# Captain Jack and Other Drug References **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300 "2003-02-02T14:06:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/41 "2003-02-04T01:55:00Z")
Everybody’s go something to hide Except me and my monkey. ---
**Author:** ![Pucky\_Schumer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Pucky\_Schumer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucky_Schumer)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/42 "2003-02-04T03:35:27Z")
STRAIGHT SHOOTER (John Phillips, Mamas and the Papas) “Baby are you holding, holding anything but me?” (Holding is a reference to possessing drugs. Note the odd wording: If the reference is not to drugs, why say “holding anything” instead of “holding anyone”?) (And later in the song:) Don’t get me mad; don’t tell no lie. Don’t get me sad; just get me high. Baby, what your holding, half of that belongs to me. ‘Cause I’m a real straight shooter etc. Also SHOOTING STAR (John Phillips) You were a shooting star, weren’t you, ‘Till moon dust came along and burned you? … Your name in northern lights, glowing; You know your mind is worth blowing. You ought to do what you do, you ought to do. (John Phillips, and his daughter MacKenzie (sp?) had some well known drug problems.) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/43 "2003-02-04T05:29:56Z")
Nobody’s mentioned \*Light My Fire[/i} by the Doors. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/44 "2003-02-04T05:47:55Z")
I haven’t been able to find Brownsville Station lyrics online (thank God!) but I have a dim memory of hearing “The Martian Boogie” while partying many years ago. This guy was at a bar and a flying saucer landed, a Martian came out, and handed him something colorful to smoke. Then the Martian asked (in a cartoonish alien voice, probably done with helium), “How do you feel?” “And I said, ‘Well…’” Then there was a guitar solo. Did I remember it right? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/45 "2003-02-04T05:59:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Telemark \* > \*\*I think “Don’t Bogart that Joint” was a subtle reference to drug use in Hollywood back in the 30’s and 40’s. \*\* roooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooollllllllllll another one!!! ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/46 "2003-02-04T13:37:27Z")
Off to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![AchimbaProphet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@AchimbaProphet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AchimbaProphet)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/47 "2003-02-04T14:14:49Z")
Hign On A Riverbed - Toad The Wet Sprocket [Is this a riverbed at a hign altitude or frame of mind?] “…but sometimes i’m standing here high on a riverbed and light breaks through everything feels good for a while high on a riverbed…” * * * Come Back Down - Toad The Wet Sprocket [Come back down from what?] “I’ve quit this a million times, can’t quite stay away just one more time…i’ll be ok but i’m so damn tired when i come back down though i’m crazy too anything you want from me i’ll do…” * * * Grass - XTZ [The song is certainly a double entente.] “…Shocked me too the things we used to do on grass…” * * * The Killing Jar - Siouxsie & The Banshees [This one doesn’t say H but I understand that this is what it is about. For the longest time I thought it was just a killer tune.] “…A soft hoodwink of shadow The size of make-believe Punches through his spike of rage A glass hand cuts through the water Snuffing out the magic fury…” ---
**Author:** ![INSANE1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f0a364/32.png) [@INSANE1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/INSANE1)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/48 "2003-02-04T14:30:43Z")
What about Red Hot Chilli Peppers ‘Under the Bridge’ as a song with a heroin reference. Mmmm what about Rodriguez’s ‘Sugar Man’. ---
**Author:** ![S\_Puppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@S\_Puppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/S_Puppy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/49 "2003-02-04T14:48:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by red\_dragon60 \* > \*\*Nobody mentioned Deep Purple? Smoke on the Water is completely a reference to a bong, and the “fire in the sky” is the coal. \*\* I seem to recall them claiming that it was an [actual fire](http://www.inthe70s.com/generated/lyricsmeaning.shtml). I guess the one pictured inside the LP cover. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/50 "2003-02-04T16:48:59Z")
What about **James Taylor**? From “Junkie’s Lament” Ricky’s been kicking the gong Lickety split didn’t take too long A junkie’s sick A monkey’s strong That’s what’s wrong (and that’s just the first verse) From “Johnnie Comes Back”: All last week and half of today Johnnie has been a good little girl Trying to keep her devils at bay Watching her health return But she always comes back for more Hanging her head and banging my door Johnnie comes back again and Where’d she get that tear in her eye Whoever said she could leave me Where’d she learn to say good-bye She’s been watching too much T.V. She only shows up for meals My medicine chest and my automobiles Johnnie comes back again - Chorus - Me I’m just an evil demon I’m playing on her weakness Counting on her sickness To bring her home again From “That’s Why I’m Here” john’s gone found dead he dies high he’s brown bread later said to have drowned in his bed after the laughter the wave of the dread it hits us like a ton of lead it seems “learn not to burn” means to turn on a dime and walk on if you’re walking even if it’s an uphill climb and try to remember that working’s no crime just don’t let 'em take and waste your time that’s why i’m here (This song refers to the death of his friend John Belushi, with whom he used to do drugs) From “A Little More Time With You”: I passed on the cocaine Said bye-bye to my methadone Put down the bottle for one more day Backing off of my Tobacco Jones Still I feel like a hopeless junkie Like a man who can’t say no I look back and there’s that monkey Rascal won’t let go I’m sure there are many more references to drug use - he’s been writing songs since 1967 and pretty openly used drugs most of that time. Not being too familar with the terminology I’m at a loss to say. StG ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/51 "2003-02-04T16:53:49Z")
Pusher Man, by Steppenwolf. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/52 "2003-02-04T22:10:24Z")
> [@](#): > > “How do you feel?” > “And I said, ‘Well…’” > Then there was a guitar solo. Did I remember it right? This part is right. The song begins with the guy going to a “greasy spoon place” to get a burger, and he comes across the Martian eating at the counter. At one point, he notices the Martian has a bunch of colored sticks on his plate: “I said ‘What you eatin’ there boy, crayons?’ and he said _‘Why no, they’re Martian cigarettes. Here, try one’._” Unless E-Z-Wider had a rainbow assortment pack of rolling papers back then, it’s hard to see this as a marijuana reference. I couldn’t find the lyrics online either. I had the single when I was in middle school (and still have it! :)), so it’s pretty much burned into my brain. I think the album just had a longer solo, not more lyrics, but I’m not sure. > [@](#): > > A little less subtle than me and Bobby Magee but you’ll find he has a few drug references in his lyrics. Sure, you can argue that he was referring to a harmonica. That’s the subtlety I thought the OP was seeking. Let’s look at the line in context, and see which interpretation fits the lyrics (from memory): “I pulled my harpoon from my dirty red bandanna. I was playing soft while Bobby sang the blues. Windshield wipers slurp in time, I was holding Boby’s hand in mine, and we sang every song that driver knew.” I think **Jinx** nailed it for this one: “Just because you’re not referring to drugs, doesn’t mean WE can’t find the inference for ya!” ---
**Author:** ![S\_Puppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@S\_Puppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/S_Puppy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/53 "2003-02-04T23:59:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ZenBeam \* > \*\*Unless E-Z-Wider had a rainbow assortment pack of rolling papers back then, it’s hard to see this as a marijuana reference. > \*\* There were brightly colored rolling papers, some of them were also flavored. I believe you are right about ‘Me and Bobby McGee’. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/54 "2003-02-05T00:05:12Z")
Obvious up-front references in title: _Heroin_ by the Velvet Underground; _King Heroin_ by James Brown; _Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth_ by the Dandy Warhols; _Sister Morphine_ by the Rolling Stones. Direct references in the lyrics: _5:15_ by The Who–uppers and downers; _Insane in the Brain_ by Cypress Hill–marijuana (what else?); _Lust for Life_ by Iggy Pop–drugs (I’m not sure if any are specifically named). BTW, are we limiting ourselves to illegal drugs? Because, if not, there’s enough alcohol-related songs to keep this thread going for at least another 1000 entries. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/55 "2003-02-05T00:14:29Z")
“Longview” - Green Day … \*I got no motivation Where is my motivation No time for motivation Smoking my inspiration \* ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/56 "2003-02-05T00:35:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Telemark \* > \*\*I think “Don’t Bogart that Joint” was a subtle reference to drug use in Hollywood back in the 30’s and 40’s. \*\* No. It’s a reference to hanging on to a joint instead of passing it around. If you listen, the lyrics ask (you) to pass it. In old Bogart movies he always has a cigarette hanging in his lips. He doesn’t _really_, but enough so that it seems like he does. Peace, mangeorge (Goddamn the Pusherman) ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/57 "2003-02-05T00:37:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*“She fell in love with a bloke named Smokey, > She loved him though he was cokey. > He took her down to Chinatown > And showed her how to kick the gong around . . .” > > –“Minnie the Moocher,” c1929; hardly subtle! \*\* “It’s the story of very unfortunate colored man Who got arrested down in old Hong Kong. He got twenty years privilege taken away from him When he kicked old Buddha’s gong.” Hoagy Carmichael featured in the movie…well I have no doubt Eve knows the movie 😃 . ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/58 "2003-02-05T00:51:14Z")
The supposed Julian Lennon drawing in **Khadaji**'s Snopes link seems too advanced to have been drawn by even the most talented four-year-old. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/59 "2003-02-05T01:08:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Duality \* > \*\*The supposed Julian Lennon drawing in **Khadaji**'s Snopes link seems too advanced to have been drawn by even the most talented four-year-old. \*\* As does the remark attributed to Julian. But my own kids have sometimes surprised me with their occasional sophistication. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300/60 "2003-02-05T02:58:59Z")
Let’s look at the line in context, and see which interpretation fits the lyrics (from memory): quote: “I pulled my harpoon from my dirty red bandanna. I was playing soft while Bobby sang the blues. Windshield wipers slurp in time, I was holding Boby’s hand in mine, and we sang every song that driver knew.” I think Jinx nailed it for this one: “Just because you’re not referring to drugs, doesn’t mean WE can’t find the inference for ya!” Well ya remembered Janis’s version pretty good …but SHE didn’t write the song! Her old boyfriend Kris did…and he’s an admitted heroin junkie from back then. I even quoted verses to another song he wrote which was even more obvious than this one. How 'bout this one…“Snortin whiskey…” next line please,😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-jack-and-other-drug-references/152300.md?page=4)