There are plenty of tracks out there about witches, the magic of women, and people who feel like they’ve been enchanted. Witches have been persecuted throughout history and have so many interesting stories to tell that it’s no surprise they show up in music quite a lot.
In this article, we’ll be going over the 25 best songs out there about witches and witchcraft.
1. Rhiannon – Fleetwood Mac
I’m not sure about you, but I’m mostly convinced Stevie Nicks is actually a witch. Her appearance on American Horror Story didn’t help convince me otherwise either. Although, she’s probably not a witch and has denied it on numerous occasions. Anyways, Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac is a magical song. Nicks says she wrote the track about a Welsh witch, though the song doesn’t say it isn’t about her. It’s also one of the band’s biggest hits of all time.
2. Witch’s Promise – Jethro Tull
Witch’s Promise was released in 1970 and made it to number four on the UK singles chart in the same year. Overall, it’s about a man falling in love with a witch, though her promise doesn’t end up giving him what he wants in the end.
Next: Songs about falling in love with someone
3. Black Magic – Little Mix
Black Magic was able to top the music charts in the UK thanks to its playful lyrics and infectious sound. The song from Little Mix asks what makes all the boys want them more than any of the other girls and asks if it’s because they do specific things. Apparently, the real reason is because of the black magic rituals they perform, though we’re pretty sure they’re kidding about those.
4. Moonchild – Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden rocks but they also go very deep with their lyrics, telling stories and including vivid imagery. Moonchild is the opening track to their Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son album that follows the life of one such man. The main character of the story is granted magic powers but struggles with what to do with them. Will they be good, or will they be evil? Only he knows, but for now, he isn’t sure he wants the powers at all.
5. Black Magic Woman – Santana
The Latin-style 1970 song by Santana made it all the way to number four on the Hot 100 charts. Unsurprisingly, the singer is bewitched by a woman who he can’t stop thinking about, and the guitar work in the track is magical as well. It’s yet another classic song that warns about how women can be enchanting to men, but Santana’s version of the track is a cover of the original written by Peter Green.
6. Witchy Woman – Eagles
The Eagles released Witchy Woman in 1972 and became an instant rock classic. The song warns about how enchanting women can be, especially those with raven hair and ruby lips. The singer can’t get one such woman out of his head, leading him to believe she must have used some sort of black magic on him.
7. Season of the Witch – Donovan
Not all witches are stereotypically evil. The witch in Season Of The Witch by Donovan is much too groovy for that. Instead of black magic, she uses her spells to spread peace and love, two qualities any psychedelic hippie witch would find important. The song was released as part of his third album Sunshine Superman in 1966 but has been covered by multiple artists since then.
Next: Cool hippie songs for a playlist
8. Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead – Sammy Davis Jr. and Buddy Rich
This song is an absolute classic, and I’m sure most of the people from my age group and up could probably sing it if they heard it come on. Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead first appeared in the film The Wizard of Oz as the town sang and celebrated that the wicked witch was dead. The original version accompanying the film was heard first in 1966, but it’s been covered and remixed by artists over and over again since then.
9. Waking The Witch – Kate Bush
Kate Bush already has a kind of eerie, ethereal quality to her music, which makes Waking The Witch even more powerful. It was originally released on her Hounds Of Love album in 1985 and follows the story of a woman accused of witchcraft and her subsequent trial.
10. Burn The Witch – Queens of the Stone Age
This song is an intense retelling of the Salem Witch Trials where several women were accused of witchcraft and then executed. The singer was inspired by the tales during a time he felt persecuted for firing another band member. It was his way of saying “what the f*ck is your problem” to fans, but most didn’t pick up on it and just enjoyed the track.
11. Witch Hunt – Rush
Witch Hunt is a slow-building song that creeps up the energy as you listen through it, just like it would sound to listen to a witch or sorcerer cast a spell. The track was released as part of the 1981 album Moving Pictures and focuses on the dangers of having a closed mind. The “witch” in the song is a metaphor for the evil of a closed mind and uses the Salem Witch Trials as an example of the point.
12. Sisters of the Moon – Fleetwood Mac
I already said I’m pretty sure Stevie Nicks is a witch, but this song really does feel like she’s writing from personal experience. Sisters Of The Moon is essentially her dispelling those rumors and lamenting the split between her actual persona and the one she uses on stage. It’s a deep, gothic track that reeks of emotion and is a pleasure to listen to.
13. Five Magics – Megadeth
Megadeth is known for its heavy, heavy metal sound, and Five Magics is a perfect example of them at their peak. Their success came right after the song was released in 1990 and opens with a bass guitar solo that slowly climbs in speed before the track turns into a thrash metal anthem.
Next: The best heavy metal bands in music history
14. Dragula – Rob Zombie
Dig through the ditches and burn through the witches. Rob Zombie’s Dragula is his most recognizable song and has sold nearly a million copies in the US. The track was released in 1998 as the lead single of his Hillbilly Deluxe album.
15. Witch’s Spell – AC/DC
Witch’s Spell is something you would expect from AC/DC, but it also has some deeper meanings behind it about becoming dependent on someone else and how that can cause damage. The track describes a man who visits a witch constantly to get his fortune told, but his reliance on her is harmful when it comes to their mental well-being, making the song also a strong warning.
16. Wicked Old Witch – John Fogerty
Wicked Old Witch was released in 2004 as part of the Deja Vu All Over Again album. It’s the perfect song to throw on around Halloween, as John Fogerty sings about all manner of ghouls, goblins, and magical creatures. He keeps his southern sound intact with a banjo intro that slowly melds into a southern-rock style of music.
17. Beloved Enchantress – The Moon And The Nightspirit
The Moon And The Nightspirit are a Hungarian folk duo that already has an ethereal quality to their music. Beloved Enchantress takes this a step further, as it acts like a prayer that’s meant to summon a moon goddess to help them.
18. The Witch Queen of New Orleans – Redbone
The Witch Queen Of New Orleans is directly inspired by and about the voodoo priestess of New Orleans Marie Laveau. The song did surprisingly well after its 1971 release, reaching number two on the UK charts and number twenty-one in the US.
19. Voodoo Woman – Koko Taylor
Koko Taylor was the Queen of Chicago Blues, and the song Voodoo Woman is one of the most emotional tracks she ever released. It’s a lament about being persecuted by those around her, and her raw, unfiltered voice adds another layer to the pain you hear in the song.
20. Brujas – Princess Nokia
For those who are unaware, “Brujas” is the Spanish word for witches. The song describes how the public is afraid of ghetto witches and is willing to drive them away. For her part, she owns the title and makes it sound like a pretty great gig.
21. Witchcraft – Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra is one of those classic singers that most of us have heard of even if we haven’t listened to him. He’s especially known for many of his swooning love songs, and Witchcraft is no exception. No creepy witches here; Sinatra just compares how falling in love feels like falling under the power of a spell. The track was originally released in 1957, but you can still listen to it on YouTube and other streaming services.
22. Which Witch – Florence + The Machine
The lead singer here, Florence Welch, would openly tell people that she was a practicing witch. While she seemed to give up on that kind of lifestyle, that energy and experience came through in Which Witch pretty obviously and made it one of the best songs about witches.
23. White Witch of Rosehall – Coven
The White Witch of Rosehall is a real legend, and it shouldn’t be surprising that it inspired a band that goes by the name Coven. The song parallels the story of Annie Palmer, the woman said to haunt the Jamaican ground of Rose Hall in Montego Bay.
24. Mr. Crowley – Ozzy Osbourne
Look, Ozzy Osbourne is known for some dark stuff, hence the nickname “Prince of Darkness.” Mr. Crowley fits that aesthetic perfectly, describing the magic of a magician who was performing magic with the hope that Satan himself would notice him and appear. The song was originally released in 1980 on the Blizzard of Ozz album.
25. Cupid Carries A Gun – Marilyn Manson
Cupid Carries A Gun was released on Marilyn Manson’s third album, but it’s more famous for being the opening song to the TV show, Salem. The lyrics and tone were perfect for the show, full of references to witchcraft with a slow tempo and a creepy vibe.
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As a contributing writer for Music Grotto, Dakotah writes and produces professional music/media content. He works closely with editorial staff to meet editorial standards and create
quality content for the Music Grotto website. Dakotah is passionate about music in a wide variety of genres, from hip-hop to country and lo-fi to metal, and he enjoys creating music pieces for Music Grotto.
