Kip Tyler was lead singer of Sleepwalkers during his time at Union High School and later teamed up with rival musicians from Fairfax High School to form the early version of Kip Tyler and the Flips. In early, 1957, Kip caught the attention of arranger Joesph Gershenson who hired him to work on a project connected to the movie "Rock, Pretty Baby". Stemming from the success of movie, Tyler took on the name of Jimmy Daley (the main character of the movie who he provided a voice over for) and formed the band Jimmy Daley And The Ding-A-Lings. He recorded his first album at Decca records.. Songs such as "Red Lips and Green Eyes", "Hole in the Wall" and " Bongo Rock" were produced at Decca Records. Unfortunately for Tyler, the sequeal to "Rock, Pretty Baby", "Summer Love" was a flop and so was the career of his surname, Jimmy Daley.
In late 1957, he formed a new group, Kip Tyler And The Flips, responsible for the hits Jungle Hop (which was covered by The Cramps) and She's My Witch. He wore leather and he even had a motorcycle on stage. When the band split in 1959, Tyler attempted a solo career, but with limited success. In 1964 he recorded for the label Gyro Disk, and his success briefly peaked after recording a number of songs. Tyler's last single was made in 1965. He did not like talking about his days in rock 'n' roll, he refused to talk about it. He died September 23, 1996 in Los Angeles, California.
Several members of The Flips had success as session musicians , while drummer Sandy Nelson also had a successful solo career.
She’s My Witch
Kip Tyler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a skirt that's a-ooh so tight
I'm tellin' you I've got an itch
She's my witch
Loveable, she's good and bad
Mess around and you been had
Got a key and the master switch
Likes to rock to a crazy song
Every night she's a-wailin' on
She's a chick with a wicked twitch
She's my witch
Likes to drag in a goin' mill
Plays a-chicken just for the thrill
Till you wind up in a ditch
Mmm, she's my witch
In Kip Tyler's song "She's My Witch," the singer is infatuated with a woman who he sees as both alluring and dangerous. He describes her physical appearance in detail, praising her dark hair and tight skirt, and refers to the "itch" he has for her. She is portrayed as a complex, multi-faceted character, who is "lovable" but also "bad," willing to deceive and manipulate others. The singer suggests that he alone holds the "key" to understanding her, describing her as "his witch." He notes that she enjoys listening to "crazy" rock music and is a skilled driver who takes risks in drag racing, ultimately leading to potential danger for herself and others. Despite the danger associated with her, the singer is enchanted by her "wicked twitch" and feels drawn to her in a way that he cannot resist.
The song was released in 1957 and was popular among rock 'n' roll and teenage audiences of the time. It has been described as a proto-Misfits song, and was later covered by the band in the 1990s. The lyrics and the portrayal of a dangerous, alluring woman were seen as both provocative and exciting, appealing to young men who were eager to rebel against traditional norms of social behavior. The song's popularity may have been due in part to its use of the concept of witchcraft, which had a long history of fascination in popular culture even before the rise of rock music.
Line by Line Meaning
Got hair as black as night
Her hair is dark and mysterious like the night sky
Got a skirt that's a-ooh so tight
She wears a tight skirt that accentuates her curves and drives men wild
I'm tellin' you I've got an itch
I'm really attracted to her and I can't resist her allure
She's my witch
She has a mysterious and irresistible quality that makes me feel under her spell
Loveable, she's good and bad
She has both attractive and dangerous qualities
Mess around and you been had
If you mess with her, you're in for trouble
Got a key and the master switch
She has the power to control and manipulate situations
She's my witch
Her power and mystery make me feel like she has cast a spell on me
Likes to rock to a crazy song
She enjoys wild and unconventional music
Every night she's a-wailin' on
She sings and dances with abandon, without caring what others think
She's a chick with a wicked twitch
She has a mischievous quality that is both alluring and dangerous
She's my witch
I'm drawn to her mystery and power, even though I know it may not be in my best interest
Likes to drag in a goin' mill
She enjoys taking risks and pushing boundaries
Plays a-chicken just for the thrill
She enjoys engaging in risky behavior just for the excitement
Till you wind up in a ditch
But her risky behavior can also lead to dangerous consequences
Mmm, she's my witch
Even though I know the risks, I can't help but be drawn to her power and mystery
Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: KIP TYLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cherry Day
Got hair as black as night
Got a skirt that's a-ooh so tight
I'm tellin' you I've got an itch
She's my witch
Loveable, she's good and bad
Mess around and you been had
Got a key and the master switch
She's my witch
Likes to rock to a crazy song
Every night she's a-wailin' on
She's a chick with a wicked twitch
She's my witch
Likes to drag in a goin' mill
Plays a-chicken just for the thrill
Till you wind up in a ditch
She's my witch
Sabi G
Got hair as black as night
Got a skirt that's a-ooh so tight
I'm tellin' you I've got an itch
She's my witch
Loveable, she's good and bad
Mess around and you been had
Got a key and the master switch
She's my witch
Likes to rock to a crazy song
Every night she's a-wailin' on
She's a chick with a wicked twitch
She's my witch
Likes to drag in a goin' mill
Plays a-chicken just for the thrill
Till you wind up in a ditch
Mmm, she's my witch
tahllydarling
One of my all time favourites. Surely a prime candidate for a Tarantino movie soundtrack too ...
Cherry Day
Got hair as black as night
Got a skirt that's a-ooh so tight
I'm tellin' you I've got an itch
She's my witch
Loveable, she's good and bad
Mess around and you been had
Got a key and the master switch
She's my witch
Likes to rock to a crazy song
Every night she's a-wailin' on
She's a chick with a wicked twitch
She's my witch
Likes to drag in a goin' mill
Plays a-chicken just for the thrill
Till you wind up in a ditch
She's my witch
Christophe Donnez
Thanks (y)
El cueyo negro DeSalma
Cherry Day li
Mike McGuire
I can vouch that this is original and from 1958 as Kip Tyler was my uncle. His daughter and widow still live in Nevada.
MrKoolkat333
Give him my "Bonjour" from France and congratulation from me to him for this fantastic Rock n Roll song..! Thank you.
Trev Mac
thanks i was trying to confirm a positive date on this song so i'll take your word for it (1958)..great song by the way
Johnny Cat
Mike McGuire he was before his time!
Dee J'ann E Mei & Urff Nicht
yep, for sure.
as a vintage vynil collecting teen in the 80's i had various releases of Kip's version. and whenever they were re-issued, they all had the credits going back to 58!
javi m
When did kip die? All Ive known he was born in 29 or 30 and disappeared pretty much after the mid 60s.