Jimi Hendrix’s song “The Wind Cries Mary” has a surprising backstory. While it’s known for its emotional depth, this classic was inspired by something as simple as mashed potatoes. The song emerged after a disagreement between Hendrix and his girlfriend, Kathy Mary Etchingham, about her cooking.
In her book, Through Gypsy Eyes, Etchingham shares how a fight over lumpy mashed potatoes sparked the creation of this iconic track. She recounted feeling upset after Hendrix criticized her cooking. In a moment of frustration, she smashed the plate on the floor. The argument was intense—she even mentioned hitting Hendrix with a frying pan during the spat about the potatoes.
Interestingly, this wasn’t just a one-time argument. In interviews, Etchingham revealed that Hendrix’s main issue was that the potatoes were too lumpy. It’s ironic to think that if she had smoothed them out, we might not have this legendary song.
Now, some people question whether mashed potatoes could really inspire such a powerful song. According to the book Jimi Hendrix: The Stories Behind the Songs, parts of the lyrics were drawn from a poem Hendrix had written for another girlfriend, Mary Washington. However, the official Jimi Hendrix website confirms that “The Wind Cries Mary” is indeed linked to the argument with Etchingham. She playfully noted that they would call each other by their middle names—Hendrix was “Marshall,” and she was “Mary.”
Further affirming the mashed potatoes story, Hendrix had expressed his mixed feelings about British cuisine in a 1967 interview. He described it, mentioning that mashed potatoes accompanied nearly every meal, and he wasn’t a fan. This comment serves as a humorous insight into his frustrations with food during that time.
So, in a twist of fate, a culinary squabble led to one of the most memorable songs of the 1960s. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most profound artistic expressions can emerge from the most unexpected moments.
