In 1998, the band Santana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Carlos Santana, José "Chepito" Areas, David Brown, Gregg Rolie, Mike Carabello, and Michael Shrieve The band has earned nine Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards, the latter all in 2000. Carlos Santana won a Grammy Award as a solo artist in 1988. The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the world's best-selling groups of all time. In 2013, Santana announced a reunion of the classic line-up for a new album, Santana IV, which was released in April 2016. They are tied for having the most won Grammy Awards in one night.
Gipsy
Santana Lyrics
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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
The song, Black Magic Woman – Gypsy Queen first recorded by Fleetwood Mac, and later on covered by Santana, contains lyrics that some say represents the epitome of Santana's guitar playing. The opening line of the song is “Got a black magic woman,” and is repeated again and again, which conveys the theme of the entire song, that the singer is under the spell of a woman who practices black magic. The second line, “Got me so blind I can't see,” describes how the singer is consumed and blinded by his love and infatuation for this woman.
The chorus of the song is a combination of warnings and affirmations from the singer to the woman, begging her not to turn her back on him. He knows the woman is trying to make a devil out of him and is using her tricks and spells to do so. He warns her that she might pick up his “magic sticks” (likely a euphemism for his guitar) if she turns her back on him. The following line, “Got your spell on me baby,” further emphasizes the idea that the singer is consumed by the power of the black magic woman's spell, making his heart turn into stone.
The final line of the song, “I need you so bad magic woman, I can't leave you alone,” gives the impression that the singer is almost addicted to the spell the woman has put on him. The lyrics of this song, paired with the style of guitar playing by Santana, give the impression that the song represents more than just someone under the spell of a black magic woman, but the power of desire and addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
Got a black magic woman
I have a woman who possesses magical powers
Got me so blind I can't see
She has me under her control to the point where I can't see clearly
That she's a black magic woman
The woman I have is a practitioner of black magic
She's tryin' to make a devil out of me
She is trying to corrupt me and lead me down a path of evil
Yes, don't turn your back on me baby
Please don't ignore me or reject me
Stop messin' around with your tricks
Stop playing your games and using your magical powers to control me
You just might pick up my magic sticks
You might just end up with my curse or suffer the consequences of my powers
Yes you got your spell on me baby
You have enchanted me and have control over me
Turning my heart into stone
Your spell has hardened my heart and I am unable to feel love for anyone else
I need you so bad magic woman
I am completely dependent on you and your magical powers
I can't leave you alone
I am unable to break free from your control and influence
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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