Black Magic Woman
Miss Sammy J Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a black magic woman
I got a black magic woman
Got me so blind I can't see
That she's a black magic woman
She's tryin' to make a devil out of me
Don't turn your back on me baby
Yes, don't turn your back on me baby
Stop messin' around with your tricks
Don't turn your back on me baby
You just might pick up my magic sticks
Got your spell on me baby
Got your spell on me baby
Yes you got your spell on me baby
Turning my heart into stone
I need you so bad magic woman
I can't leave you alone.
In Miss Sammy J’s song Black Magic Woman, she describes being under the spell of a woman who has magical powers. The repetition of the phrase “Got a black magic woman” creates a haunting effect, implying the omnipresence of the woman’s enchantments. The lyrics suggest that the singer is so bewitched by this woman that she can’t see clearly, or even think for herself. “She’s tryin’ to make a devil out of me” shows how the woman’s powers are affecting the singer negatively, transforming her into something she doesn’t want to be.
The chorus of “Don’t turn your back on me baby” reveals the singer’s fear of losing the woman’s attention and magical influence. The use of the phrase “Stop messin’ around with your tricks” reminds the listener that the woman is not to be messed with, suggesting that her powers are not only seductive, but also dangerous. The final verse expresses the urgency with which the singer needs the woman, saying that “Turning my heart into stone / I need you so bad magic woman / I can’t leave you alone.” Here, the woman’s spells have the power to both uplift and destroy, reflecting the complex dynamics of relationships in which one partner has more power than the other.
Line by Line Meaning
Got a black magic woman
The singer is describing a woman who possesses powerful and mysterious abilities.
Got me so blind I can't see
The woman has cast a spell on the singer, causing them to lose their sense of reason or judgment.
She's tryin' to make a devil out of me
The woman is manipulating the singer for her own nefarious purposes, potentially leading them down a dangerous path.
Yes, don't turn your back on me baby
The artist is pleading with the woman to not abandon or betray them.
Stop messin' around with your tricks
The artist is warning the woman to stop using her supernatural powers to deceive or harm others.
You just might pick up my magic sticks
The singer is suggesting that if the woman continues to use her powers maliciously, she may end up facing the consequences of the singer's own abilities or power.
Yes you got your spell on me baby
The singer is acknowledging that they are under the woman's control or influence.
Turning my heart into stone
The woman's magic is affecting the artist emotionally, causing them to become cold, unfeeling, or distant.
I need you so bad magic woman
Despite the potential danger or harm, the artist is drawn to the woman and cannot resist her power.
I can't leave you alone.
The artist is trapped in the woman's grasp and unable to escape her influence or control.
Writer(s): Joseph Lamar Chambers, Willie Mack Chambers
Contributed by Allison E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.