Drugs. Alcohol. Two words synonymous with great Rock music.
for more info.DAY 7: A SONG ABOUT DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.
OK, let's just get some things out in the open and mention the elephant in the room.
You see, I think drugs have done some good things for us. I really do. And if you don't believe drugs have done good things for us, do me a favor. Go home tonight. Take all your albums, all your tapes and all your CDs and burn them. 'Cause you know what, the musicians that made all that great music that's enhanced your lives throughout the years were rrreal fucking high on drugs.
— Bill Hicks
I kinda found this one hard. I mean, a song about drugs/alcohol...? Or a song that is inspired by drugs/alcohol? And when we're talking about drugs, are we talking about illicit drugs? Or prescription drugs? Do we count coffee as a drug? Or songs that sound really awesome when you're on drugs? Uppers? Downers?
And honestly, I have soooooo many tracks I could play to cover all of these.... it really is a subject that is well-represented in Rock music.
As well as having been either the source of inspiration, or at least a factor in the creation of some of the best music ever, it's also been highly destructive and taken away brilliant artists well before their time.
So would I be choosing a track that glorifies, cautions, or condemns?
In the end, I came across this in my library and instantly knew this was the one I wanted to share.
from the 1995 album Fight For Your Mind
image source
This track has a beautiful groove to it. And yes, it's about smoking weed. But Ben Harper is also passionate and outspoken about freedoms, and this is what I love about the song.
His interesting and quite liberal take on all of this comes through also in his commentary in this live recording on bootlegging, downloading music, and Napster (this is pre-iTunes and Spotify, for those of you too young to know what we're talking about here).
As he says, it should all be free. The issue he has is in the quality of the 'free' stuff. People like Harper work hard to produce excellent quality music. Much like people here on Steemit who take the time to produce excellent quality posts, and those who simply plagiarise and create "shit-posts" and expect to get big payouts.
I used to smoke weed quite a lot in my 20's. Some of my fondest memories are being in hysterics with my buddies getting high, listening to awesome music and laughing our arses off watching Simpsons episodes.
At some point however, I stopped enjoying it, and found I wasn't having much fun. That's when I realised I'd probably had enough.
But even after becoming a #naturalmedicine practitioner I never became a 'reformed smoker' and moralised about it to others, knowing the effects it has on the body, mind, and spirit.
Even when it comes to smoking tobacco, I believe people should have the freedom to make their own choices and not be dictated to by governments: so long as your choices and freedoms do not impact on others' choices and freedoms.
To quote from this song:
My choice is what I choose to do
And if I'm causing no harm
It shouldn't bother you
Your choice is who you choose to be
And if your causin' no harm
Then you're alright with me
Enjoy (In Moderation)!!
😊🙏🏽☯️
MADE FOR STEEMIT
Soundtrack for this post can be found on this month’s STEEMIT SOUNDS playlist
