Lyrics Analysis

What do the lyrics in Voodoo Child mean?

Baby, baby, baby
You are my voodoo child, my voodoo child

"Voodoo Child": The woman singing is a domineering she-devil. She tempts men with her sexual movements and then controls them, like a voodoo doll.


You're like voodoo baby
You just take hold
Put your cards on the table baby
Do I twist, Do I fold?

But here the lyrics contradict themselves, which is a generic convention of dance songs, as the lyrics often don't make sense and there is a bigger focus on the actual music. "You just take hold" implies that he is performing voodoo on her, instead of her controlling him. "Put your cards on the table baby" implies that her man is a mystery she needs to work out.

You're like voodoo honey
All silver and gold
Why don't you tell me my future?
Why don't I sell you my soul?
So here it comes, the sound of drums
(Here come the drums, here come the drums)

This section attaches a sexual feel to the idea of domineering and being domineered: she wants to tame him but also wants to tempt him and "sell" him her soul. This creates a feeling of lust and mystery, as she is not just giving up herself, she's tempting him to control her by asking suggestive questions.

[Chorus:]
Baby, baby, baby
You are my voodoo child, my voodoo child
Don't say maybe maybe
It's supernatural, I'm comin' undone


Here we return to the idea of her controlling him, giving him a clear instruction: "don't say maybe". The word "supernatural" gives us an insight into her mind, as we imagine all the weird and magical things that she may want to do to him or have done to her. Also the sound of the word supernatural as it is sung in the song: superNATural, where the emphasis in on the third syllable, is fierce and sexy, and again encourages us to use our imagination...

[Chorus]

You're like voodoo baby
Your kisses are cold
Feel your poison running through me
Let me never grow old

This verse focuses on the magical aspects of the song, with "poison", and the last line worded like a spell..."let me never grow old". She is taunting and insulting him by saying his "kisses are cold", but also attaching sexual meaning to the "posion" line by saying it's running through her body. She wants to be young forever to taunt and tease him.

You're like voodoo honey
My pictures you stole
You play me like a puppet
Sticking pins in a doll
So here it comes, the sound of drums
(Here come the drums, here come the drums)

He is in control in this verse, but the lyrics are so that although he seems to control her, she has tempted him to do so and she herself is clearly in control. His actions are incredibly sexual ("sticking pins in a doll"...."my picture you stole") and she is highlighting how desirable she is to him, how he can't resist her.

[Chorus][x2]

Woo!
Here come the drums, here come the drums

[Chorus]

Baby, baby, baby
You just take hold
Don't say maybe, maybe
Do I twist do I fold?