This, That, and the Other

For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday theme, Jim Adams has given us Haunted, Magic, Mystery, Supernatural, and Trick. It took me about two seconds to think of “Do You Believe In Magic” by The Lovin’ Spoonful.

“Do You Believe In Magic” was written by John Sebastian and released by his group, The Lovin’ Spoonful, in 1965. It was the first single from the band’s debut studio album, Do You Believe in Magic. The single peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that year.

The magic referenced in the title is the power of music to supply happiness and freedom to both those who make it and those who listen to it. Sebastian said that on one particular night as the band was playing at local club in Greenwich Village, he looked out in the audience and saw this beautiful 16-year-old girl just dancing the night away. He remembered thinking that the young girl symbolized the fact that their audience was changing and it was like magic. He wrote the song the next day.

Here are the lyrics to “Do You Believe In Magic.”

Do you believe in magic in a young girl’s heart
How the music can free her, whenever it starts
And it’s magic, if the music is groovy
It makes you feel happy like an old-time movie
I’ll tell you about the magic, and it’ll free your soul
But it’s like trying to tell a stranger ’bout rock and roll

If you believe in magic don’t bother to choose
If it’s jug band music or rhythm and blues
Just go and listen it’ll start with a smile
It won’t wipe off your face no matter how hard you try
Your feet start tapping and you can’t seem to find
How you got there, so just blow your mind

If you believe in magic, come along with me
We’ll dance until morning ’til there’s just you and me
And maybe, if the music is right
I’ll meet you tomorrow, sort of late at night
And we’ll go dancing, baby, then you’ll see
How the magic’s in the music and the music’s in me

Yeah, do you believe in magic
Yeah, believe in the magic of a young girl’s soul
Believe in the magic of rock and roll
Believe in the magic that can set you free
Ohh, talking ’bout magic

Do you believe like I believe Do you believe in magic
Do you believe like I believe Do you believe, believer
Do you believe like I believe Do you believe in magic