This was originally recorded by Canadian group The Guess Who in 1970. A largely misinterpreted song, it is actually a tribute to Canadian women.
Just after the movie soundtrack was released, Virgin Records re-released Kravitz' album 5 with this added.
This won a Grammy in 1999 for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. Kravitz won the same award the year before for "Fly Away" and the year after for "Again."
Asked during a Reddit AMA how his cover came about, Kravitz replied: "I was called by the people making Austin Powers and they simple asked me to cover 'American Woman,' which I thought was odd but I accepted thinking it was an interesting challenge and did my best to change it as much as possible while still respecting the original. I was pleased when Burton Cummings called me to tell me how much he loved it."
Lyrics
Huh, American woman, stay away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Don't come hanging 'round my door
I don't wanna see your face no more
I got more important things to do
Than spend my time growin' old with you
Now woman, stay away
American woman, listen what I say
American woman, get away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Don't come knocking 'round my door
I don't wanna see your shadow no more
Colored lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else's eyes
Now woman, get away
American woman, listen what I say
American woman, I said, get away
American woman, listen what I say
Don't come hanging 'round my door
Don't want to see your face no more
I don't need your war machines
I don't need your ghetto scenes
Colored lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else's eyes
Now woman, get away
American woman, listen what I say
American woman, stay away from me
American woman, mama let me be
I gotta go, I gotta get away
Baby, I gotta go, I wanna fly away
I'm gonna leave you, woman
I'm gonna leave you, woman
I'm gonna leave you, woman
I'm gonna leave you, woman
A-bye, bye, a-bye, bye
Bye bye, bye bye
(American woman)
You're no good for me and I'm no good for you
(American woman)
I look you right straight in the eye an' tell you what I'm gonna do
(American woman)
I'm gonna leave you woman, you know I gotta go
(American woman)
I'm gonna leave you woman, I gotta go
(American woman)
I gotta go, I gotta go American woman, yeah