In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
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In a gadda da vida, honey Don't you know that I'm lovin' you In a gadda da vida, baby Don't you know that I'll always be true Oh, won't you come with me And take my hand Oh, won't you come with me And walk this land Please take my hand In a gadda da vida, honey Don't you know that I'm lovin' you In a gadda da vida, baby Don't you know that I'll always be true Oh, won't you come with me And take my hand Oh, won't you come with me And walk this land Please take my hand
Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!
Written by: DOUGLAS INGLE
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
26 facts about this song
Origins"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" was released in 1968 on Iron Butterfly's equally titled album, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida."
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Track LengthThis song is known for its length, it is 17 minutes and 5 seconds long, which occupies the entire second side of the album.
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Unique Song TitleThe song name, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," was originally supposed to be "In The Garden of Eden." Rumor has it that the lead singer, Doug Ingle, was intoxicated while recording, and his slurred pronunciation of the title stuck.
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Chart PerformanceDespite its length, the song reached number 30 in the U.S. Billboard charts.
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Condensed VersionDue to the record's running time, a significantly edited version of the song, cutting down to 2 minutes and 53 seconds, was released for AM radio play. This version also scored a place on the music charts.
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SalesThe album version of the song has sold over a million copies, and the edited single version has surpassed three million copies.
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Musical CompositionThe long instrumental sections feature notable solos from every band member, with a long psychedelic organ solo and a drum solo being the most memorable ones.
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Pop Culture"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" has been referenced extensively in popular culture, appearing in various movies and television shows like 'The Simpsons' and 'Manhunter.'
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LegacyEven though it's widely considered as one of the first heavy metal songs, it also helped to significantly popularize lengthy, suite-like compositions in rock and paved the way for progressive rock.
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Live PerformancesWith the length of the song, it is rarely performed live in its entirety. However, when it is, it often uses extended solos, making it even longer than the original recording.
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Grammy Hall of FameIn 2019, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, which recognizes "qualitative or historical significance" of songs and albums.
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Record Ranking"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" is often considered one of the greatest classic rock songs of all time, and it reached number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968.
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Time DurationThe song is famously known for its tremendous length. The original album version of the song runs for 17:05, making it one of the longest songs ever to be recorded.
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Title OriginThe song's title "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" is a slurred version of "In the Garden of Eden". The band's vocalist, Doug Ingle, was reportedly inebriated while writing and the slurred pronunciation was the result.
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Single VersionDue to its original version's length not being suitable for radio broadcasts, a significantly shortened single of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" was released, which was three minutes long.
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Cultural ReferenceIt appeared on the soundtrack for the "Manhunter" film in 1986, helping it gain further cultural relevance.
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Impressive Sales"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" was the first album to be awarded a platinum certification by the RIAA, having sold over one million copies.
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Influence & ImpactThe song is often cited as an early example of heavy metal music and is known for carving the path to hard rock.
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Iconic Drum SoloThe song features a 2-and-a-half-minute drum solo, which is considered one of the most famous drum solos in rock history.
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Cover VersionsOver the years, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" has been covered by several artists, including Boney M and Slayer, attesting to its enduring popularity.
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Simpsons AppearanceThe song was featured in an episode of The Simpsons, where it was humorously played as a substitute for church music.
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Surrealist Music VideoA music video for "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" was made in the 1990s. It was influenced by surrealism and specifically by Salvador Dali's works.
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American Bandstand AppearanceIron Butterfly performed the shortened single version of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" in 1968 on the popular television program American Bandstand.
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Substance InfluenceIt is often noted for its heavy, psychedelic, trance-like sound, representing the substance-culture of the time.
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Unusual Song StructureUnlike standard songs, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" doesn't follow a traditional song structure and instead uses organ-solo and drum-solo sections that stretch the song to its 17-minute length.
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Instrumental Achievement"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" is widely recognized as one of the high points of '60s hard rock for its driving beat, the trippy organ and guitar solos, and its thunderous climax.
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Citation
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"In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/19496260/Iron+Butterfly/In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida>.
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