I put a spell on you/
Because you’re mine.

Nina Simone and Creedance Cleerwater Revival both produced definitive versions of “I Put a Spell On You”. The original, by Jay Hawkins, was just average. It sounds like a bad Halloween song. Nina Simone turns “I Put A Spell On You” into a song that about a scorned woman who is bound to get back at her man for wronging her.

Her man is cheating and lying, but she has decided it is time for him to stop. He belongs to her, so she is going to put a spell on him, because he is hers. It is dark, sexy and vindictive. And unapologetic. Simone sings it that way too.

An amazing aspect of the Simone recording is her piano playing. It is incredibly difficult to play what she is at the same time she is singing. The vocal part and the piano part are complementary and arrhythmic, and it is hard to do that at the same time.

Creedence’s version of “I Put a Spell on You” is similar, but with the guitar. Fogerty’s interpretation comes across as more angry. Like he is deeply hurt, and he is going to get her back. Simone is just claiming what is rightfully hers.

Also-is this the first use of the phrase “baby daddy”?

I Put a Spell on You Lyrics

I put a spell on you-
Because you’re mine.

You better stop the things you do.
I tell ya I ain’t lyin’.
I ain’t lyin’.

You know I can’t stand it.
You’re runnin’ around,
You know better daddy.
I can’t stand it ’cause you put me down.
Oh no.

I put a spell on you,
Because you’re mine.

You know I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
I love you anyhow.
And I don’t care if you don’t want me.
I’m yours right now.

I put a spell on you,
Because you’re mine.

You know I can’t stand it,
Your running around.
You know baby daddy,
I can’t stand it
‘Cause you put me down.

Ooo I put a spell on you
Because you’re mine.
Because you’re mine.
Because you’re mine.
Oh yeah.

Songwriters: Jay Hawkins