Deep Purple Mark 2 perform 'Mandrake Root' live for their Southbank TV performance on the 28th July 1970 at South Bank Queen Elizabeth Hall UK.
Ian Gillan spoke to Melody maker at that time "The Southbank thing was great, we got top billing above Blue Mink and the Settlers. The other groups played to back tracks, but we took all our gear and played live. Of course, as usual, the audience was made up of a lot of older people. Anyway we played "Child in Time", which is a pretty quiet one for us. It was funny - when we finished we said we were going to do a loud one, and half the audience walked out. Still, we were pleased to do it, the producer, Brian Izzard, gave us a lot of freedom and a half hour set. We didn't give a monkey about the people who walked out."
Lyrics
I've got a Mandrake Root
It's some thunder in my brain
I feed it to my babe
She thunders just the same
Food of love sets her flame
Ah, stick it up
I've got the Mandrake Root
Baby's just the same
She still feels a quiver
She's still got the flame
She slows down, slows right down
I've got the power