"Roman Empire USA" Handwritten Lyrics by Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix handwrote these lyrics for “Roman Empire USA,” a song that was never recorded, on both sides of a sheet of Braniff International Airways stationary. He was likely in transit to another concert, and at the time Braniff had many routes in the Midwestern and Southwestern United States. The lyrics seem to reference the Vietnam War, which was taking a heavy toll on US servicemen, and was a polarizing topic of much discussion in American culture. 

Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter who gained mainstream prominence in the late 1960s with hits such as “Hey Joe,” “Purple Haze,” “All Along the Watchtower,” and “Fire,” and is now celebrated as one of the most influential electric guitarists of all time.