The lyrics were inspired by Jimi's high school days (roughly 1958-1961), when he regularly visited a roadhouse called "The Spanish Castle". The club was south of Seattle in what was then unincorporated King County (now Des Moines, Washington). It was built in the 1930s outside Seattle to avoid the city's then restrictive nightclub laws. By 1959, it began featuring top local rock groups, such as the Wailers and occasional touring stars. Events there were hosted by Pat O'Day, Seattle's best known disc jockey at the time.
Hendrix performed at the Spanish Castle on several occasions. He later described his frustration getting to the club: "[The bass player] in the band had this beat-up car, and it would break down every other block, on the way there and back". This is referenced in the line "Takes 'bout a half a day to get there". The Spanish Castle was demolished in April 1968. According to rock critic Dave Marsh, "Once you know the legend of the Wailers at the Castle and the facts of Jimi’s attendance there, the lyrics of his 'Spanish Castle Magic' seem haunted by homesick nostalgia: 'It’s very far away, it takes about half a day to get there if we travel by my...uh...dragonfly,' he sings, in the voice of a kid stranded a couple continents from home".
The song features Noel Redding playing an eight-string Hagstrom bass routed through an Octavia effects unit, which Hendrix later overdubbed using the same bass. Hendrix also overdubbed some jazz chords on piano, which he had heard sound engineer Eddie Kramer playing. Hendrix biographer Harry Shapiro commented on the song's instrumentation: "[The] guitar and bass in unison has the immediate effect of locking up a song in a strong rhythmic voice ... [Hendrix uses] some unusual chord progressions and a large number of bend in the solo ending up with a crazy double-stop." AllMusic's Matthew Greenwald calls the progression "proto-heavy metal" and compares it to the early Experience song, "Foxy Lady".
"Spanish Castle Magic" is one of the few songs from Axis: Bold as Love that Hendrix regularly performed in concert. Live recordings of the song are found on BBC Sessions, Live at the Oakland Coliseum, Stages, Live in Ottawa, Live at Woodstock, Blue Wild Angel: Live at the Isle of Wight, Winterland, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience box set.
Spanish Castle Magic
Jimi Hendrix Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It takes about a half a day to get there
If we travel by my dragonfly
No, it's not in Spain
But all the same, you know it's a groovy name
And the wind's just right, hey
Hang on, my darling
Hear it's a really groovy place
It's uh, just a little bit of uh, said uh
Spanish castle magic
The clouds are really low
And they overflow with cotton candy
And battlegrounds red and brown
But it's all in your mind
Don't think your time on bad things
Just float your little mind around
Look out, ooh
Hang on my darling, yeah
Hang on if you want to go
It's a ha, as you can see
It's just a little bit of
Spanish castle magic
Yeah, baby, it's
Yeah, okay, okay
It's all in your mind, baby
Ow, yeah
Hang on my darling, hey
Hang on, hang on if you want to go
Oh girl, that's right, baby
It's a, a little bit of
Spanish castle magic, hey
Little bit of
Spanish castle magic
Hey, I can't sing this song
Yeah, baby
Get on, baby, yeah
It's all in your mind
Little bit of daydream here and there
Oh, yeah, oh, hey
Everything's going to be alright
The song "Spanish Castle Magic" by Jimi Hendrix is a psychedelic rock track which takes the listener on a dreamy journey. The first verse sets the scene of a faraway place, which takes a long time to reach, and will be journeyed to by the singer's dragonfly. It is not actually in Spain, but has a "groovy name", suggesting an exotic and mystical place. The second verse is filled with vivid imagery, describing low clouds overflowing with cotton candy, and battle grounds of red and brown. However, the singer reminds the listeners that it is all in their minds, and encourages them to float their minds around and not focus on bad things. The chorus repeats the line "Hang on my darling" and emphasizes that this groovy place, with just a little bit of Spanish castle magic, can put everything else on the shelf.
Line by Line Meaning
It's very far away
The place referred to is located at quite a distance.
It takes about half a day
It will take considerable time and effort to reach that location.
To get there
The focus of the song is about reaching that distant location.
If we travel by my, dragonfly
If we travel to that place, we'll do so in a special way, possibly by flying.
No it's not in Spain
Contrary to the name of the place, it's not actually located in Spain.
But all the same
Despite its untrue location name, the place is still interesting.
You know
The singer is confident of what he is saying or reminding the listener of something they already know.
It's a groovy name
The name of the place is cool or fashionable.
And the wind's just right
The weather conditions are perfect for the journey to that place.
Hey
An exclamation that the singer is excited about something.
Hang on my darling
Hold tight or wait for a moment, probably in reference to the journey or experience.
Hang on if you want to go
If you want to join the singer on the journey or experience, hold tight.
You know it's really groovy place
The destination is a special or remarkable place.
And it's just a little bit of a Spanish castle magic
The destination has some magical charm associated with Spanish castles.
The clouds are really low
The weather conditions at that place are quite different from where the journey started.
And they overflow
The clouds are abundant or overflowing with something.
With cotton candy
The clouds are producing a pinkish and fluffy cotton candy-like substance.
And battle grounds
The cotton candy-like clouds can take on the appearance of a battleground, red and brown colors indicating a violent past.
But it's all in your mind
The imagery described in the previous lines is not necessarily real, but just a product of the imagination.
Don't think your time
Don't waste your time thinking about negative things, enjoy the experience.
On bad things
Avoid focusing on negative thoughts or experiences.
Just float your little mind around
Loosen up and let your mind drift, enjoy the experience without any restrictions.
Look out
Pay attention, be alert or watch out for something significant.
It puts everything else on the shelf
Experiencing that magic place helps the singer forget about everything else.
Yeah baby
An expression of excitement or agreement.
A little bit of daydream here and there
Imagining or dreaming about experiences can be a good thing.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jimi Hendrix
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Devin Kennedy
on Spanish Castle Magic (alternate take)
Is this really the alternete take