Buckley often regarded his tenor voice as an instrument, a talent most noticeable on his albums Happy Sad, Lorca, and Starsailor. His first marriage was to Mary Guibert, with whom he had a child, musician Jeff Buckley. They divorced in 1968 and after this Buckley would meet with his son only once more. Buckley married second wife Judy Brejot Sutcliffe in 1970 and adopted her son, Taylor.
Born in Washington DC, Buckley,an Irish-American, lived for 10 years in Amsterdam, New York, before moving to southern California, initially to Bell Gardens and later settling in Anaheim in 1965. His experiences with music were through his family, artists such as Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland being particular favorites in the household. During his childhood, Buckley was a fan of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Nat King Cole and Miles Davis, although country music was his foremost passion. Reflecting this, at the age of 11 Buckley learned how to play the banjo, an instrument which his mother had bought to occupy him following a bout of mumps. He attended Loara High School in Anaheim, California, and, amongst others, made friends with Don Gordon, Larry Beckett, Jim Fielder (original member of Blood, Sweat & Tears) and future wife, Mary Guibert. He was an accomplished high school athlete, becoming a quarterback for the school team in addition to getting a place on the baseball team. During this period playing as quarterback, Buckley broke the first two fingers on his left hand but they never fully returned to normal and made guitar playing more difficult. At the age of 15, Buckley abandoned the banjo and moved on to the guitar, playing with Princess Ramona & The Cherokee Riders, a country and western band. However, the lead singer saw Buckley was uninterested and instead suggested he apply himself to the emerging 1960's folk scene.
Buckley's career began with his 1966 debut Tim Buckley, its mix of pop and folk rock drawing on popular influences of the time. His popularity peaked with second album Goodbye and Hello, a more mature record with avant-garde influences and political sentiments. In the three years that followed Buckley was at his most prolific and experimental, producing four albums of varying styles. Happy Sad and Blue Afternoon showed Buckley's folk roots while Lorca veered to more avant-garde styles. The final album of this period, Starsailor, is a mix of jazz, funk and avant-garde styles, representing his continual evolution in genre. This period, while garnering some critical success, proved disastrous for his record sales as the disparity of his styles caused his fan-base to all but disappear.
Following this Buckley changed genres again, with 1972 release Greetings from L.A., which incorporated the funk, rhythm and blues and soul sounds of the early 1970s in to his music. However, this release and the following album Sefronia did not match up to the success of his previous work. In 1974, having alienated much of his fan-base and squandered money made at his peak, Buckley released Look at the Fool, which was neither well received by the public nor the majority of critics. By this point Buckley had grown disillusioned with the music industry and his drug abuse of the past seven years had affected him.
In spite of this, in early 1975, desperate for musical recognition and an escape from poverty and obscurity, Buckley dropped his drug dependencies and engaged the musical press regarding a live album comeback. Buckley began performing material drawn from his whole career as a response to the desires of his audience, desires he had always spurned in the past. However, Buckley relapsed and on June 28, 1975, he overdosed on heroin. His wife Judy, having earlier put him in bed, was unable to rouse him and paramedics pronounced him dead on arrival. He was 28 years old and was survived by his wife and adopted son Taylor, and his biological son, Jeff (who also died at a young age).
Gypsy Woman
Tim Buckley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never know a little sooner
Casts a spell on me
Casts a spell on me
Casts a spell on me
Casts a spell on me....
Gypsy woman
Gypsy woman
Well, you were out trying to turn the tide this morning
Now mama don't you lie
You knew it was in the moon and you knew it was in the sky
Oh, gypsy woman
Tell me please, gypsy woman
Casts a spell on me, darlin'
Casts a spell on me, mama
Casts a spell on me, darlin'
Oh, gypsy woman
Mama, everytime you turn around the fire
Mama, keep me inbetween the devil and the sky
And every time you look my way
Mama how you hypnotize
Tell me please, gypsy woman
Casts a spell on me, darlin'
Casts a spell on me, mama
Casts a spell on me
That gypsy woman casts a spell on me
But if you come runnin' with desire
Oh, gypsy woman knows how to get your blood hot higher
Well, asked your daddy
Your papa wouldn't deny it
Asked your mama
Lord, she was quick to agree
I didn't have to fight your brother
And your sister's still standin' in line
Oh, please tell me gypsy woman
How do you hypnotize me?
We're gonna go down to the river
Walk in the water
Oh, we're gonna get all clean
Then we're gonna do, gonna do
Exactly darlin' what you
Came and set your mind on
Casts a spell on me
Casts a spell on me...
Well, you were out trying to turn the tide this morning
Now mama don't you lie
You knew it was in the moon and you knew it was in the sky
Tell me please, gypsy woman
Casts a spell on me, darlin'
Casts a spell on me, mama
Casts a spell on me, darlin'.....
The song “Gypsy Woman” by Tim Buckley is a love song about a mysterious woman who casts a spell on the singer. The opening lines, “Yes I come around, never know a little sooner, casts a spell on me” indicates that the gypsy woman has the power to enchant and captivate him. The repetition of the lines “Casts a spell on me” reinforces the idea of her power over him.
The singer asks the gypsy woman how she hypnotizes him, suggesting that he is completely submissive and under her spell. The lines “Mama keep me in between the devil and the sky” and “Gypsy woman knows how to get your blood hot higher” suggest that the singer is caught between a dangerous love affair and a thrilling adventure that the gypsy woman is leading him on.
However, the singer seems to be wholly under the gypsy woman’s control, even asking her to instruct him on how to act to please her: “We're gonna do, gonna do, exactly darlin' what you, came and set your mind on.” The lines “Casts a spell on me” that repeat throughout the song create a trance-like atmosphere that reflects the power the gypsy woman has over the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes I come around
I am a wandering man, who comes and goes as I please.
Never know a little sooner
I am unpredictable and spontaneous, and hard to catch before I move on.
Casts a spell on me
There is a certain gypsy woman who has the power to enchant and mesmerize me.
Gypsy woman
She is a mysterious and alluring figure, who has captured my attention.
Well, you were out trying to turn the tide this morning
You were trying to control the forces of nature and change the course of events, but you cannot.
Now mama don't you lie
You know the truth and cannot keep it hidden, so don't even try.
You knew it was in the moon and you knew it was in the sky
You are aware that certain things are beyond your control and dictated by fate and the cosmos.
Oh, gypsy woman
I am entranced by your beauty and mystery, and cannot resist your charm.
Tell me please, gypsy woman
I am desperate to know the secret of your magic, and to be under your spell forever.
Mama, everytime you turn around the fire
Your every move is like a dance, igniting a flame inside me that cannot be extinguished.
Mama, keep me inbetween the devil and the sky
You protect me from danger and temptation, and keep my feet on the ground and my head in the clouds.
And every time you look my way
Your gaze penetrates my soul and sparks a fire in my heart.
Mama how you hypnotize
You have a power over me that I cannot explain or resist, and I am willing to be your willing captive.
But if you come runnin' with desire
If you pursue me with longing and passion, I will be unable to resist you.
Oh, gypsy woman knows how to get your blood hot higher
You are a master of seduction and can bring even the most resistant heart to its knees.
Well, asked your daddy
I have gone through all the proper channels and received approval from your family.
Your papa wouldn't deny it
Your father is wise enough to recognize a good thing when he sees it, and has given his blessing to our union.
Asked your mama
Your mother has also approved of our relationship, and is happy to see you happy.
Lord, she was quick to agree
Your mother is very supportive of you and wants the best for you in life, and knows that I can provide it.
I didn't have to fight your brother
Your siblings are also on board with our romance, and have not put up any resistance to it.
And your sister's still standin' in line
Even your sister, who is known for being choosy and hard to please, is eager to be part of our happy family.
We're gonna go down to the river
We will seek renewal and cleansing in the sacred waters of the river.
Walk in the water
We will immerse ourselves in the cool, refreshing currents of the river, washing away all our cares and troubles.
Oh, we're gonna get all clean
We will emerge from the river feeling purified, renewed, and reborn.
Then we're gonna do, gonna do
We will embark on a new and exciting chapter of our lives together.
Exactly darlin' what you
We will fulfill all your wildest dreams and desires, and create a life of happiness and fulfillment together.
Came and set your mind on
You have chosen me as your partner for life, and I will do everything in my power to make you happy.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BUCKLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@WolffBachner
after 61 years of life this is still my favorite piece of music ever. saw him live many times. tim had the best voice i ever heard. why do we always lose the great ones too soon.
@futuropasado
The mystic and pastoral feel reminds me of Van morrison in astral weeks. Happy/sad is a masterpiece.
@iainbrown4069
Definitely very similar recording vibe going on Astral weeks November 68, happy sad April April 69
@Marco_Venieri
the best singers of all time
@WolffBachner
I'm 68 now and this is still my favorite piece of music ever. Tim had the best voice in music.
@brucelitvin3827
My absolute fave. Love the David Friedman Vibraphone,. I saw Tim perform the night before he OD'd in Dallas.
He was at La Bastille that Friday, here in Houston. as big a tragedy as Hendrix, and Bolin's losses were to me. Probably even more tragic by Jeff's following his Dad in another terrible demise. I always said there would never be another Tim Buckley, then there was, then there wasn't.
@cffalconer
Thanks for this story this is excellent really
@zenglobal8789
great comment..that's exactly how i feel...
@stefanofocacci
I'm aware I'm nitpicking, but the instrument David Friedman played on this tune was a marimba, not a vibraphone. This said, what about Lee Underwood's guitar work?
@pamelatodd9255
I saw him sing that song it a little dive in Dallas Texas. The next day he went home to Arizona and overdosed on heroin on his front porch. I still cry whenever I hear him sing this song and that was over 40 years ago!