About the song
Jimi Hendrix’s iconic track “Machine Gun” reverberates through the annals of rock history, leaving an indelible mark on music enthusiasts worldwide. With its electrifying guitar riffs and soul-stirring vocals, this song encapsulates the raw energy and artistic brilliance that defined Hendrix’s career.
Recorded during the Band of Gypsys sessions in 1970, “Machine Gun” is more than just a song—it’s a sonic journey. Clocking in at over twelve minutes, it transcends conventional song structures, immersing listeners in a mesmerizing blend of blues, rock, and psychedelia. The live version, captured at the Fillmore East, showcases Hendrix’s virtuosity as he weaves intricate melodies and improvisations.
The context of the late 1960s adds depth to the song’s impact. America was embroiled in the Vietnam War, and social upheaval permeated the air. Against this backdrop, “Machine Gun” emerges as a protest anthem, a sonic outcry against violence and injustice. Hendrix’s guitar work becomes a weapon—a call for peace and understanding.
As the opening chords echo, Hendrix’s voice pierces through the haze, singing of turmoil and chaos. His guitar solos—fluid, expressive, and laden with emotion—paint vivid scenes of battlefields and wounded souls. The rhythm section, anchored by bassist Billy Cox and drummer Buddy Miles, propels the song forward, creating an irresistible groove.
The lyrics are sparse but poignant. Hendrix’s vocal delivery transcends language, conveying anguish, hope, and defiance. Lines like “Machine gun, tearing my body all apart” evoke visceral imagery, while the instrumental passages allow listeners to lose themselves in the music’s intensity.
“Machine Gun” isn’t just a song; it’s a sonic canvas where Hendrix splatters colors of anguish, love, and rebellion. His guitar becomes a conduit for emotions too vast to express in words. Whether you’re a seasoned rock aficionado or a curious newcomer, this track invites you to explore its depths, to feel the vibrations that resonate across time.
So, turn up the volume, close your eyes, and let the waves of “Machine Gun” wash over you. In those electrifying moments, you’ll glimpse the genius of Jimi Hendrix—a musical alchemist who turned pain into transcendence, notes into magic. 🎸🔥
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Lyrics
Machine gunTearing my body all apartMachine gunTearing my body all apartEvil man make me kill yaEvil man make you kill meEvil man make me kill youEven though we’re only families apartWell I pick up my axe and fight lik a bomber(you know what I mean)Hey and your bullets keep knocking me downHey I pick up my axe and fight like a bomber nowYeah but you still blast me down to the groundThe same way you shoot me down babyYou’ll be going just the sameThree times the painAnd your own self to blameHey machine gunOoooooooooI ain’t afraid of your mess no more, babeI ain’t afraid no moreAfter a while your your cheap talk don’t evern cause me painSo let your bullets fly like rain’cause I know all the time you’re wrong babyAnd you’ll be goin’ just the sameYeah machine gunTearing my family apartYeah yeah alrightTearing my family apartDon’t you shoot him downHe’s about to leave hereDon’t you shoot him downHe’s got to stay hereHe ain’t going nowhereHe’s been shot down to the groundOh where he can’t survive no noYeah that’s what we don’t wanna hear any more, alrightNo bulletsAt least here, huh huhNo guns, no bombsHuh huhNo nothin’, just let’s all live and liveYou know instead of killin’