Hocus Pocus (7:06)

“Hocus Pocus” is a 1971 song from Moving Waves, the second album by Dutch rock group Focus. It was written by guitarist Jan Akkerman and flautist/keyboardist Thijs van Leer. It was also released as a single with Janis as a B-side for the UK and Hocus Pocus II for the US.

There are no lyrics to the song. It takes the form of a rondo, consisting of alternation between a powerful rock chord riff and varied solo “verses” (in the original all performed by Thijs van Leer) which include yodeling, organ playing, accordion, gibberish lyrics, flute riffs and whistling. Focus recorded a special, faster radio version, which became a hit song. When performing live, the group would play the song even faster.

Hocus Pocus reached #20 in the UK and #9 in the US during the spring of 1973.

The final bars of the song are used as the outro music on the second series of the BBC TV sitcom Saxondale.

The song is featured in the movie The Stoned Age, and was used in a 2008 McDonald’s commercial featuring the web site Line Rider.