‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ (derived from ‘In the Garden of Eden’) is a song recorded by Iron Butterfly, written by band member Doug Ingle and released on their 1968 album of the same name. At slightly over 17 minutes, it occupies the entire second side of the album. The lyrics, a love song from the biblical Adam to his mate Eve, are simple and are heard only at the beginning and the end. The middle of the song features a two-and-a-half-minute Ron Bushy drum solo.
The title was supposed to be ‘In The Garden Of Eden.’ Drummer Ron Bushy wrote it down as ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ because he couldn't understand was vocalist Doug Ingle was singing. Their record company was OK with the title because it sounds exotic and Eastern spirituality was big at the time, with The Beatles going to India and The Rolling Stones experimenting with Indian instruments.
A 2-minute-52-second 45-rpm version of ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ was Iron Butterfly's only song to reach the top 40, reaching number 30, while the album itself reached number four on the album chart and sold over 30 million copies. An 8-minute-20-second edit of the song was included in the soundtrack to the 1986 film Manhunter. In 2009, it was named the 24th-greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1. It is also often regarded as an influence on heavy metal music and one of the firsts of the genre.
Even though nearly all of Iron Butterfly's songs were quite structured, the idea of turning the minute-and-a-half-long ballad into an extended jam emerged very early; Jeff Beck claims that when he saw Iron Butterfly perform at the Galaxy Club on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles in April 1967, half a year before the band recorded their first album, their entire second set consisted of a 35-minute-long version of ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’. The track was recorded at Ultrasonic Studios in Hempstead, Long Island, New York.
Labels – Atco, Atlantic
Songwriter – Doug Ingle
Producer – Jim Hilton
SONG LYRICS
In-a-gadda-da-vida, honeyDon't you know that I'm loving 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 a-take my hand?
Oh, won't you come with me
And a-walk this land?
Please take my hand
Let me tell you now
In-a-gadda-da-vida, honey
Don't you know that I'm loving 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 a-take my hand?
Oh, won't you come with me
And a-walk this land?
Please take my hand
Guitar, huh!
Come on, run, man, come on, ha!
[Instrumental Break 02:12-15:29]
Two, three, four, huh!
In-a-gadda-da-vida, honey
Don't you know that I'm loving 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 a-take my hand?
Oh, won't you come with me
And a-walk this land?
Please take my hand
Huh, huh
All right, uh, hey, ha!