Drug Songs: 20 Tracks That Might Be Illegal
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'Got to Get You Into My Life'
the Beatles (1966)
The accusation: It's Paul McCartney's thinly veiled desire to sample the forbidden fruit.
The defense: It's just a silly love song.
The verdict: Guilty. As McCartney admitted, it is his paean to "some other kind of mind." "If I am true I'll never leave," he sang. With songs such as 'Hi Hi Hi' and his Japanese pot bust, he has stayed true to his beloved for years.
The defense: It's just a silly love song.
The verdict: Guilty. As McCartney admitted, it is his paean to "some other kind of mind." "If I am true I'll never leave," he sang. With songs such as 'Hi Hi Hi' and his Japanese pot bust, he has stayed true to his beloved for years.
Redferns / Getty Images
'Mary Jane'
Rick James (1978)
The accusation: The admitted (and convicted) drug abuser was undoubtedly well aware that "Mary Jane" is a street term for marijuana.
The defense: She's not the kind of girl "you can just tie down," he sang, disguising the subject as an ode to an unfaithful girlfriend.
The verdict: Guilty. Coolio's 'Half Baked' sample is confirmation from on high.
The defense: She's not the kind of girl "you can just tie down," he sang, disguising the subject as an ode to an unfaithful girlfriend.
The verdict: Guilty. Coolio's 'Half Baked' sample is confirmation from on high.
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
'Fire It Up'
Modest Mouse (2007)
The accusation: An invitation to smoke 'em if you got 'em.
The defense: Isaac Brock said it's about "turning over a car"; lyrics refer to carburetor trouble and "broke-down transportation."
The verdict: Not guilty, though Brock did admit, "I highly approve of stoners and stoner anthems."
The defense: Isaac Brock said it's about "turning over a car"; lyrics refer to carburetor trouble and "broke-down transportation."
The verdict: Not guilty, though Brock did admit, "I highly approve of stoners and stoner anthems."
Joey Foley, FilmMagic
'Space Oddity'
David Bowie (1969)
The accusation: Space -- it's deep, man.
The defense: Inspired by '2001: A Space Odyssey,' the song was released to coincide with the Apollo 11 moon landing.
The verdict: Guilty. "We know Major Tom's a junkie," Bowie confessed on the 1980 followup, 'Ashes to Ashes.'
The defense: Inspired by '2001: A Space Odyssey,' the song was released to coincide with the Apollo 11 moon landing.
The verdict: Guilty. "We know Major Tom's a junkie," Bowie confessed on the 1980 followup, 'Ashes to Ashes.'
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
'Viva la White Girl'
Gym Class Heroes (2006)
The accusation: "Take your razor, break down my line/Put your nose to the speaker/ Now breathe in, breathe in" ID's this 'White Girl.'
The defense: It's more about the trappings of stardom, of which drugs are merely incidental.
The verdict: Guilty. The intro "Travie, you high.../S---, yeah, I'm high" tips its hand.
The defense: It's more about the trappings of stardom, of which drugs are merely incidental.
The verdict: Guilty. The intro "Travie, you high.../S---, yeah, I'm high" tips its hand.
Jason Kempin, FilmMagic
'The Candy Man'
Sammy Davis Jr. (1972)
The accusation: Dope dealers are often known as "the candy man" (see: Grateful Dead, Mississippi John Hurt, etc.).
The defense: It's from 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factor,' for Pete's sake!
The verdict: Guilty. In the movie 'Madagascar,' when Alex the lion gets shot with a tranquilizer dart, the song plays as he hallucinates.
The defense: It's from 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factor,' for Pete's sake!
The verdict: Guilty. In the movie 'Madagascar,' when Alex the lion gets shot with a tranquilizer dart, the song plays as he hallucinates.
Redferns / Getty Images
'Pass the Dutchie'
Musical Youth (1982)
The accusation: "Kouchie," in the Mighty Diamonds' original 'Pass the Kouchie,' is Jamaican slang for a ganja pipe.
The defense: Changing the name to "dutchie" (a stew pot) sanitized the song for the adolescent band members.
The verdict: Guilty. "Dutchie" now refers to a joint rolled in (Dutch Masters) cigar paper.
The defense: Changing the name to "dutchie" (a stew pot) sanitized the song for the adolescent band members.
The verdict: Guilty. "Dutchie" now refers to a joint rolled in (Dutch Masters) cigar paper.
Redferns / Getty Images
'A Horse With No Name'
America (2006)
The accusation: "Horse" is a common slang term for heroin.
The defense: Singer Dewey Bunnell said the horse is "a vehicle to get me away from all the confusion and chaos of life."
The verdict: Not guilty. Real drug users could've done much better than "there were plants and birds and rocks and things."
The defense: Singer Dewey Bunnell said the horse is "a vehicle to get me away from all the confusion and chaos of life."
The verdict: Not guilty. Real drug users could've done much better than "there were plants and birds and rocks and things."
Regis Martin, Getty Images
'Beetlebum'
Blur (1997)
The accusation: Said to be about Damon Albarn's drug experiments with old girlfriend Justine Frischmann of Elastica.
The defense: It's about a complex emotion -- part sleepy, part sexy -- as Albarn once claimed, or it's about Oasis' Beatles fixation.
The verdict: Guilty. "It's about drugs, basically," Albarn finally confessed.
The defense: It's about a complex emotion -- part sleepy, part sexy -- as Albarn once claimed, or it's about Oasis' Beatles fixation.
The verdict: Guilty. "It's about drugs, basically," Albarn finally confessed.
Redferns / Getty Images
'Eight Miles High'
The Byrds (1966)
The accusation: This pioneering psychedelic song could only have been about getting high.
The defense: The group insisted the song was about an airline flight to England.
The verdict: Not guilty, despite Don McLean's implication in 'American Pie' ("Eight miles high and falling fast/Landed foul on the grass").
The defense: The group insisted the song was about an airline flight to England.
The verdict: Not guilty, despite Don McLean's implication in 'American Pie' ("Eight miles high and falling fast/Landed foul on the grass").
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
'White Rabbit'
Jefferson Airplane (1967)
The accusation: Pills that make you larger or smaller; hookah-smoking caterpillars literally on mushrooms.
The defense: It's just 'Alice in Wonderland.'
The verdict: Guilty. It was the theme song of teen-drug-abuse cautionary TV movie 'Go Ask Alice'; Grace Slick admitted to conceiving the song while on LSD.
The defense: It's just 'Alice in Wonderland.'
The verdict: Guilty. It was the theme song of teen-drug-abuse cautionary TV movie 'Go Ask Alice'; Grace Slick admitted to conceiving the song while on LSD.
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
'Morning Glory'
Oasis (1995)
The accusation: "All your dreams are made/ When you're chained to the mirror and the razor blade" points in one direction.
The defense: It's really a sex song, and "morning glory" refers to a man waking up, let's say, at full attention.
The verdict: Not guilty. Drugs actually keep a fella from becoming "glorious" in the A.M.
The defense: It's really a sex song, and "morning glory" refers to a man waking up, let's say, at full attention.
The verdict: Not guilty. Drugs actually keep a fella from becoming "glorious" in the A.M.
Redferns / Getty Images
'Jumpin' Jack Flash'
The Rolling Stones (1968)
The accusation: A 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' is a method of injecting heroin into your tear ducts ("a spike right through my head").
The defense: Keith Richards and Mick Jagger have said it's named for "Jumpin'" Jack Dyer, Richards' gardener at his country estate.
The verdict: Guilty. Has Keith Richards ever written a song that's not about drugs?
The defense: Keith Richards and Mick Jagger have said it's named for "Jumpin'" Jack Dyer, Richards' gardener at his country estate.
The verdict: Guilty. Has Keith Richards ever written a song that's not about drugs?
Redferns / Getty Images
'There She Goes'
The La's (1991)
The accusation: She's "pulsing through my vein" and "no one else can heal my pain" -- "she" can only be Sweet Lady Heroin.
The defense: Guitarist Paul Hemmings says no; bassist John Power says he doesn't know.
The verdict: Guilty. When Sixpense None the Richer's version was used for a birth-control pill ad, the drug connection was made official.
The defense: Guitarist Paul Hemmings says no; bassist John Power says he doesn't know.
The verdict: Guilty. When Sixpense None the Richer's version was used for a birth-control pill ad, the drug connection was made official.
Redferns / Getty Images
'Lookin' Out My Back Door'
Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970)
The accusation: Tambourines, elephants, a dinosaur Victrola -- "Won't you take a ride on the flying spoon?" is an invitation to cocaine.
The defense: John Fogerty says he wrote the song for his son, inspired by Dr. Seuss.
The verdict: Not guilty. These blue-collar boys would literally turn their noses up at blow.
The defense: John Fogerty says he wrote the song for his son, inspired by Dr. Seuss.
The verdict: Not guilty. These blue-collar boys would literally turn their noses up at blow.
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
'Golden Brown'
The Stranglers (1981)
The accusation: The woozy, waltz-y tune is an ode to heroin.
The defense: The song was about singer Hugh Cornwell's Mediterranean girlfriend; the video featured exotic footage in places populated with dark-skinned people.
The verdict: Guilty. How else to explain a punk band with a harpsichord?
The defense: The song was about singer Hugh Cornwell's Mediterranean girlfriend; the video featured exotic footage in places populated with dark-skinned people.
The verdict: Guilty. How else to explain a punk band with a harpsichord?
Redferns / Getty Images
'Cloud Nine'
The Temptations (1968)
The accusation: The narrator escapes his troubles by "riding high on Cloud Nine."
The defense: The Tempts countered that songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong were clean-living fellows.
The verdict: Guilty. Living in a "one-room shack" with a father that "treated us like dirt," you don't get to Cloud Nine without help.
The defense: The Tempts countered that songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong were clean-living fellows.
The verdict: Guilty. Living in a "one-room shack" with a father that "treated us like dirt," you don't get to Cloud Nine without help.
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
'Mary Jane's Last Dance'
Tom Petty (1993)
The accusation: One last hit of weed, "one more time to kill the pain."
The defense: "It could just be a goodbye love song," said guitarist Mike Campbell.
The verdict: Guilty. Petty was more explicit on his next hit, 'You Don't Know How It Feels': "Let's get to the point/Let's roll another joint."
The defense: "It could just be a goodbye love song," said guitarist Mike Campbell.
The verdict: Guilty. Petty was more explicit on his next hit, 'You Don't Know How It Feels': "Let's get to the point/Let's roll another joint."
Redferns / Getty Images
'Windy'
The Association (1967)
The accusation: It's about "windowpane" acid.
The defense: The songwriter claimed it's about her dog, who walked "down the streets of the city, smiling at everybody she sees."
The verdict: Not guilty. Despite a separate claim that the band's 'Along Comes Mary' was about pot, only a squeaky-clean glee club could sing 'Cherish.'
The defense: The songwriter claimed it's about her dog, who walked "down the streets of the city, smiling at everybody she sees."
The verdict: Not guilty. Despite a separate claim that the band's 'Along Comes Mary' was about pot, only a squeaky-clean glee club could sing 'Cherish.'
Hulton Archive / Getty Images
'Puff, the Magic Dragon'
Peter, Paul & Mary (1963)
The accusation: A kilo of pot references -- Puff, little "Jackie Paper," the Hawaiian pot-growing town of Hanalei.
The defense: The lyrics were inspired by Ogden Nash's 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon,' about loss of childhood innocence.
The verdict: Guilty. You'd need some Maui Wowee to tap into that childlike imagination.
The defense: The lyrics were inspired by Ogden Nash's 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon,' about loss of childhood innocence.
The verdict: Guilty. You'd need some Maui Wowee to tap into that childlike imagination.
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
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