What songs from the 60s really are about acid trips or drugs?

Cafe Society
41

“Snowblind Friend” by Steppenwolf.

Actually, both “The Pusher” and “Snowblind Friend” were written by Hoyt Axton but recorded by Steppenwolf.

42

There’s the Randy Newman song, Mama Told Me Not To Come…

43

You ever hear Wilson Pickett’s 1972 cover of that? It’s wild! He’s not whiny like Randy, he’s completely pissed off with all those damn degenerates!

If this thread just turns out to be a list of all the drug-related songs of the 60s…it’s going to be very very long.

44

Three Dog Night did Mama Told Me in 66

Then you have One Toke Over the Line in 70, even was performed on Lawrence Welk. I have no idea how anybody thought it was a spiritual song.

Not sure it’s from the 60’s, I think it’s older than that Wildwood Weed

45

The first thing I thought of when I saw this thread was One Toke Over the Line being performed on Lwrence Welk.

46

[QUOTE=Sahirrnee;18546842/QUOTE]
Three Dog Night did Mama Told Me in 66

No, that was Eric Burdon who performed Randy Newman’s song in '66. Three Dog Night didn’t even form until '67, and they covered Newman’s tune in '70.

47

nm

48

The Open Mind - Magic Potion

49

Sorry to nitpick, but the song is called Smoke Two Joints and the Sublime version was a cover. It was originally by The Toyes and was released in 1983.

50

To tell you the truth, I’ve never heard Newman do it; just Three Dog Night.

51

Ahhh, but the best cover was done by Pittsburgh’s own Norman Nardini, the Guinea with the skinny.

Norman!!!

52

Well, coming in late, I see the three I was going to cite have been taken:

  1. Lucy in the Sky- I see there is some debate though
  2. White Rabbit- no debate
  3. Cocaine- title gives it away

How about Sugar, Sugar by the Archie’s? :smack:

53

Another one in the “well, duh” catagory:

Arlo Guthrie’s Coming into Los Angeles.

54

The “anybody” is question was Welk himself, who apparently had no familiarity with the current pop culture and its vocabulary. The how is multiple references to “Sweet Jesus” and “Sweet Mary.”

In Welkthink:

>Mentions Biblical characters? Must be a gospel song.

>The rest of the lyrics don’t make sense? Must be a modern one.

55

And what did he think a “toke” was? A token of the love of God?

56

The Charlatans - Codeine

57

And don’t forget their answer to Nixon and Operation Intercept
“Don’t Step on the Grass, Sam”

A lot of groups played around with the drug theme in their music but Steppenwolf and Kay were one of the very few to be straight in your face about it. And at a time when it really wasn't done. But he did play both sides slightly; from the same record "Snow Blind Friend". Put him down as pro weed, neutral to leery most other recreational drugs.
58

Nitpick: this song is from 1968, predating the Nixon presidency and Operation Intercept.

59

Good one – recorded in 1966, released in January 1967. In addition to the sung lyrics (“it’s really rather trippy,” etc.), someone says “What kind of drug is this?”. Listen carefully for it.

60

Possible sub-nitpick ----- I’m remembering it on a later tour (and possibly a live album?) being dedicated to Nixon and the shutting down of the border.

OK – I was close – not Nixon per se.