Talk:List of songs about drugs

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Articles for deletion This article was nominated for deletion on 12 November 2006. The result of the discussion was Keep.

Contents

[edit] Songs that should not be on this list

[edit] comfortably numb

roger waters has said that the song is not about heroin, or any drug for that matter. if you have any amount of imagination you might understand how that song fits into the entire albums general theme. aka life is f*&cked up.

[edit] Accuracy - The Cure

Just gone over the lyrics and it uses words such as 'lines' and 'mirror' but I don't believe in drug context.

It reads more like a detached description of a bad relationship.

Can't find any reference on the web to the song being about drugs.

[edit] Brown Sugar

It's about the slave trade (in fact, the Stones were even accused of glamorizing it). See lyrics. It has nothing to do with heroin or even any drug.

Whoever put it here may be confusing it with "Golden Brown," which is deservedly here (the catch: really pure heroin is sometimes a light brown color).

I see that the main heroin article makes the same mistake. Should fix (ahem) it there.

Sir I see you're too radical. This is the most well known about heroin. Plus, realyy pure heroin is actually white. --El Chemaniaco 10:56, 20 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Shake it Up

I can't see what the connection is here. How is this song about heroin? It looks like a basic party anthem to me.

Daniel Case 28 June 2005 04:23 (UTC)

[edit] Lust for Life

Just because it was used so memorably in Trainspotting does not make it a song about heroin.

Again, one listen to the lyrics would show that it's a song about kicking, not using.

So, it is still about drugs, so it belongs on this page.

[edit] Time Out Of Mind

Uh-uh, not about heroin. It's a slap at late-70s pop mysticism. See here.

No. That's one interpretation, but it's widely known to be a song about heroin, even by Danheads. Why it currently isn't under heroin but is under cocaine for one single line is beyond me. 209.247.22.135 07:03, 1 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Nobody Home

Please! because the lyric "Nicotine stains on my fingers" is in a song means the song is about drugs?

[edit] Big Shot

Billy Joel was singing about a person who made an ass of him/herself in front of a gathering. This person happened to do cocaine among other things. This makes it a song 'about' drugs?

[edit] Zoo TV

Bono uses the lyric "I ready for the laughing gas" as a metaphor. This not a song 'about' drugs, it's about social culture/politics.

[edit] Mary Jane's Last Dance

It is just as likely that this song is about prostitution. The artists have not confirmed the song is about drugs nor is there a general critical consensus that the song refers to Marijuana. This article seems speculative and dependant upon interpretation. Without confirmation from the artist it is difficult to justify applying any definitive label to a song.

[edit] Sledgehammer

Sledgehammer is a metaphor for sex, not heroin.

[edit] Sweet Mary- Equilizer

After listening to this song for a long time (read two hours), i don't think this song is about marijuana at all. i mean sure it mentions ganja and cali herb, but that isn't the point of the song. if you listen, i think it is about a woman (whore?) the singer meets in jamaica, then leaves her only to find later in his life how much he missed his time with her. he goes back to jamaica to find her, only to find that she has passed away. vanis 02:14, 11 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Quibbles

There are a lot of songs that I think don't belong on this list. White Rabbit isn't about hallucinogens. Despite all the psychadellic imagery it's based on Alice in Wonderland. Puff the Magic Dragon is not really about marajuana like everyone says. See this. Tomorrow Never Knows is not about hallucinogens. It can be interpreted as John Lennon describing an acid trip, but most of it's simply takem from the Tibeten Book of the Dead. The (link removed) lyrics don't say anything about drugs or even seem to allude to them. Norwegian Wood isn't really about marajuana, either. It says in the wikipedia article that some fans say it's about marajuana, but no one with any real authority on the subject has said it's about drugs. Saying "wood" and "fire" in a song doesn't constitute an apparent drug reference.--Mattrichers 16:09, August 12, 2005 (UTC)

-to argue w/ you, white rabbit is about hallucinogens, it uses the alice/looking glass theme as a metaphor. also i propose the heroin-song poolshark by sublime, and geek stink breath by green day should be here, it's about meth. one of lyrics is "blowin off steam with methamphetamine" pretty straightforward. also the song greenday by the band is about marijuana, the band has confirmed this on numerous occasions, as well as mike d and bj's involvement in the meth scene during the recording of insomniac (which has geek stink breath on it) i would like to point out however that this article is really unnecessary in my opinion. the meaning of a song can be interpreted multiple ways. is this list just referring to the author's intent? one could say that dylan's rainy day women is a metaphor for "everyone has to get beat up / get put down" (everyone must get stoned in the literal sense of everyone must get rocks thrown at them)

I'm not sure what "quibbles" means, but I feel my comment should be in this section. Above all things, it's a known (often conveniently hidden) fact that "I've Got You Under My Skin", the classic tune, is about drugs. It's another case of double meaning, where "you" is actually heroin (or cocaine, I'm not sure, but certainly one of the two), not a person, as most people get it. Come on:
"so deep in my heart, you're really a part of me"
"I've tried so not to give in"
"It's never gonna go so well"
"Why should I try to resist, when I know I've got you under my skin"
"sacrifice anything for having you near"
"you never can win"
"use your mentality, wake up to reality"
"each time that I [wake up], the thought of you makes me stop before I begin"
- and the very "under my skin", which speaks volumes...
Isn't it enough?
Also, I'm kinda intrigued there's no Doors' song on the list. I can't actually think of one (the "obvious" Light My Fire is actually about sex being better than drugs), but isn't there any? Mescaline? LSD? (anonymous user)

[edit] White Rabbit and Puff the Magic Dragon

It's ridiculous that White Rabbit and Puff the Magic Dragon are not on the list while Norwegian Wood is. Personally I doubt "Norwegian Wood" is really about norwegian weed, and I would not add it to the list, but the other two are clearly connected to drugs. Peter Yarrow's efforts to distance the song Puff from drug use just shows how closely associated the song is with dope to anyone who can read between the lines. This song is about smoking no matter what the song's author says or even believes.

So what is wikipedia trying to do any? Regurgitate the offical sanitized version of the world where nobody ever says anything with a double meaning? Or capture cultural reality with its myriad associations and ambiguities? I vote for the later, and I'm putting Puff and "White Rabbit" back in.

[edit] Rules For Adding To The List?

I think we need rules for a song to be added to the list. As Pete Yarrow said (from the above link), any song can be construed to mean something about drugs.

Either the drug has to be named in the song, or the songwriter has to state it is about drugs. Or else this list can simply be an unencyclopedic list of songs that people think are about drugs. --198.7.245.93 18:31, 5 September 2005 (UTC)


---I completely disagree with you. "Cop Shoot Cop" by Spiritualized does not mention the WORD "Drug" but it is clearly about drugs. The world of drugs is rife with jargon and metaphorical references and in more cases than not songs are written accordingly. I think limiting this list to songs that only say "Drug(s)" or name a drug is useless.

[edit] VfD debate link

This article has been merged with List of songs about heroin after this VFD debate. Sjakkalle (Check!) 08:42, 22 July 2005 (UTC)

It will be too long. It will easily exceed the 30k limit; when it does I'll propose breaking it back up again. Do you really want to waste the effort?Daniel Case 18:40, 22 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] The Rules

The Rule stated at the top of the page states: "The songs in this list are about, or appear to be about, drugs. Songs that are commonly associated with drugs are also included. The list is sorted by type of drug." So, for instance, a song like the Beatles, "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," which every Beatle has denied being about LSD, is still associated with LSD. Therefore, a song like it or "White Rabbit" fits the criteria of this list. Also, one other thing, "The Needle and the Damage Done" and "Chinese Rocks" is about heroin, not cocaine!!

[edit] We need to Change The Rules

As it stands, the rules right now are unecyclopedic. The problem is all about interpretation. Puff the Magic Dragon is clearly not about drugs, the author denies, and just because a bunch of people think it is does not suddenly make the song about drugs.

As it stands, this list could simply contain numerous songs that aren't about drugs, but someone could construe it that way.

I think we need to change the rules for inclusion. Keep in mind, this is to keep the list as encyclopedic as possible - 1. If the song mentions the drug in it's title or lyrics (and it is more than a passing reference, such as in Glad by David Byrne where he says "I'm glad I smoked pot,"), or even just the word drug. 2. If the artist states that the song is about drugs.

If it meets either one of the two, then it can be safely included in the list. As the list stands right now, it is all up to a matter of personal opinion, which would be breaking the whole NPOV standard that wikipedia strives for. --THollan 12:54, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

I think the best criteria is any (strong) association with drugs or drug culture. The Beatles all said that "Lucy..." wasn't about LSD, but everyone else in the world thinks it is. Also, the song doesn't mention the word acid or anything like it, but the association persists. It would be terrible to take that song off the list, but it doesn't fit either of your two criteria. What we really need is sourcing on the less outstandingly drug-referencing songs. Dave 01:10, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
I think the problem with keeping songs that the authors say aren't about drugs on the list just because they are tied to drugs is suddenly we have entered subjectiveness. Articles should be written in an objective manner.
I personally am no big fan of lists of songs about certain criteria, since it opens the door for a fair bit of subjectivity, but I think if left to an objective standard, the list can do well. While Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is tied to LSD in many people's heads, the case is that the people who know best what the song is about, state it isn't about drugs.
Perhaps what is in order would be a compromise. Simply, make a seperate section on this page for songs purported to be about drugs, but are not actually (hopefully in less words). Obviously, we would need a very strict criteria, such as an automatic need for a source for any of the songs in that part of the list.
This would achieve a few things. For one, it would make the article more encyclopedic, since we are not putting songs like Drugs (which is clearly about drugs) next to songs like Puff The Magic Dragon (which is not about drugs, but people like to pretend it is), giving Puff credability. Two, it would delete a large amount of interpretation. Simply put, right now, this list is all about how you interpret a song. Many songs about having a good time can be interpreted to be about drugs. Finally, it would allow songs like Puff The Magic Dragon to find an appropriate place on the list, since we are not printing an outright lie, but nor are we totally ignoring a popular alternative interpretation.
Sample criteria: For the main part - The songs have to either mention the drug or use terminology congruent to drug use (a line like "I smoked and I got so high" would meet that criteria), however, it cannot be in passing mention (like the David Byrne song I mentioned above). However, if the artist says it is about drugs, then it can get into the list, no matter what.
For the second section: These song would require documented evidence that the belief that the song is about drugs is a popular one. So, you hear a song and think it is about drugs isn't enough. It requires verifiable evidence.
I think this is the best course. --THollan 04:06, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
I think a wide cultural acknowledgement of a fact is at least as valid as (and probably more useful than) a particular songwriter's statements about a particular song. The Beatles all say that Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds isn't about drugs, but acid is the first thing that comes to mind when thousands of people hear that song. Same thing with marijuana and Puff the Magic Dragon. I'm not suggesting that the list should be purely subjective. Note that I said that we should be citing references. It would be unencyclopedic to dismiss Lucy from this list because the people "who know best" say it doesn't belong. A lot like it would be unencyclopedic to exclude certain Asian countries (China, I think... not certain) from a list of nations with AIDS problems because its leaders, who purportedly "know best" say that AIDS is a Westerners' problem. Dave 07:21, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
The analogy doesn't quite work there. When it comes to any written word, the authors are the only ones who know what the song is actually about with 100% certainty. Since we are talking about interpretation, a very subjective thing, we have to use some form of objectivity. What you are mentioning is a government denial of a fact. We can prove a fact. We can get numbers of AIDS cases for a country and compare it to the rest of the world, thus discrediting the government's statement. However, when it comes to song interpretation, you start hitting some choppy waters. I am not saying take these songs off the list, but I am saying is that we should move them to a different part of the list, stating that the songwriters state that they are not about drugs, but a large number of listeners feel it is about a drug.
If the Beatles claim that Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is not about LSD, then it should not be placed with other songs that are clearly about drugs. It should be in a separate catergory. It would be more encyclopedic, since the authors, who are the only people who know for sure what the song is about, deny the ties to drug, but it does not dismiss the cultural views on a song. --THollan 12:59, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
What about if/when songwriters lie? I'm thinking the US in the 60s was probably not a terribly welcoming place for drug references. And the UK. The BBC banned Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds regardless of what the Beatles said. What consequences might they have feared for saying that it was about drugs, etc? Dave 15:46, 30 November 2005 (UTC)
Well, if you had conclusive evidence (not circumstancial), then that would be a different story. However, seeing how the Beatles probably could have come clean on the subject many times (including the Anthology series), the fact that they haven't really harms your agurment there. Plus, if you could proove a songwriter lied about that, then that would be strong enough evidence to put it in the definately about drugs catergory. --THollan 04:36, 1 December 2005 (UTC)
Touché, but it's not really our place to decide who's lying. What we have is a song that is culturally interpreted as a song about drugs and has been for 40 years. It belongs on the list, as does any other song that meets that criteria. See my last edit on the article where i reinserted Day Tripper. All those quotes on the page i cite came from after the anthology... Dave 19:38, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] introduction

never should the introduction to an article be a set of directions for wikipedia editors. that's terribly unencyclopedic and completely unuseful to readers. I have modified the introduction to be less instructional, but I think it could still use a good bit of work to be perfect. Help out? Dave 01:07, 30 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Comfortably Numb

When I found Pink Floyd's song "Comfortably Numb" on the list, it was under cocaine and I moved it to heroin, where it belongs. Since then, I found the addition about Roger Waters claming that it was actually about having to take a prophylactic injection against hepatitis. If you watch "The Wall" video, you'll see the scene where Pink is unconscious from a heroin overdose and is missing his own concert as a result. While "Comfortably Numb" is playing during this, Pink's manager (played by Bob Hoskins) arrives with paramedics, who break down the door and inject Pink with an antidote that makes his flesh feel like it's crawling with worms or snakes. Even though Waters may have been initially inspired by receiving his hepatitis injection, he wrote the song into the musical as being about heroin, as the lyrics and cinematic action clearly demonstrate.---BDH (Unsigned comment by User:65.54.98.106 01:24, 2006 February 16)

  1. The Wall is just one interpretation of the lyrics after they were written, and it's a collaborative interpretation at that. Many people can interpret many things in many ways (as is ably demonstrated on the rest of this talk page), it's arguably the whole point of art. I wouldn't take it as gospel if I were you.
  2. The hepatitis thing makes sense, at least in part. - "When I was a child I caught a fever..." etc.
  3. Whilst Roger Waters may have had the hepatitis inspiration, the song was ultimately written by both him and Gilmour, so who knows? Half of it could easily be about something very different to the other half. It happens. More often than you'd think.
  4. If you were to interpret it as above (as most do), it would have almost certainly been written about Syd, upon whom the character Pink was based, and he was in the middle of a breakdown and taking so many different drugs you couldn't pinpoint it as being about heroin or cocaine or acid or anything else. It would be about all of them and more, plus the mental instability on top of it all. The injection in question would've just been something to try and sober him up temporarily, as oppsed to being an antidote to anything specific. - MightyMoose22 00:50, 17 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bright Eyes

Is it me or is there an immense amount of songs about drugs by the band Bright Eyes on this list? This seems pretty suspicious, but I have no real authority to back up my suspicion. Anyone here Bright Eye fans?

[edit] Black Betty

I moved this song from Cocaine to Other drugs, since a "black betty" is a speed capsule.

[edit] Needs Tidying

...or begone, I think. MDMA needs to be listed seperately (or put "See Also: every rave song ever recorded" ;)). It's a bit long and badly managed. I'd hate to see someone come on along and nominate it for deletion, so heads up! --kingboyk 04:33, 12 March 2006 (UTC)

There needs to be a removal of songs that mention drugs. Only songs that are specifically about drugs (or could be taken as such) should be here... porges 05:54, 12 March 2006 (UTC)

...I agree, this is a list that's growing unwieldily. For instance, Big Shot by Billy Joel is not about cocaine! It's about a person who made a fool out of him/herself in front of a party who happened to do some coke among other things. RC

[edit] White Light/White Heat

I removed the Velvet Underground's "White Light/White Heat" from the cocaine list and left it in the other drugs list, where it belongs. The liner notes from their greatest hits album clearly indicate that the song was about shooting methedrine (methamphetamine.) Also, I stand behind "Big Shot" being about cocaine and belonging on the list, since the character's behavior and physical appearance in the song is clearly most influenced by cocaine.---BDH

[edit] Amphetamine / methamphetamine

Why not making a own section for "speed", i.e. amphetamine, methampetamine and related drugs? Because many songs is about it, and it's a common drug. (Bascically meth-amphetamine is twice as strong as ordinary amphetamine).

[edit] List of songs prior to 1965 would be interesting

1965 was the year it all turned conserning drugs. Overnight drugs became cool, rebellious and record selling. But prior to 1965 it was more looked down upon than pedophilia today. The average Joe looked upon drug users the way many people look upon psychiatric patients today. They shake their heads lightly and just sighs every time they briefly sees them. Drugs was unpopular in the same way the school's ugliest boy or girl is.

 Some of the few drug users back then was rock, jazz and rock musicians. Making such songs too once in a while. But most of the time the record companies would release it. They were very strict on controversal themes in the pre-65 days.

But occasionally a song got through. (Isn't there a blues song called called Cocaine Blues BTW?) I don't have the knowledge to make such a list, I admit that. But if someone has, please take up the challenge. It would be great to hear some of these songs from the true pioneeers. The ones that recorded and released those personal songs without caring about stigma, unpopularity, radio boycott and trouble with the record company.

"I'm A King Bee" by Slim Harpo would make such a list.---BDH

[edit] Bicycle Race

Where and how do the lyrics to Queen's "Bicycle Race" suggest cocaine use? I don't get it.---BDH

[edit] Captain Jack

I removed "Captain Jack" by Billy Joel from the "cocaine" list and left it in the "heroin" list, where it belongs. The song mentions staring at the junkies and says in the chorus, "just a little push (of the needle) and you'll be smiling."---BDH

It is possible to inject cocaine as well. and anything else that can be liquidised. Just because a song mentions a needle doesn't mean it automatically has to be about heroin. Danikat 20:46, 10 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Marrakesh Express

I changed the band attribution from the Hollies to Crosby, Stills & Nash. Though Graham Nash offered the song to the Hollies, they felt it was not sufficiently commercial, which was one of the reasons he quit and started CSN, which included it on their first album. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4134

[edit] I propose the "Bright Eyes" Rule

If a band or performer is not a widely famous/acclaimed act, it should be limited to no more than 3 songs on this list. I happen to be a fan of Bright Eyes, but when they have more songs on this list than Pink Floyd, the Beatles, Led Zepplin, Johnny Cash, Nirvana, the Doors, Hank Williams and the Rolling Stones COMBINED, something is seriously wrong.


Why? The songs are about or are metaphors for drugs. - Anon

[edit] Alcohol

I would suggest not including alcohol songs in this list - it could quickly become overwhelming if anyone even made a hal-hearted attempt to list such songs. Rmhermen 15:13, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

I believe alcohol should get its own part. There's no reason to put it in "other drugs". --El Chemaniaco 22:51, 31 July 2006 (UTC)


Why? The songs are about or are metaphors for drugs. - Anon

So? --El Chemaniaco 10:53, 20 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bright Eyes

Bright Eyes are one of the most acclaimed bands of this generation. They are listed so many times, as Conor Oberst writes an inordinate amount of songs about drugs. I say keep them

[edit] Format

First of all, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that I've gotten that out of the way, this page is a formatting disaster. Songs should have quote marks around them ("like this") and are the huge — marks really needed? If so then they should at least be the same all the way through. I'll be going through this page to do corrections, but it's going to take a long time if I do it by myself (school work). Anyone else want to chip in?Tartan 21:25, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

I've only got the last two sections to go through, but would anyone object to me 1.separating the last two sections into the different letters and 2. replacing all the — things with "by"s? Everytime someone adds a song they just use a - which means sections are formatted different if someone doesn't keep track of the additions. If no one objects I'll carry on with this in a few days. Tartan 20:50, 20 June 2006 (UTC)
I decied to go ahead and separate the sections, but I'm going to wait and see about the other thing. I'll do the "Other drugs" section soon, too tired right now. Tartan 22:26, 23 June 2006 (UTC)
Finally finished this. I must say it might have taken less time if I had some help... Anyway, I'm waiting on a second opinion about whether or not to change the dashes to "by"s. Tartan 17:36, 25 June 2006 (UTC)
I'd say leave the dashes. They look nicer, and they also easily and obviously separate the songs from the artists. Λυδαcιτγ 21:23, 25 June 2006 (UTC)
Ok then. I'll keep an eye on this page though to make sure all the entries use it. Tartan 16:42, 26 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Happiness is a Warm Gun

Lennon, in his 1980 Playboy interview, denied that this song was about heroine. John was honest and open about his drug use, so I think he should be believed.-June 21 2006

[edit] No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature

The Guess Who song "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature" belongs under psychedelics, not cocaine. Even though sugar may be thought of as cocaine, the lyrics say, "Silent footsteps crowdin' me. Sudden darkness, but I can see." The second part is even clearer, speaking about tripping back to places you've been to. Also, I removed "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds" from the cocaine list, since it is well known to be about LSD. 65.151.161.141 01:35, 6 July 2006 (UTC)


[edit] St. Jimmy

The only line of the song that talks about drugs goes: "Cigarettes and ramen and a little bag of dope" . I beleive the bag of dope is a bag of marijuana isntead of a bag of cocaine. ¿Should it be moved to marijuana instead of cocaine?

[edit] Ecstasy

There are ecstasy songs citaded in both "other drugs" and "psychedelic" parts. --El Chemaniaco 22:52, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

A similar problem occurs several times. For example the song "Beautiful Disease" by Duff McKagan is in the alcohol section, but the song "Then And Now", which is about exactly the same incident is listed under other drugs.
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