Jimi Hendrix - Machine Gun (Band of Gypsys)

Some more awesome Jimi Hendrix today. First off, I have to acknowledge this song is an acquired taste. The first few times I heard it, I was like "what's up with that shrill sound?". But afterwards I started to see it for what it is. A sad anti-war song. When he starts playing, you can feel the sadness of it all.


Hendrix also tries to recreate war sounds with his guitar. You can hear rockets, machine gun salvos, helicopters. Granted, you won't spot most of them when you listen the song for the first time. But it's a neat touch.

Again, this was recorded live with the Band of Gypsys (Hendrix, Miles, Cox). Buddy Miles again makes sure that the song has got more punch with his drumming. He also adds some lyrics of their own, which are quite heartwrenching.

Don't you shoot him down.
He's about to leave here.
Don't you shoot him down
He's got to stay here.
They shot him down to the ground.


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