# Are these songs pro or anti drug? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 19, 2007, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-songs-pro-or-anti-drug/423291 "2007-10-19T13:44:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-songs-pro-or-anti-drug/423291/1 "2007-10-19T13:44:26Z")
The Temptation’s Cloud Nine. I think it isn’t so much a pro-drug song as an anti-fucked-up ghetto life song. It’s so bad growing up there and living there that you may as well take drugs. Afroman’s Because I Got High. I can’t believe how many people think this is an anti-pot song. Afroman is obviously being sarcastic about all the bad things that happened to him because he was high. At least it’s obvious to me. White Rabbit. I think it’s supposed to be pro drug but, damn, that song scares the crap out of me. Why would anyone want to be so not in control of themselves? ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-songs-pro-or-anti-drug/423291/2 "2007-10-19T13:57:30Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] White Rabbit. I think it’s supposed to be pro drug but, damn, that song scares the crap out of me. Why would anyone want to be so not in control of themselves? [/QUOTE] Have you no sense of adventure? ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-songs-pro-or-anti-drug/423291/3 "2007-10-19T14:01:42Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] Afroman’s Because I Got High. I can’t believe how many people think this is an anti-pot song. Afroman is obviously being sarcastic about all the bad things that happened to him because he was high. At least it’s obvious to me. [/QUOTE] Same here. Jay and Silent Bob are in the freaking video, that’s gotta be a nod and wink. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-songs-pro-or-anti-drug/423291/4 "2007-10-19T14:36:31Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] White Rabbit. I think it’s supposed to be pro drug but, damn, that song scares the crap out of me. Why would anyone want to be so not in control of themselves? [/QUOTE] I think the members of Jefferson Airplane probably thought that was great, but yeah, it kind of freaks me out too. It is at least anti-pharmaceutical drugs, since “the ones that Mother gives you / don’t do anything at all.” In any event, I don’t think I’ll be asking Alice anytime soon. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-songs-pro-or-anti-drug/423291/5 "2007-10-19T14:37:47Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] White Rabbit. I think it’s supposed to be pro drug but, damn, that song scares the crap out of me. Why would anyone want to be so not in control of themselves? [/QUOTE] You should read the part in “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” where Hunter’s attorney is listening to White Rabbit in the bathtub. Good times! ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-songs-pro-or-anti-drug/423291/6 "2007-10-19T14:41:11Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] The Temptation’s Cloud Nine. I think it isn’t so much a pro-drug song as an anti-fucked-up ghetto life song. It’s so bad growing up there and living there that you may as well take drugs. Afroman’s Because I Got High. I can’t believe how many people think this is an anti-pot song. Afroman is obviously being sarcastic about all the bad things that happened to him because he was high. At least it’s obvious to me. White Rabbit. I think it’s supposed to be pro drug but, damn, that song scares the crap out of me. Why would anyone want to be so not in control of themselves? [/QUOTE] I’m not familiar with song #2, but as far as #1 and #3 go, I don’t consider them either pro- or anti-drug. More of an observation kind of thing that allows the listener to decide whether its a good thing or a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-songs-pro-or-anti-drug/423291/7 "2007-10-19T15:11:03Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] I’m not familiar with song #2, but as far as #1 and #3 go, I don’t consider them either pro- or anti-drug. More of an observation kind of thing that allows the listener to decide whether its a good thing or a bad thing. [/QUOTE] Song #2 is Blur, no? Just joshin’. Because I Got High is a Hip Hop/Urban song in which Afroman laments on how weed made him fail school, lose his job, lose his wife and kids, lose the use of his legs. . . I think it’s funny. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-songs-pro-or-anti-drug/423291/8 "2007-10-19T15:48:18Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] Song #2 is Blur, no? Just joshin’. Because I Got High is a Hip Hop/Urban song in which Afroman laments on how weed made him fail school, lose his job, lose his wife and kids, lose the use of his legs. . . I think it’s funny. [/QUOTE] Okay…the jury’s in. I’m officially and irrevocably wedged into Geezerdom. I need to get out more. Sounds pro-drug to me! In a “Oh my god can we stop demonizing it already?” kind of way. ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-songs-pro-or-anti-drug/423291/9 "2007-10-19T16:06:50Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] The Temptation’s Cloud Nine. I think it isn’t so much a pro-drug song as an anti-fucked-up ghetto life song. It’s so bad growing up there and living there that you may as well take drugs. [/QUOTE] It’s been a while since I read Otis Williams book about the Temptations, so I could be wrong, but IIRC, songwriter Norman Whitfield claims “Cloud Nine” isn’t about drugs at all.:dubious: I don’t recall what he claims it _is_ about, however.