Purple Haze
Vyvienne Long Lyrics


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(By Jimi Hendrix)

Purple haze all in my brain
Lately things just don't seem the same
Acting funny, but I dont know why
Excuse me while I kiss the sky

Purple haze is all around
Don't know if I'm coming up or down
Am I happy or in misery
What ever it is, that boy put a spell on me

Random Man

Random man on the motorway
What are you doing there
Random man you took your coat away
That wasn't very fair
Where are you going
Where have you been
Did you have a nice day
Did you smoke some heroin
Random man, random man
Random man, random man

Random man on the motorway
I'd like to know your name
Was your car run out or was it towed away
Or is your pony lame
Did you have a fight with your bossy wife
Did she threaten you with the kitchen knife
Random man, random man
Random man, random man

Random man on the motorway
Have you been very bold
You look like you're just about to float away
You must be very cold
Did you rob a bank
Did you steal a life
Have you run through the fields




Oh Random man
Random man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Vyvienne Long's song "Purple Haze" are actually from the famous Jimi Hendrix song of the same name. The song describes a feeling of confusion and disorientation, likely produced by drug use. The singer sings about a "purple haze" that fills his brain, causing everything to seem strange and unfamiliar. He doesn't understand why he is acting "funny" and doesn't know if he is happy or miserable. The song ends with the memorable line "excuse me while I kiss the sky," which is often seen as a reference to experiencing a powerful high.


The lyrics can be interpreted in several different ways, but one possible meaning is that they represent the disorienting effects of drug use. The "purple haze" could symbolize the fog of confusion that comes with being intoxicated and the singer's confusion about his own emotional state. The line about kissing the sky could suggest that the singer is experiencing a kind of transcendent euphoria, but it could also be seen as a reference to the singer's own mortality -- as if he is suspended between the earthly and the divine.


Overall, the song conveys a sense of disorientation, confusion, and intense emotion. It is a powerful reminder of the power of music to capture complex emotional states and evoke strong feelings in listeners.


Line by Line Meaning

Purple haze all in my brain
I'm feeling disoriented and confused, as if all my thoughts are shrouded in a thick purple fog


Lately things just don't seem the same
My perception of the world has shifted and I'm struggling to find my bearings


Acting funny, but I dont know why
My behavior and emotions are erratic, but I can't pinpoint the cause


Excuse me while I kiss the sky
I want to revel in this psychedelic experience and feel as if I'm transcending reality


Purple haze is all around
The pervasive fog of confusion and disorientation is still present and affecting everything around me


Don't know if I'm coming up or down
I'm unsure whether I'm still in the midst of the psychedelic experience or if I'm coming down from it


Am I happy or in misery
My emotions are still fluctuating radically and I don't know if I'm enjoying the experience or suffering from it


What ever it is, that boy put a spell on me
I'm convinced that the cause of my psychedelic experience is tied to another person, perhaps someone who introduced me to drugs or who I'm in love with


Random man on the motorway
The artist is addressing an unidentified man encountered on a highway


What are you doing there
The artist questions the man's presence on the road or in their lives


Random man you took your coat away
The singer observes that the man has disrobed, suggesting either an act of impulsivity or desperation


That wasn't very fair
The artist expresses mild annoyance at the act of disrobing


Where are you going
The singer inquires about the man's destination, showing interest and perhaps concern


Where have you been
The singer attempts to learn more about the man's past or history


Did you have a nice day
The singer adopts a conversational tone, hoping to engage the man in small talk


Did you smoke some heroin
The artist makes a provocative and alarming suggestion, hinting at the possibility of drug use


I'd like to know your name
The artist expresses curiosity about the man's identity, implying a desire for connection


Was your car run out or was it towed away
The singer tries to puzzle out the reason for the man's presence on the road, demonstrating a need for clarity and understanding


Or is your pony lame
The singer employs a nonsensical and jocular tone, using humor to de-escalate the situation and establish rapport


Did you have a fight with your bossy wife
The artist speculates about the man's personal life, once again adopting a casual, conversational tone


Did she threaten you with the kitchen knife
The artist introduces a jarring and potentially violent element, perhaps as a way of testing the man's reaction or assessing his character


Have you been very bold
The artist poses a rhetorical question that could be interpreted in multiple ways, showing a penchant for ambiguity


You look like you're just about to float away
The singer makes a poetic observation about the man's physical appearance, hinting at the possibility of transcendence or dissociation


You must be very cold
The artist expresses concern for the man's well-being, noting the absence of clothing earlier in the song


Did you rob a bank
The singer poses another provocative question, poking fun at the stereotype of the desperate criminal on the run


Did you steal a life
The singer ventures into even darker territory, suggesting that the man could be a murderer or existentially adrift


Have you run through the fields
The singer concludes the song with a final question that could be interpreted in multiple ways, once again demonstrating a penchant for ambiguity




Contributed by Kaylee I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Lynn Lochlynn

So sad I missed this. Always classy. Very clearly the best NU acapella group; you guys are consistently the best in not only talent but song choice and arrangement as well.