"The Witch" is a song by the American garage rock band the Sonics, written by vocalist Gerry Roslie, and first released on the group's debut single in November 1964 (see 1964 in music). It also appears on the Sonics' debut album Here Are the Sonics!!!. Arguably among the most frantic and heaviest recordings of the era, "The Witch" is regarded as being a quintessential stepping stone in the development of punk rock, despite the fact the tune never reached national success. Since the song's original release, "The Witch" has appeared on numerous compilation albums, most notably the 1998 reissue of Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968.

The Sonics were founded in 1960, primarily performing as an R&B instrumental troupe with a shuffling line-up. In late-1963 the group's membership stabilized with the addition of three members of a local band known as the Searchers. Among them was keyboardist-turned-lead vocalist Gerry Roslie, who they discovered could sing in a similar style as Little Richard. With the reconfigured lineup, the Sonics became one of the more popular live attractions in the Northwest, and received attention from John "Buck" Ormsby, who played bass guitar for the Fabulous Wailers. Invited to a rehearsal session at drummer Bob Bennett's garage in 1964, Ormsby was initially unimpressed with the group's selection of cover songs. A prototype to the guitar riff that highlights "The Witch" was played, convincing Ormsby to sign the Sonics to his co-owned record label Etiquette Records.

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