Gilbert composes music in a wide variety of styles including pop, rock, metal, blues, jazz, funk and classical, but is perhaps best known for his versatility and speed. His guitar work is characterised by his floating right hand contrary to the more common anchored right hand that guitarists like Pink Floyd's David Gilmour favour. He is also considered to be one of the best proponents of alternate picking.
Paul once had his own column in British guitar magazine, Total Guitar. He is sometimes a guest lecturer at the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) that he once attended, along with Gary Hoey and many other guitar players. He works a great deal with GIT's division in Japan, where he lived for a time before relocating to Los Angeles, CA.
Purple Haze
Paul Gilbert 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 it's 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
The song "Purple Haze" by Paul Gilbert is believed to be about the psychedelic drug LSD. The phrase "purple haze" is thought to be a reference to the high produced by the drug, which can create a distorted and colorful visual experience. The lyrics describe the confusion and altered perception that someone on LSD might feel. The singer does not know if they are coming up or down, and they are unsure if they are happy or in misery. The line "that girl put a spell on me" may be a reference to a woman who introduced the singer to LSD.
The repeated plea for help in the song may also reference the feeling of being stuck in a drug-induced state and feeling unable to escape it. The line "excuse me while I kiss the sky" is one of Jimi Hendrix's most famous lyrics and has been interpreted in many different ways. Some believe it is a reference to the drug experience lifting the singer's mind up to a higher level of consciousness. Others believe it is just a nonsensical phrase that fits the overall surreal quality of the song.
Overall, "Purple Haze" is a trippy tune that captures the psychedelic culture of the 1960s. It reflects the fascination with altered states of consciousness and the experimentation with drugs that was so prevalent during that time period.
Line by Line Meaning
Purple haze, all in my brain
The singer is feeling disoriented and confused, as if his mind is clouded by a psychedelic substance. He's in a daze, experiencing something that he can't quite explain.
Lately things they don't seem the same
The singer is experiencing a sense of detachment from the world. He feels like he's seeing things from a different perspective, and everything looks altered or distorted.
Actin' funny, but I don't know why
The singer's behavior seems odd or peculiar, yet he doesn't understand why he's acting this way. His confusion further adds to his sense of disorientation.
Excuse me while I kiss the sky
The artist is experiencing a moment of ecstatic bliss, as if he's transcending the mortal realm and reaching for the heavens. It's a moment of pure euphoria and liberation from all earthly concerns.
Purple haze, all around
The psychedelic substance seems to have enveloped the entire environment, as if reality itself has been transformed into a dream-like state. The artist is surrounded by the otherworldly haze.
Don't know if I'm comin' up or down
The singer feels like he's lost all sense of orientation, as if he's suspended between different planes of existence. He can't tell whether he's ascending or descending, or whether he's even moving at all.
Am I happy or in misery?
The singer is experiencing a range of conflicting emotions, as if he's caught between pleasure and pain, joy and sorrow, ecstasy and agony. He can't quite decide whether he's feeling good or bad.
What ever it is, that girl put a spell on me
The artist is attributing his altered state to a mysterious female figure, as if she has cast a spell on him. He's under her enchanting power, and he can't resist her influence.
Help me
The artist is asking for assistance, as if he's lost and frightened. He needs someone to guide him through the confusing and terrifying experience he's going through.
Oh, no, no
The artist is expressing his fear and anxiety, as if he's realizing the full extent of his predicament. He's in a dangerous and precarious state, and he's not sure whether he'll make it out alive.
Ooo, ahhh
The singer is vocalizing his intense emotions, as if he's letting out a primal scream. He's expressing his pain, his pleasure, his fear, and his ecstasy all at once, without any inhibition.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The artist is affirming his experience, embracing it with enthusiasm and passion. He's not ashamed or afraid of what he's going through, and he's ready to face whatever comes his way.
Purple haze all in my eyes
The psychedelic substance seems to have penetrated deep into the singer's psyche, affecting his vision and perception of reality. He can barely see straight, and his mind is playing tricks on him.
Don't know if it's day or night
The singer has lost track of time, as if he's been suspended in a timeless, infinite void. He can't tell whether the sun has risen or set, or whether it's even there at all.
You got me blowin', blowin' my mind
The singer is acknowledging that the mysterious female figure has had a profound impact on him, blowing his mind and changing his perception of the world. He's grateful and bewildered by her influence.
Is it tomorrow, or just the end of time?
The artist is grappling with existential questions, as if he's questioning the very fabric of existence. He can't tell whether the experience will end or continue indefinitely, or whether it's all just a dream.
Tell me, tell me, purple haze
The artist is addressing the psychedelic substance itself, as if it's a sentient force that can hear him. He's seeking answers and guidance from the haze, hoping to find a way out of his predicament.
I can't go on like this
The singer is expressing his hopelessness and despair, as if he's at the end of his rope. He's not sure whether he can endure the experience any longer, and he's asking for a way out.
You're makin' me blow my mind
The singer is acknowledging that the psychedelic substance has had a profound impact on him, blowing his mind and changing his perception of the world. He's grateful and bewildered by its influence.
Purple haze, n-no, nooo
The artist is expressing his resistance and refusal to accept his altered state, as if he's trying to fight against the psychedelic substance. He doesn't want to be under its spell anymore.
Writer(s): Jimi Hendrix
Contributed by Kaylee E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.