"Little Wing" is a celebrated song by Jimi Hendrix, recorded by The Jimi Hendrix Experience for their 1967 album Axis: Bold as Love. At just 2 minutes and 24 seconds, it stands out as one of Hendrix’s most concise and melodically focused works, blending rhythm and blues balladry with innovative studio effects1.
Composition and Sound
- The song features Hendrix’s vocals and guitar, accompanied by bass, drums, and glockenspiel, creating a dreamy, ethereal atmosphere1.
- Hendrix’s guitar work is especially notable: he plays melody and harmony simultaneously, a technique influenced by Curtis Mayfield, and uses a Leslie speaker to achieve a swirling, Doppler effect25.
- The song’s gentle, expressive solo and the glockenspiel’s bell-like notes contribute to its delicate, almost magical mood16.
Lyrical Themes and Inspiration
- Lyrically, "Little Wing" references an idealized feminine or guardian angel-like figure, often interpreted as a metaphor for comfort, inspiration, or protection14.
- Hendrix himself gave multiple explanations for the song’s meaning:
- In interviews, he described "Little Wing" as a metaphor for the Monterey Pop Festival experience, distilling the festival’s positive, free-spirited energy into the image of a girl who “just flies away”4567.
- Other accounts, including those from Hendrix’s brother, suggest the song was inspired by their mother, Lucille, who died when Hendrix was a teenager, casting "Little Wing" as a tribute to her memory and a guardian angel figure34.
- Some interpretations see "Little Wing" as a personification of music itself or even as a representation of psychedelic experiences46.
Legacy and Influence
- "Little Wing" is one of Hendrix’s most beloved and covered songs, with notable versions by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton (with Derek and the Dominos), and many others23.
- The song is recognized for its emotional depth and technical innovation, earning a spot at #357 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”12.
- Live renditions and demo versions have been released posthumously, further cementing its place as a standard in rock and blues repertoire12.
Key Details Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Artist | The Jimi Hendrix Experience |
| Album | Axis: Bold as Love |
| Release Date | December 1967 (UK), January 1968 (US) |
| Recorded | October 25 & 28, 1967, Olympic Studios |
| Length | 2:24 |
| Songwriter | Jimi Hendrix |
| Producer | Chas Chandler |
| Genre | Rhythm & blues, rock ballad |
| Notable Covers | Stevie Ray Vaughan, Derek & the Dominos, Eric Clapton, Sting, John Mayer, Toto, The Corrs23 |
"Little Wing" endures as a masterwork of emotional expression and guitar artistry, encapsulating both Hendrix’s technical genius and his ability to evoke profound feeling in a remarkably brief, beautiful song16.
