The song's name, "Manic Depression," is an old name for bipolar disorder, a… Read Full Bio ↴The song's name, "Manic Depression," is an old name for bipolar disorder, a mental health disorder. There is no evidence the Hendrix ever suffered from bipolar disorder himself. Hendrix was doing a press conference in London and his manager at the time, Chas Chandler, told him that he sounded like a manic depressive. So the next day Hendrix wrote this tune.

In this song, Hendrix sings of despair and confusion, and wonders just what kind of world this is anyway. His protective haven from the chaos is "music, sweet music."

This is one of the more unusual songs performed in 3/4 waltz time. The loping time signature gives the song a very unusual feel and contributes to the feeling of disorientation.

Introducing this song in concert, Jimi Hendrix said: "We'd like to do a frustrating kind of song for you. It's called 'Manic Depression' - it's a story 'bout a cat wishin' he could make love to music, instead of the same old everyday woman."

Seal and Jeff Beck teamed up to cover "Manic Depression" for the 1993 Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix album.

Manic Depression
Jimi Hendrix Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Manic depression is searching my soul
I know what I want
But I just don't know
How to go about getting it

Feeling, sweet feeling
Drops from my Fender's, fingers
Manic depression is capturing my soul, yeah

Woman so willing, the sweet cause in vain
You make love
You break love
It's all the same
When it's, it's over

Music sweet music
I wish I could caress, caress, caress
Manic depression is a frustrating mess
Oh!

Well, I think I'll go turn myself off and go on down
All the way down
Really ain't no use in me hanging around
In your kind of scene

Music, sweet music
I wish I could caress and kiss, kiss
Manic depression is a frustrating mess

Oh! Ooh, oh!

Music, sweet music
Music, music
Hoo, hoo

Depression

Overall Meaning

“Manic Depression” is a song by Jimi Hendrix that delves into themes of confusion, frustration, and desire. Throughout the song, the singer expresses a deep sense of wanting something but not knowing how to obtain it. He compares these feelings to manic depression, a condition that involves intense mood swings and unpredictable emotions. Hendrix’s lyrics suggest that this emotional state is one that he is intimately familiar with, and that in some ways his passion for music is a response to these internal struggles.

The first stanza of the song sets the tone for the rest, with the singer acknowledging a sense of searching within his soul. He knows what he wants, but he just can’t figure out how to get it. The second stanza is more optimistic, with the singer expressing a sense of joy and pleasure. However, the feelings of manic depression return in the third stanza, as the singer describes the futility of romantic relationships. Finally, the song ends on a note of resignation, with the singer feeling that he is better off turning himself off and disconnecting from the world entirely.

Overall, “Manic Depression” is a powerful and emotionally charged song that showcases Hendrix’s incredible talents as both a musician and a lyricist. Its themes of confusion, frustration, and desire are timeless, and its unusual blend of blues, rock, and psychedelia make it a standout track in Hendrix’s body of work.

Line by Line Meaning

Manic depression is searching my soul
Jimi feels that his bipolar disorder is affecting him intellectually and emotionally to the point where he is struggling to find peace.

I know what I want
Despite his inner turmoil, Jimi is aware of what he desires and what his goals are.

But I just don't know, honey How to go about getting it
Jimi's bipolar disorder is causing him to feel lost, making it difficult for him to figure out how to accomplish his goals.

Feeling sweet feeling Drops from my fingers fingers
Jimi is experiencing moments of elation, but they are short-lived and quickly pass through his fingertips as his bipolar disorder takes over.

Manic depression is captured my soul
Jimi is completely consumed by his bipolar disorder and is unable to escape its grasp.

Woman so willing the sweet cause in vain You make love You break love It's a all the same, when it's When it's over
Jimi is acknowledging the futility of relationships, realizing that the ups and downs of love will always come to an end, leaving him with a feeling of emptiness.

Music sweet music I wish I could caress caress caress Manic depression is a frustrating mess Oh!
Jimi turns to music as a source of comfort, but even this is often plagued by his bipolar disorder, which causes chaos and frustration.

Well I think I'll go turn myself off and a go on down All the way down Really ain't no use in me hanging around Oh, I gotta see you,
Jimi is considering isolating himself to escape the chaos within his mind, but decides that seeing the person he desires is important enough to keep him around.

Music sweet music I wish I could caress and a kiss kiss Manic depression is a frustrating mess
Jimi reiterates his love for music as a solace but recognizes that his bipolar disorder still causes great frustration and difficulty.

Owh! Owh! Music sweet music sweet music Sweet music Sweet music Hooo....depress
The song ends with Jimi's pain and struggles continuing, as his bipolar disorder continues to drag him down, even as he finds comfort in music.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jimi Hendrix

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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