He was born in Woodlake, California and raised in Ukiah. He taught himself guitar when he was 13 and considered his first influence to be Mike Bloomfield. At 18 he moved to San Francisco to form the Charles Ford Blues Band (named after his father, who was also a guitarist) featuring his brothers Mark (mouth harp) and Patrick (drums).
Robben was soon hired to play with Charles Musselwhite for nine months. Robben Ford played with Jimmy Witherspoon (1972-1973), the L.A. Express with Tom Scott (1974), George Harrison and Joni Mitchell. In 1977 he was a founding member of the Yellowjackets, which he stayed with until 1983, simultaneously having a solo career and working as a session guitarist.
In 1986, Ford toured with Miles Davis and he had two separate periods (1985 and 1987) with Sadao Watanabe, but he seemed to really find himself in 1992 when he returned to his roots: the blues. Ford formed a new group, the Blue Line, and subsequently recorded a couple of blues-rock dates for Stretch that are among the finest of his career. In 1999, he released Sunrise on Rhino and Supernatural on Blue Thumb. Ford signed to the Concord Jazz label in 2002 and released Blue Moon that same year, followed by Keep on Running in 2003 and Truth in 2007. Robben Ford whilst continuing to record solo albums has been touring in 2007 with guitar legend Larry Carlton.
I Put A Spell On You
Robben Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You better stop the things that you do
I ain't lyin', no, I ain't lyin'
I just can't stand it babe
The way you're always runnin' 'round
I just can't stand it, the way you always put me down
I put a spell on you because you're mine
You better stop the things that you do
I ain't lyin', no, I ain't lyin'
I just can't stand it babe
The way you're always runnin' 'round
I just can't stand it, the way you always put me down
I put a spell on you because you're mine
I put a spell on you. I put a spell on you
I put a spell on you. I put a spell on you
The lyrics of "I Put a Spell on You" express the intense possessiveness and jealousy of the singer towards their lover. The spell is a metaphor for the power dynamics within the relationship, as the singer tries to exert control over their partner, warning them to stop their behavior because they belong to them. The repeated refrain emphasizes the singer's determination to keep their lover under their influence, and the anger and frustration in their voice suggest they have been unsuccessful in the past.
However, there is also a sense of vulnerability and insecurity in the lyrics, as the singer admits they "just can't stand it" when their partner puts them down or runs around. The spell can be interpreted as a desperate attempt to keep the relationship from falling apart, or a manifestation of the singer's fear of being abandoned. The dramatic, bluesy tone of the music reinforces the emotional intensity of the lyrics and creates a haunting, almost menacing atmosphere.
Line by Line Meaning
I put a spell on you because you're mine
I cast a magical spell on you because I want you to be mine and mine alone
You better stop the things that you do
You need to stop your actions and behaviors that are negatively affecting our relationship
I ain't lyin', no, I ain't lyin'
I'm being truthful and I'm not lying about my feelings towards you and the situation
I just can't stand it babe
I cannot tolerate the way you're treating me and how it's affecting our relationship
The way you're always runnin' 'round
The way you're constantly going out and about, not paying attention to me and our relationship
I just can't stand it, the way you always put me down
I cannot tolerate the way you belittle and disrespect me, making me feel inferior
I put a spell on you. I put a spell on you
I continue to cast my spell on you, hoping it will change your ways and make you mine
I put a spell on you. I put a spell on you
I repeat my actions of casting a spell on you, as I am desperate for you to be with me
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jay Hawkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yves Nadeau
Can't get much better than this 🙂
Alexander Wes
Wow, what skills and feeling LC puts into that solo !
Randall Ulmer
This is now my favorite version of this song. :) Good job guys!
Bracha's High Hopes Homestead
and there are many! but this is really a higher level, even better than when Robben played guitar while Will Lee sang an unforgettable vocal many years back.
Yves Nadeau
Let's not forget the amazing support of the bass and drum.
Mr Nullius Testikleez Eeasteez
Extremely good. Great. I want this to be my bridal waltz. If i ever convince someone to be my bride. Or perhaps it's better suited to the honeymoon 'waltz'.
hagen hennrichs
each musician here is doing perfectly... super solo by Larry Carlton... singing of Robben Ford on the dot...
Robert A
Unbelievably good music!
Dat Igboman
This is great stuff!!
john
Reminds me of a walk by the seaside on a foggy Monterey night.. perfect tranquility...