His first professional job was backing up Pearl Reeves in 1959. Youngblood's first solo recording, "Heartbreak" became a hit and help him work as bandleader for Faye Adams, Buster Brown, and Baby Washington. Youngblood was a regular on college campuses in the '60s and appeared numerous times at the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity at Dartmouth College on which the Delta House in the film Animal House was largely based.
Hendrix left Youngblood's band in early 1964, but the two remained friends up until Jimi's death in 1970. Youngblood worked mostly as a backup musician during the remainder of the 60's for James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Ben E. King, Sam & Dave, and other soul greats.
Lonnie Youngblood continues to perform, and is nicknamed the "Prince of Harlem"
Purple Haze
Lonnie Youngblood Lyrics
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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?
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 its 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
"Purple Haze" is a psychedelic rock song by Lonnie Youngblood that was released in 1967. The song became an instant hit, and its lyrics are widely believed to be about the effects of drug use, particularly LSD. The term "purple haze" has been used to describe the sensation of being high on LSD, and Youngblood's song seems to capture that feeling in its lyrics:
The first verse describes how things seem different and the singer is acting "funny," despite not knowing why. He asks to be excused as he "kisses the sky," which is a metaphor for getting high.
The second verse talks about how the purple haze is all around and the singer doesn't know if he's coming up or down. He's unsure if he's happy or miserable, but he knows that the feeling is caused by the girl who put a spell on him.
The third verse talks about how the purple haze is in his eyes, and he's unable to distinguish if it's day or night. The singer is blown away by the feeling, and he questions if it's the end of time or just tomorrow.
The chorus of the song is a plea for help as the singer is unable to cope with the overwhelming feeling of the purple haze. It's an intense and uncertain experience that's captured well in the lyrics.
Overall, "Purple Haze" is a hauntingly powerful song about the sensation of being under the influence of drugs. Its vivid and surrealistic lyrics paint a picture of a person struggling to keep their grip on reality while being propelled into an unfamiliar and overpowering state of mind.
Line by Line Meaning
Purple haze, all in my brain
I am consumed by a psychedelic experience that feels like a purple haze, which is all in my brain.
Lately things they don't seem the same
Recently, due to the effects of the purple haze, everything seems different than before.
Actin' funny, but I don't know why
I am behaving strangely, but I don't understand why or how to control it.
Excuse me while I kiss the sky
I am so overwhelmed by the sensations of the purple haze that I feel like I am kissing the sky and experiencing something transcendent.
Purple haze, all around
This purple haze is so pervasive that it surrounds me and affects everything I see.
Don't know if I'm comin' up or down
I can't tell if I am entering an even more intense state of mind, or if I am coming down from the effects of the purple haze.
Am I happy or in misery?
I am feeling strong emotions due to the haze, but I am not sure whether they are good or bad feelings.
What ever it is, that girl put a spell on me
I am attributing my experience to a feeling of being under a spell, and I believe that a particular girl is responsible for it.
Help me
I am asking for help dealing with the effects of the purple haze and this intense experience.
Ooo, ahhh
These sounds express the sensation of the haze and the sensations it causes.
Yeah, purple haze
This phrase is an acknowledgement and description of the state of mind and the sensations caused by the haze.
Purple haze all in my eyes
The haze is affecting not just my mind, but also my vision, and is all I can see.
Don't know if its day or night
The haze is affecting my sense of time and making it difficult to distinguish between day and night.
You got me blowin', blowin' my mind
The haze is causing my mind to be blown and creating an intense experience that I cannot control.
Is it tomorrow, or just the end of time?
Due to the haze, I am not sure where I am in time – whether I am experiencing something futuristic, or if this is the end of the world.
Tell me, tell me, purple haze
I am calling out to the haze directly and asking it to explain itself or what it is doing to me.
I can't go on like this
I am suffering and cannot continue to exist in this state any longer.
You're makin' me blow my mind
The haze is causing my mind to be blown and experiencing a state of altered consciousness.
Purple haze, n-no, nooo
This is a confirmation of the devastating and out-of-control effects of the purple haze.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jimi Hendrix
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind