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"The Wind Cries Mary" is a rock ballad [1] written by Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix wrote the song as a reconciliatory love song for his girlfriend in London, Kathy Etchingham.More recent biographical material indicated that some of the lyrics appeared in poetry written by Hendrix earlier in his career when he was in Seattle.
Prior to the recording, the group had not worked out an ending for the song and bassist Noel Redding claimed that using the last IV chord was his idea. [10] Hendrix biographer Harry Shapiro suggests that song's lyrics were inspired by Heather Taylor, who later married Roger Daltrey of the Who . [ 11 ]
According to AllMusic's Matthew Greenwald, it is based on a "gentle, soulful chord progression [which] guides the melody and is an accurate mirror of the title and lyrics". [24] The song has been notated in 4 4 with one bar in 2 4 at a slow rock (70–72 beats per minute) tempo and is built on a chord progression without a bridge section: [25] [g]
[90] [nb 8] Whereas "Fire" is a funk and soul hybrid driven by Mitchell's drumming, "May This Be Love" and "The Wind Cries Mary" are soft ballads that demonstrate Hendrix's ability to write thoughtful lyrics and subtle melodies. [91] The influence of raga rock can be heard in his sitar-like guitar solo on "Love or Confusion". [92] "
For the American single, Reprise Records paired the song with "The Wind Cries Mary". [46] [e] It was released on June 19, 1967, the day following the Experience's performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. [f] The single entered the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart on August 26, where it spent eight weeks and reached number 65. [46] "
So when the album was released in the US, "Purple Haze", "Hey Joe" and "The Wind Cries Mary" were included at the expense of "Red House" and two other songs. [38] Hendrix later questioned the choice and commented "Everybody was scared to release 'Red House' in America because they said, 'America don't like the blues, man! ' " [39]
The main chord featured in the song is a movable major 6th chord to which Vaughan applies moderate vibrato with the tremolo bar. The solos incorporate the E major scale, the E minor pentatonic scale, and the E Minor blues scale. Its style is influenced by Jimi Hendrix ballads like "The Wind Cries Mary". [2]
"And the Wind Cries Mary" is a demo recording from June 25, 1979, and does not feature any vocals. [43] "Rubber Ball Man" is a song never officially released. An excerpt of this track was released on the box set Thank You for the Music. The bridge to this song was later used for the 1982 track "Under Attack".