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Brewer & Shipley — Witchi-Tai-To
Album: Weeds
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1494









Released: 1969
Length: 6:52
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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What a spirit spring is bringing round my head
Makes me feel glad that I'm not dead

Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah

Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah

What a spirit spring is bringing round my head
Makes me feel glad that I'm not dead

Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah

Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah

What a spirit spring is bringing round my head
Makes me feel glad that I'm not dead

Singin' what a spirit spring is bringing round my head
Makes me feel glad that I'm not dead

Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah

Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah

Ah....Ah....

[Begin Singing Round]
What a spirit spring is bringing round my head
Makes me feel glad that I'm not dead

What a spirit spring is bringing round my head
Makes me feel glad that I'm not dead

What a spirit spring is bringing round my head
Makes me feel glad that I'm not dead

What a spirit spring is bringing round my head
Makes me feel glad that I'm not dead

What a spirit spring is bringing round my head
Makes me feel glad that I'm not dead

What a spirit spring is bringing round my head
Makes me feel glad that I'm not dead
[End Singing Round]

Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah

Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah

Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah

Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah

Ah....Ah....Ah....

What a spirit spring is bringing round my head
Makes me feel glad that I'm not dead

Singin' what a spirit spring is bringing round my head
Makes me feel glad that I'm not dead

Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah

Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah

Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah

Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Whoa Ron-nee Ka
Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah

Ah....Ah....Ah....
Comments (284)add comment
 chinaski wrote:

Thanks RP!  Big smile! 



Yeah...its was the 70s. 
Posted 10 months ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
repeat stuff
Repeat stuff
Repeat stuff
Posted 1 year ago by Michaeljcovel    [ Reply ]
Crowded House =)
Posted 1 year ago by MarioMunoz    [ Reply ]
Thanks RP!  Big smile! 
Posted 1 year ago by chinaski    [ Reply ]
 jukes1 wrote:
I love this song. I don’t have any idea why.




 
Posted 1 year ago by countryrds    [ Reply ]
This one seems to drag - from about the 0:20 mark.


Posted 1 year ago by Jakethemuss    [ Reply ]
I've never written this on RP, but.... I hate this song and it's stupid lyrics. Who isn't happy to be alive these days? 
Posted 1 year ago by johnfiva    [ Reply ]
Well, Good Morning to you too
Posted 1 year ago by ddbz    [ Reply ]
 ice-9 wrote:


...and by "different chord progression" did you mean exactly the same?  I mean like exactly?   Just wondering. 


A lot of songs use a 1-5-4-5 progression like this song does.  "Baba O'Riley" is one example.  But "Sweet Jane" has a minor 6 (1-5-4-6-5) in the progression, while this song does not.  So not exactly the same, not like exactly the same.  "Somewhat similar" would be much more accurate.  But since most songs just use the 1, 4 and 5 chords, there are a lot of them that are somewhat similar to one another.
Posted 1 year ago by damonlazer    [ Reply ]
remakes are lazy, general rule
Posted 1 year ago by jjbix37    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

"Sweet Jane" has a different chord progression.  It is from the same year, though, but somehow I don't imagine Lou Reed would have ever listened to this, or at least not for very long.


...and by "different chord progression" did you mean exactly the same?  I mean like exactly?   Just wondering. 
Posted 1 year ago by ice-9    [ Reply ]
...teenage wasteland...it's only teenage wasteland
Posted 1 year ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
ohhhh Sweet Jane
Posted 1 year ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
 jambo wrote:

i think we should embrace the fact that they gave us one toke over the line. one of those songs you won't admit you like. 


I admit it!
Posted 1 year ago by TurtleMan    [ Reply ]
Branford Marsalis' soprano sax break in the first verse 
Posted 1 year ago by Foggymountain    [ Reply ]
Bumped to 9  .. it's just that kind of morning..

is this album any good?
Posted 1 year ago by Tylersmyler    [ Reply ]
Awesome song!
Dissenters, as with many good and great songs played here (usually the older stuff),  need to find a different  music feed to listen to because you don't really appreciate or like eclectic music.
Posted 1 year ago by yesnojoe    [ Reply ]
If you spent time in NW Missouri (home to Jesse James), near Tarkio, MO. (their starting place)...this song will make infinite sense. 

If not...then it may only make finite sense. 

You gotta go to Tarkio. 


 
Posted 2 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Posted 2 years ago by bubbalips    [ Reply ]
These guys played my junior high school back in the day. I still remember making goo-goo eyes at one of them. 
Posted 2 years ago by KCgalinMD    [ Reply ]
quite nice song but I would prefer to hear the Orginal from Jim Pepper or even better the Version of Oregon with Collin Walcott and Ralph Towner.
Posted 3 years ago by derandere68    [ Reply ]
 Rockit9 wrote:

3 minutes tooooo long.



Correction, 6:48 too long... 
Posted 3 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
did the Velvets sue? Should they have sued? Should they have been sued?
SWEET JANE.................i just don't know
Posted 3 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
This is great. Makes me think of a Hawaïan/Indian (as in India Indian) version of Wild Thing at times :) 
Posted 3 years ago by Egctheow    [ Reply ]
 jukes1 wrote:
I love this song. I don’t have any idea why.


maybe because itch-a-happi-hey-ha-song-ah-hey-ah
Posted 3 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
The original
Posted 3 years ago by zenhead    [ Reply ]
Loved this album and this band!
Posted 3 years ago by Slickamoe    [ Reply ]
One of the rare covers I like better than the original. By quite a bit too. But then the original is a jazz fusion, and I'm not a huge fan of that type of jazz. It's a lot more unique than this version though. Made me stop what I was doing and look up Jim Pepper.
Posted 3 years ago by smartn1    [ Reply ]
Makes me want to buy the world a Coke and sing in perfect harmony!
Posted 3 years ago by kazoo    [ Reply ]
Does anyone else hear the ghost of Baba O'Reilly singing in the background?
Posted 3 years ago by stretcher    [ Reply ]
One Toke Over the Line by....Lawrence Welk! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8tdmaEhMHE
Posted 4 years ago by Piranga    [ Reply ]
This is the actual album cover.

Posted 4 years ago by kurtster    [ Reply ]
For some reason, this is not the version of the record I remember from the 1960s....
Posted 4 years ago by cpwells    [ Reply ]
Agree jukes1 wrote:
I love this song. I don’t have any idea why.

 Agree!  Hear it and immediately smile...neat :) 
Posted 4 years ago by countryrds    [ Reply ]
Part of my comin' up.  Owned the album.  Played it endlessly.  Still great today.
Posted 4 years ago by bruceandjenna    [ Reply ]
 Isabeau wrote:
Witchi-Tai-To with a 'Sweet Jane' riff. 

I'm takin a trip around pluto. Ya'll talk amongst y'selves...
 

Am I too late to ask you to take some photos while you're out there?


Posted 4 years ago by haretic    [ Reply ]
 eyeball wrote:
10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and More! ... The Bloody Red Baron was rollin’ up the score!
 
HA!  Too funny
Posted 4 years ago by pinto    [ Reply ]
The original, Jim Pepper.
Posted 4 years ago by zenhead    [ Reply ]
your introduction should be a permanent part of this song
Posted 4 years ago by LaurieinTucson    [ Reply ]
 Tjerome wrote:
Wonderful to hear this joyous song again!
 
Agreed, there's something neat about this one, so I'll go +1 to 8...LLRP!!
Posted 4 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
Sweet Jane!?
Posted 4 years ago by kazoo    [ Reply ]
We should  all visit Tarkio, Missouri...the  birth place of the band.  Land of Jesse James!
Posted 4 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
 Isabeau wrote:
Witchi-Tai-To with a 'Sweet Jane' riff. 

I'm takin a trip around pluto. Ya'll talk amongst y'selves...
 

Uh… from what I can tell these were released at about the same time? Maybe Sweet Jane has a Witchi-Tai-To riff?
Posted 4 years ago by jukes1    [ Reply ]
Wonderful to hear this joyous song again!
Posted 5 years ago by Tjerome    [ Reply ]
Witchi-Tai-To with a 'Sweet Jane' riff. 

I'm takin a trip around pluto. Ya'll talk amongst y'selves...
Posted 5 years ago by Isabeau    [ Reply ]
fascinating track!  thanks for introducing me to something i would never (typically) listen to.  will check out the everything is everything version as well.

read this about the song:
Songwriter and saxophonist Jim Pepper adapted the song "Witchi Tai To" from an ancient peyote chant that he learned from his Native American grandfather.  "Witchi Tai To" was first recorded by Pepper's group, the short lived, Everything Is Everything.  The group's producers encouraged Pepper to express his Native American heritage in his music, and helped him work out the arrangement and English translation.  To this day "Witchi Tai To" is the only hit in the history of the Billboard pop charts (reaching #69 in 1969) to feature an authentic Native American chant. 

source: http://www.brewerandshipley.com/misc/WitchiTaiTo2.htm
Posted 5 years ago by lazylemming    [ Reply ]
Inferior version of Everything Is Everything original, which I recommend.
Posted 5 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
 cely wrote:
This kind of obscurity is the biggest reason I enjoy RP. 
 
Absolutely. Stuff like this always makes my colleagues frown.  I love it, though, and can't see any problem with this track at all.
Posted 5 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
 jukes1 wrote:
I love this song. I don’t have any idea why.

 

Same. 
Posted 5 years ago by Grayson    [ Reply ]
"secret" sacred song emergency depression times.
Posted 5 years ago by taklalaratar    [ Reply ]
I love this song. I don’t have any idea why.

Posted 5 years ago by jukes1    [ Reply ]
Ahhh, the band from Tarkio, MO. In NW Missouri.
 
We should all visit that place. Its in the land where Jesse James grew up.
Posted 6 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
3 minutes tooooo long.
Posted 6 years ago by Rockit9    [ Reply ]
Catchy... way TOO repetetive
Posted 6 years ago by 1000577944    [ Reply ]
i think we should embrace the fact that they gave us one toke over the line. one of those songs you won't admit you like. 
Posted 6 years ago by jambo    [ Reply ]
Man, you've got that right (i.e. strange area)!  Went to Centralia, MO one time and I kept expecting Rod Serling to step out and announce I'd entered the Twilight Zone.

idiot_wind wrote:
Ah...the band from NW Missouri. The town  of Tarkio, MO.    Strange area...
 

Posted 6 years ago by clickfaster    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:
 haresfur wrote:

"Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah" is a pretty negative message.

But it's catchy and you can dance to it => 6 


This album also contained a horrendous cover of "All Along The Watchtower".  Caution: You have been warned.
 
How would you translate it?
Posted 6 years ago by DeAun    [ Reply ]
10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and More! ... The Bloody Red Baron was rollin’ up the score!
Posted 6 years ago by eyeball    [ Reply ]
Ah...the band from NW Missouri. The town  of Tarkio, MO.    Strange area...
Posted 6 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
 haresfur wrote:
"Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah" is a pretty negative message.

But it's catchy and you can dance to it => 6 


This album also contained an unpleasant cover of "All Along The Watchtower".  Caution: You have been warned.
Posted 6 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
These guys were a great duo "back in the day" and they still sound great. Love that acoustic sound. Long live the vocal round!
Posted 6 years ago by BBoyes    [ Reply ]
Awesome... Bought a backpack from Mr. Shipley when I was a freshman at University of Missouri at Rolla, where he still lives. Groovy!
Posted 6 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
Holy Sweet Jane Batman...
Posted 7 years ago by Bert7    [ Reply ]

"Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah" is a pretty negative message.

But it's catchy and you can dance to it => 6


Posted 7 years ago by haresfur    [ Reply ]
This kind of obscurity is the biggest reason I enjoy RP. 
Posted 7 years ago by cely    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

"Sweet Jane" has a different chord progression.  It is from the same year, though, but somehow I don't imagine Lou Reed would have ever listened to this, or at least not for very long.

 

Posted 7 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
Jim Pepper - Witchi Tia To is muccccchh bettter
Posted 7 years ago by tonispizzeria    [ Reply ]
...to have heard this written and sung by Buddy Holly.
Posted 7 years ago by zedstation    [ Reply ]
Ah....the band from northwest Missouri. Near Tarkio,
Posted 7 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Shades of Pat Boone singing 'Tutti Frutti'!
Seems to me that if one wanted to hear some Native American music they could find a better source than Brewer & Shipley(?).
Posted 7 years ago by ExpatLarry    [ Reply ]
As I recall this was a cover.  The first airplayed version  a more Indian flavor. Sorry, can't remember them
Posted 8 years ago by savwa4    [ Reply ]
Ah, i have long loved this. someone recently played me some of the original native music this is derived from.
Posted 8 years ago by zenhead    [ Reply ]
Never heared this before!!
Posted 8 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
nope, no, na-na
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
 kctomato wrote:
May I borrow your chord changes for "Sweet Jane"?

 
"Sweet Jane" has a different chord progression.  It is from the same year, though, but somehow I don't imagine Lou Reed would have ever listened to this, or at least not for very long.
Posted 8 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
May I borrow your chord changes for "Sweet Jane"?
Posted 8 years ago by kctomato    [ Reply ]
Love this. Great fun and very spirited. Love the jangling guitars.
Posted 8 years ago by ncollingridge    [ Reply ]
As one who is fighting cancer this song is truly inspiring.
Indeed a beautiful and blessed thing to be alive.

Go in peace and share your love - we only go around once. 
Posted 8 years ago by Johnny-smooth    [ Reply ]
 owchita wrote:
Never heard this (or them) before. Lovely.

 
I'm convinced that if you listen to RP long enough, you will hear every song ever recorded at least once.

As far as I'm concerned, Bill can play this one as much as he likes.
Posted 8 years ago by horseplayer    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:
The "Best" of Brewer & Shipley?  I'd have to keep that next to the "Best of Mouth & MacNeal" or "Jigsaw's Greatest Hits".  I guess I've heard worse, but this is generously unpleasant, in a almost amusing way.
vw

 
"generously unpleasant"....  {#Roflol}

I don't agree with you but I love the phrase. 

As I'm listening to this I'm finishing up Joan Didion's "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" (have never read it before) and the song fits the drug-filled innocent rebellion and escape of the essay's take on '67 San Francisco. The pic of the tripped-out Bug works too.  
Posted 8 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Love this song!!!!
Posted 8 years ago by sheeelaaa    [ Reply ]
Mwah. Is this a Kids song?
Posted 8 years ago by emile    [ Reply ]
Smile is permanently attached to my face.
Posted 8 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
Can t stop dancing!
Posted 8 years ago by jimtyrrell    [ Reply ]
The boys from Tarkio MO...up in NW Missouri.

Check that out on a map. 
Posted 8 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
this beautiful song changed me when I first heard it as a kid, good strong spirit to it imo  : )  peace 
Posted 8 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Beautiful harmony, voices and guitar...nicely upbeat.
Posted 8 years ago by Sandra_Jacobsen    [ Reply ]
What a lovely song!  I would never have found this one without RP, that's for sure!   THANKS!
Posted 8 years ago by timesliphu    [ Reply ]
               {#Bananapiano}......good times !
Posted 8 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
Memories of dancing around a fire, high, with good friends, bright stars overhead... aaahhhh...
Posted 8 years ago by Jeff09    [ Reply ]
 heathenchild wrote:
 hagz21 wrote:
Maybe it's just because I'm Canadian, but I hear "sweet jane" is this song.
 
 Me too....

 
Me three, and not Canadian...
Posted 8 years ago by gratefulgator    [ Reply ]
 hagz21 wrote:
Maybe it's just because I'm Canadian, but I hear "sweet jane" is this song.
 
 Me too....


Posted 8 years ago by heathenchild    [ Reply ]
Never heard this (or them) before. Lovely.
Posted 9 years ago by owchita    [ Reply ]
Maybe it's just because I'm Canadian, but I hear "sweet jane" is this song.
Posted 9 years ago by hagz21    [ Reply ]
This, followed immediately by Paul Simon's "Proof" was a nice juxtaposition this morning.
Posted 9 years ago by drydiggins    [ Reply ]
 treatment_bound wrote:

Except this came out a year before the Velvets "Loaded" (which included Sweet Jane) was released.  

You don't think Lou Reed was a Brewer and Shipley fan, do you?
 
It's a different chord progression and a different key.  "Sweet Jane" has a four-chord progression, featuring a minor chord (Bm); this song has a three-chord progression (I - IV - I - V -with no minor chord).  Also, a live version of "Sweet Jane" was recorded 1969, but not released until 1974.  I wonder is he was a fan of Brewer & Shipley - doesn't seem likely but ya' never know.
Posted 9 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Thanks for playing my Missouri boys, gave me a big smile!
Posted 9 years ago by ddstanford    [ Reply ]
I loved this back then ->->
Posted 9 years ago by AhhtheMusic    [ Reply ]
 LeftShoe wrote:
The guitar sounds like Lou Reed Sweet Jane
 
Except this came out a year before the Velvets "Loaded" (which included Sweet Jane) was released.  

You don't think Lou Reed was a Brewer and Shipley fan, do you?
Posted 9 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
It s been raining here all week, enough already.
It s hard to cook breakfast and rain dance at the same time. Rating 8.
 
Posted 9 years ago by jimtyrrell    [ Reply ]
What a spirit spring is bringing round my head
Makes me feel glad that I'm not dead

big smile
Posted 9 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
The original was bad. This is terrible. {#Ass}

Where's the PSD button?
Posted 9 years ago by stargazer1    [ Reply ]
The guitar sounds like Lou Reed Sweet Jane
Posted 9 years ago by LeftShoe    [ Reply ]
wow flash-back tune!  WLIR late night had played some engrossing musicians through those trippy days  : )
Posted 9 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Sheer joy.
Posted 9 years ago by checker79    [ Reply ]
I think the 1971 version "Everything is Everything," by Donny Hathaway is better. It has more hint of authenticity in the sound. Although it is still not a Native American version. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAMKL2KKumo

Posted 15 years ago by evenso    [ Reply ]
There' springs in my head.
Posted 15 years ago by Captn_Pea    [ Reply ]
OMG!!! HAPPY SONG!!!! WHEEEEEEEEEE{#Dancingbanana}
Posted 15 years ago by clair    [ Reply ]
 ThePoose wrote:
Did they write any of their own material? Or were they like Elvis: an interpreter of other's creations?

 
If I'm not mistaken, they wrote quite a bit of their stuff.

Posted 15 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
dorky ass song
Posted 15 years ago by superfido    [ Reply ]
 aarrgho wrote:
say what you will, but this song (and several others from Brewer and Shipley) had a pretty big impact on me in the late 60's early 70's as I was struggeling to be a good hippie in the midwest usa.

they did a bunch of good songs......one of which, "Brain Damage", my band pertormed years later.
"Oh Mommy" is another that never gets played but is still relevant today....
 
I'd love to hear Oh Mommy or Fly, fly fly.  And you're right...as I look over their discography, I'm reminded that they were a prolific and well-liked band in their day.


Posted 15 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
Great, thanks!
Posted 15 years ago by onerb    [ Reply ]
off the wall   
Posted 15 years ago by higado    [ Reply ]
WOW never heard this one before - LOVE it!!

{#Hearteyes}
Posted 15 years ago by nimesay    [ Reply ]
far out man ... love that tabla ...
Posted 15 years ago by Gartholamundi    [ Reply ]
This song makes me feel glad that I'm not dead! This is a great singalong around the campfire song...segues nicely into almost any hippie/rainbow chant you can think of, too...
Posted 15 years ago by manzanitafire    [ Reply ]
 baltimorelovejoy wrote:
I think it would sound much better (and rate better to) if it were live, possibly around the aforementioned campfire, instead of in a studio.

Do these guys do "That's Amore"?
 
Only when the moon hits your eye like a big-a pizza pie.
Posted 15 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
Did they write any of their own material? Or were they like Elvis: an interpreter of other's creations?

Posted 15 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
The "Best" of Brewer & Shipley?  I'd have to keep that next to the "Best of Mouth & MacNeal" or "Jigsaw's Greatest Hits".  I guess I've heard worse, but this is generously unpleasant, in an almost amusing way.
dance
Posted 15 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
It is an irritating little song, isn't it? {#Lol}
Posted 15 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]