Clapton’s “Cocaine”?
Question by jd ma: Clapton’s “Cocaine”?
I’ve read the lyrics over and over. Is it about HIS love of cocaine or a WOMAN’S love of cocaine or about him trying to get this particular Coke Ho?
Best answer:
Answer by Paperbag Writer
Eric Clapton’s “Cocaine,” a cover version of a song by J. J. Cale, is an anti-drug abuse statement (contrary to popular belief). Here’s a quote from Clapton himself:
“It’s no good to write a deliberate anti-drug song and hope that it will catch. Because the general thing is that people will be upset by that. It would disturb them to have someone else shoving something down their throat. So the best thing to do is offer something that seems ambiguous–that on study or on reflection actually can be seen to be ‘anti’–which the song “Cocaine” is actually an anti-cocaine song. If you study it or look at it with a little bit of thought… from a distance… or as it goes by… it just sounds like a song about cocaine. But in actual fact, it is quite cleverly anti-cocaine.”
And another quote from Clapton:
“…that’s an anti-drug-song. The fans only listen to the refrain: ‘She don’t lie, she don’t lie, cocaine.’ But it says, ‘If you wanna get down, down on the ground, cocaine.’ It’s sad how young people destroy themselves with drugs. I hate listening to my old records, which I did stoned or drunk.”
Over the years, Clapton has added the lyrics ‘that dirty cocaine’ in live shows to underline the anti-drug message of the song. Clapton was a heavy heroin user in the early ’70s (upon his return to England after recording Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, he was spending £1500 per week), and got off it in 1974. He eventually founded the Crossroads Centre in Antigua to help others who are fighting addiction.
Answer by johlog_ric
no matter what other people say, even whatever clapton tells the press, the song was created because he enjoyed the effects of the drug… just like any other artist who sings about their favorite poison. they can’t admit it to the public, but hell yeah, its about how they enjoyed taking the drug.