You know that opening line. Everyone does. It’s been in movie trailers, razor commercials, and basically every "Best of the 60s" compilation ever pressed to vinyl. But if you actually listen to the Venus Shocking Blue lyrics recorded in 1969, you’ll hear something weird.
Mariska Veres, the band’s iconic lead singer, doesn't actually sing "A goddess on a mountain top."
Honestly, she says "A goddness." With an extra "n." It’s a tiny, bizarre detail that defines one of the biggest rock hits of the 20th century. This wasn't some deep artistic choice or a psychedelic hidden message. It was a typo.
The Mystery of the Goddness
The song was written by Robbie van Leeuwen, the guitarist and mastermind behind the Dutch band Shocking Blue. Now, Robbie was a brilliant songwriter, but English wasn't his first language. When he scribbled down the lyrics for the session, he accidentally wrote "goddness" instead of "goddess."
Mariska Veres, who also spoke Dutch as her primary language, just sang what was on the paper. She didn't question it.
The result? A chart-topping mistake.
✨ Don't miss: Adam Scott in Step Brothers: Why Derek is Still the Funniest Part of the Movie
It’s one of those things that, once you hear it, you can never un-hear it. The "n" is right there, nestled in the first ten seconds of the track. By the time anyone realized the error, the song was already a global phenomenon, climbing to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970.
Stealing the Vibe? The Banjo Song Controversy
If you think the "goddness" thing is the only secret behind the Venus Shocking Blue lyrics, wait until you hear where the melody came from. Music historians and crate-diggers will tell you that "Venus" sounds suspiciously like "The Banjo Song" by a folk trio called The Big 3.
The Big 3 featured a young Cass Elliot—before she became Mama Cass.
In 1963, they released a version of "Oh! Susanna" with a dark, minor-key arrangement. If you play them side-by-side, the rhythm and the "She’s got it" hook are almost identical. Robbie van Leeuwen basically took a folk-rock arrangement of a 19th-century Stephen Foster song and turned it into a psychedelic powerhouse.
Is it a cover? Not legally. But the DNA is definitely there.
🔗 Read more: Actor Most Academy Awards: The Record Nobody Is Breaking Anytime Soon
Deciphering the Imagery: Fire and Desire
Lyrically, "Venus" is pretty straightforward, yet it feels mystical. It paints a picture of a woman who is less a human and more an elemental force.
- The Silver Flame: This suggests purity but also something untouchable.
- Crystal Eyes: A classic 60s trope for "mesmerizing" or "seeing through you."
- Black as the Dark Night: This describes her presence, not necessarily her appearance, though Mariska’s signature heavy eyeliner certainly helped sell the "dark" aesthetic.
The shift in perspective is the coolest part of the song. In the verses, we're looking at this goddess on the mountain. She's "her." But then the chorus hits, and Mariska switches to the first person: "I’m your Venus, I’m your fire, at your desire."
It’s a power move. One second she’s a legend being described by a narrator, the next she’s claiming that power for herself.
The 1986 Resurrection
Most younger fans (or those who grew up in the 80s) actually know the Venus Shocking Blue lyrics via Bananarama. The British girl group took the song to No. 1 again in 1986.
Interestingly, they actually corrected the "goddness" typo.
💡 You might also like: Ace of Base All That She Wants: Why This Dark Reggae-Pop Hit Still Haunts Us
They also turned it into a High-NRG dance floor filler produced by the legendary Stock Aitken Waterman. While the 1969 version is gritty and bluesy—it actually borrows a bit of that opening "Pinball Wizard" strumming style—the 80s version is pure neon pop. Both versions are great, but the Shocking Blue original has a "haunted" quality that the cover can't quite touch.
Why "Venus" Still Works in 2026
It’s the simplicity. There aren't any complex metaphors about the geopolitical state of 1969. It’s just about a woman who has "it." Whatever "it" is.
The song survives because it’s a perfect "short-form" anthem. It’s three minutes of build-up and payoff. Whether you’re hearing it in The Queen’s Gambit (where Beth Harmon dances to it in a scene set a few years before the song actually came out—oops!) or a TikTok trend, it hits.
Actionable Insight for Music Fans:
If you want to experience the "true" version of the song, go find the original 1969 mono single mix. Most streaming services use the stereo version, but the mono mix has a much punchier drum sound that highlights the "Banjo Song" influence even more. Also, keep your ears open for that "goddness" line. It’s the ultimate "fact-check" you can use to impress your friends during a trivia night.
Next Steps for Your Playlist:
To get the full picture of how these lyrics evolved, listen to these three tracks in order:
- The Big 3 – "The Banjo Song" (1963): To hear where the "She's got it" hook started.
- Shocking Blue – "Venus" (1969): To catch the "goddness" typo and the psychedelic guitar work.
- Bananarama – "Venus" (1986): To see how the lyrics were polished for the MTV generation.