That Old Black Magic
Sammy Davis Lyrics


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That old black magic has me in its spell
That old black magic that you weave so well
Icy fingers up and down my spine
The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine
The same old tingle that I feel inside
When that elevator starts its ride

Down and down I go, round and round I go
Like a leaf that's caught in the tide
I should stay away but what can I do
I hear your name, and I'm aflame

Aflame with such a burning desire
That only your kiss can put out the fire
You are the lover that I've waited for
The mate that fate had me created for

And every time your lips meet mine
Baby down and down I go, all around I go




In a spin, loving the spin that I'm in
Under that old black magic called love

Overall Meaning

Sammy Davis Jr's That Old Black Magic is about the intoxicating and all-consuming powers of love. The song begins by acknowledging the singer’s enthrallment with his partner's romantic allure, likening it to an enchanting spell. Davis continues to describe the physical sensations he experiences as a result of his partner's spell, including "icy fingers up and down [his] spine" and "the same old tingle that [he] feels inside." When he and his partner's eyes meet, he feels the same "old witchcraft" that he has felt before, and he is transported into a heady state of infatuation.


The lyrics describe a sense of inevitability in the singer's love affair as he seems unable to resist his lover's pull. He is caught "like a leaf that’s caught in the tide." Even though he knows he should stay away, he hears his lover's name and becomes "aflame with such a burning desire." The power of his lover's kiss is capable of extinguishing the flames of his desire, and he believes that fate itself has created him for his mate. Every time they kiss, he finds himself falling deeper and deeper in love, spinning round and round under the influence of love's "old black magic."


Line by Line Meaning

That old black magic has me in its spell
The irresistible force of your love has bewitched me


That old black magic that you weave so well
Your ability to enchant and captivate me with your love is remarkable


Icy fingers up and down my spine
Our passion sends shivers of ecstasy throughout my body


The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine
Our love and connection is so potent that it feels like a supernatural power


The same old tingle that I feel inside
The thrill and excitement I experience when I'm near you never gets old


When that elevator starts its ride
As we ascend to new heights of passion, my heart races with anticipation


Down and down I go, round and round I go
My love for you is a dizzying and exhilarating ride


Like a leaf that's caught in the tide
I'm swept away by the currents of your love


I should stay away but what can I do
I know I shouldn't give into my desires, but I am powerless to resist you


I hear your name, and I'm aflame
Just the mention of your name ignites a fiery passion within me


Aflame with such a burning desire
My love for you is intense and all-consuming


That only your kiss can put out the fire
Only your love can quench the flame that burns for you inside of me


You are the lover that I've waited for
I've been searching for someone like you my whole life


The mate that fate had me created for
It's as if destiny brought us together to be each other's soulmate


And every time your lips meet mine
Our love is renewed and my passion is reignited


Baby down and down I go, all around I go
I'm lost in love and completely consumed by you


In a spin, loving the spin that I'm in
I'm totally enamored and loving every moment of our wild romance


Under that old black magic called love
Our love is so powerful and intense that it feels like a mystical enchantment




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, JOHNNY MERCER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@stevenhernandez494

Lyrics:
That old black magic has me in its spell
That old black magic that you weave so well
Man I got those fingers, up and down my spine
The same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine

The same old tingle that I feel inside
And then that elevator starts its ride
And down and a down and a down I go
Around and around and around I go
Like a leaf a leaf that's caught in the tide

I should stay away but what can I do
I hear your name, and I'm all aflame
I'm Aflame with such a burning desire
That only your kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss
can put out the fire

You're the lover .. I have waited for
Hey you're the mate, the one, the chick, the thing
That I was just created for
And every time your lips meet mine
Down I go, Round I go
Like a leaf a leaf that's caught in a tide

Whoo Woah Woah I should stay away
But what can I do, I hear your name
And it drives me insane
I'm aflame with such a burning desire
That only your kiss your kiss your kiss your kiss
You gotta put out the fire

You're the love the love the lover that I have been waiting for
You're the one
You're the mate that I was created for
And every time you're lips meet mine
Well, down and down and down I go,
Around and around and around I go
In a spin, Man and I dig that spin I'm in

Foom balaka choomba
Old black magic called
You're a dirty robber
Old black magic called
Ho Ha stay in the car
Old black magic called
You four men go that way the rest of you come with me
Under that old black magic
Woah Woah Woah Woooaah



All comments from YouTube:

@envisiotube

I never was a Sammy Davis jr. fan, but this is the best vocal jazz performance I've ever heard. In my life. An I heard A LOT.

@johndelvecchio5245

Sammy had alot of talent.he was a singer a dancer a actor and a comic.He was very good no matter what he did .

@davidtaylor975

This is one original version of the song, sung and no doubt improvised by a great entertainer. I agree it is the best version of this number.

@bmh7777

Oh my!!!! Love love love this!

@HughMJones

I've been looking for this version, so glad I found it.

@Operetto1

What an awesome, powerful, beautiful performance! One of the greatest of all time for me - immortal Sammy Davis Jr. still so overwhelming after all these years.

@renatocamo

A true legend!!

@JB-ou4fu

When God made Sammy, he gave him a bit more than the rest of us.
The greatest talent in world history. Thank God for YouTube, he lives on forever.

@darrelljohnson1319

sorry dude sammy was mortal clay with a gift for Rhythm happy songs

@Marina-rh2jc

My favorite version!

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