By Kevin Leland
This post is an assignment for my African American Literature class, which I am enjoying immensely. Thanks Professor Martin! It is a song I wrote, to the Don Henley original, “Witchy Woman.” Although the Lord’s name is mentioned in it, and although my Roman Catholic faith considers it a corporal act of mercy to admonish the sinner, this piece is not a negro spiritual.
I tried to imitate the vernacular. It’s bluesy and jazzy and has a hip-hop or rap feel and I wasn’t afraid to take the lyrics to the offensive and confrontational places they go in modern Hip Hop. Pardon me. My professor encourages us to take risks.
I’ll include Don Henley’s lyrics, which are sung like the original song. The original lyrics I wrote for this blog post are “rapped” a cappella to a beat, in between the sung verses. I’m working on a video that I’ll link to the post where I’ll perform the song. I dedicate this post to my ex-wives, two, true, witchy, women.
Raven hair and ruby lips
Sparks fly from your finger tips.
Echoed voices in the night
She’s a restless spirit on an endless flight
Woo hoo witchy woman
See how high she flies
Woo hoo witch woman
She’s got the moon in her eyes.
I ain’t got me no troubles
I ain’t got me no fears
That ol’ witch come a knockin’
I’m gonna block my ears
G’wan stand der knockin’
On my back do’
You ain’t gettin’ in
Cuz you just a ho’
She held me spellbound in the night
Dancing shadows
And firelight
Crazy laughter from another room
She drove herself to madness
With a silver spoon.
Woo hoo witchy woman
See how high she flies
Woo hoo witch woman
She’s got the moon in her eyes.
You walked up to my car
I shoulda hit the gas
‘Stead I traded my whole soul
Faw a piece a yo’ ass
Now I ain’t got me nobody
But I got me a life
Far away from any witchy,
Bitchy, cheatin’ wife.
Now I know you wanna love her
But let me tell you brother
She’s been sleeping in the devil’s bed.
There’s some rumors goin’ round
Someone’s underground
She can lock you in the nighttime ‘till you skin turns red
Woo hoo witchy woman
See how high she flies
Woo hoo witch woman
She’s got the moon in her eyes.
But your lips were sweet like honey
Yo’ fingers sticky for the money
Now it won’t be real funny
When you both inside a box
Cuz Jesus know what he be doin’
An’ He know who you be doin’
Da end is comin’ to all yo screwin’
Cuz no mo’ is you a fox.
Cuz yo’ tits are really saggy
An’ yo’ Pappa’s kinda faggy
With his high heels an’ pannyhose
‘Steada boots and socks
So whatcha gonna do now nobody look at you?
Yo’ stirrin’ up a witches brew
To get yo sistas’ husbands’ cocks.
Huh