living. But he knows that suicide is wrong and tries to take it one day at a time. If he makes it to midnight, he feels like he succeeded surviving through another day. Hendrix speaks the line "Loneliness … is such a drag" during a turnaround in the middle of the song.
Hendrix's attachment to the song is evidenced by the decision to include it on Electric Ladyland over a year after first releasing it.
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Kriskristoff Kriskristoff777
Loneliness is such a drag
Eric Talkington
I used to think so too. I was lonely for quite a while, then I taught my mind to enjoy being alone and I've never been happier. I love spending time by myself more than just about anything else. I even do everything alone, concerts, skydiving, anything! Hell, even go to the movies by myself and I love it!
Robert Kraft
...much "Thanks-" Best to You and Yours. 🎼🎶🏆😅💝. BOBZGT🏁🐾
Kriskristoff Kriskristoff777
2:16
Jerome Arp
Nice rendition
Michael Molinaro
Who did this and why is it so good?
CrankyRay
@The Noteslinger noh
The Noteslinger
Hendrix...nuff said
Justin Castillo
We live in the matrix
Brewtality
We live in the law of sin, we live in ways, we are not supposed to be, it makes our reality an illusion and misery, this is the illusion we are suffering from, causing separation. In physical laws its expressed in another language, basically what we manifest inside our bodies, will manifest outside of our bodies, in a way or another, scientifically provable, who ever has made the natura laws of this existance, consuming something we are not supposed to, we interact beings which breaks down stuff we aint supposed to, which causes separation within ourselfs, and the separation we experience within, we experience without. This is the so called false self image. Basically its more complicate, but if you think, it is not. Only thing that is going to solve the problem, is the original living of human being, getting rid of the illusion.