Well, I stand up next to a mountain
And i chop it down with the edge of my hand

Yeah

Well, i stand up next to a mountain
And i chop it down with the edge of my hand
Well, i pick up all the pieces and make an island
Might even raise a little sand

Yeah

'Cause i'm a voodoo child
Lord knows i'm a voodoo child baby
I want to say one more last thing
I didn't mean to take up all your sweet time
I'll give it right back to ya one of these days

Hahaha

I said i didn't mean to take up all your sweet time
I'll give it right back one of these days

Oh yeah

If i don't meet you no more in this world then uh
I'll meet ya on the next one
And don't be late
Don't be late

'Cause i'm a voodoo child voodoo child
Lord knows i'm a voodoo child

Hey hey hey

I'm a voodoo child baby
I don't take no for an answer

Question no
Yeah


Lyrics submitted by

Voodoo Child (Slight Return) song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

103 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    General Comment

    can't people stop declaring their stupid bullshit praise and just interpret the song? that's what this site is for, REMEMBER?

    vexedprogenyon May 15, 2004   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    god i wish i lived to see jimi

    sean7711on July 22, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I think it means he feels great: when you are spiritually enlightened you are supposed to be able to move mountains. Chopping 'em down with your hand is just a step further.

    He is fully enjoying life and becaus eof that he misses quite some appointments. But he promises to make it up in the future. And if he passes away before you, he makes you keep an appointment for which you for sure are gonna 'be late!' So you have to make up the lame excuse in stead of him.

    I really don't see how people get that wrestling thing out of this song... Could some one clarify that>

    McPhlipon December 11, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Actually, "roger wilco" is incorrect. There are two similarly named songs on the "Electric Ladyland" album which is probably causing the confusion. One is "Voodoo Chile" and the other "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)". The lyrics for the latter are shown here above. Also of possible interest is that Steve Winwood played Organ and Jack Cassidy played Bass on "Voodoo Chile"

    soundmanon August 20, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    i once read somewhere that chile meant that it was the product of something hence meaning hendrix was the product of voodoo but i cant find anything to back that definition of chile up so i dont know but i dont think it means chile he uses chile again in highway chile

    robopatroloon February 01, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Best song ever kinda lol well anyway i love jimi hendrix and saw him live at woodstock and filmore east new yrs i forget what year & i was trippn on some bad acid but he was great and i got the whole section i was in to scream voodoo child or chile or whatever i wanted to hear this version but it was the encore already so he played the other one - in anycase he looked at me and i felt like he brought me with him on the eagles wing to the outskirts of infinity.

    SoCalicoon July 28, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Those guitar solos are friggin incredible. I love Jimi Hendrix. He was a god.

    SenselessNoiseon April 20, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I have a problem here.I know that Jimi Hendrix intended for this song to be titled Voodoo Chile.Why does it turn up everywhere as Voodoo Child?That is confusing.One person I talked to even thought Voodoo Chile was Voodoo Chili.Voodoo Chile is the correct title though isn't it?

    IronHornon May 08, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    there are 2 song on the Electric Ladyland album of the sam title, the Voodoo Child (slight return) metal sound'n blitz...and the blues beauty "Voodoo Chile" but this is just a bad ass blues song with some free associated type lyrics...

    keithkampbellon May 12, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    God... Hendrix was simply amazing on guitar, plus it's the entrance theme of the Hulkster so it's definately one of my favorite songs.

    mrtscon May 14, 2002   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.