When I played God Bless The Queen, I was wondering if they was gonna dig us, then quite naturally I’d go on and try to get it together.

Hendrix is describing the improvisational, audience-sensitive way he approached performance. Playing a culturally loaded anthem like “God Save the Queen” (often misremembered as “God Bless the Queen”) could be a risk—he’s gauging whether the crowd will “dig” (accept) it. If the reaction is uncertain, he “quite naturally” shifts into the practical work of making the music cohere—finding the groove, shaping the arrangement, and “getting it together” in real time. The quote underscores Hendrix’s blend of showmanship and craft: even when he begins with a provocative or symbolic gesture, the priority becomes musical cohesion and communication with the audience.