Cocaine (song) 2749877 224650034 2008-07-09T20:29:24Z 68.114.69.3 /* Usage in film and television */ {{ Song infobox | Name = Cocaine | Type = | Artist = [[J.J. Cale]] | Album = [[Troubadour (J.J. Cale album)|Troubadour]] | Cover = | Background = | Released = September [[1976 in music|1976]] | Recorded = 1976 | Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]] | Length = 2:48 | Label = [[Mercury Records|Mercury]] | Producer = [[Audie Ashworth]] | track_no = 6 | prev_no = 5 | prev = Hold On | next_no = 7 | next = I'm a Gypsy Man }} The most commonly known song titled "Cocaine" was written and recorded by [[J.J. Cale]] in 1975. It was famously covered by [[Eric Clapton]]. There are many other songs with the same or similar titles, such as Davy Graham's "Cocaine", Tom Rush's "Cocaine", and Blind Gary Davis' "Coco Blues", causing some confusion as to who wrote it. Despite these mix-ups, full writing credit for the song "Cocaine" covered by Clapton is given to J.J. Cale. ==The song's message== Contrary to popular belief, “Cocaine” is an anti-drug song, according to Eric Clapton: <blockquote>“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 actually, it is quite cleverly anti-cocaine.”<ref>''The Best of Everything Show'', with Dan Neer</ref></blockquote> 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. Clapton has also commented: <blockquote>“...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.”<ref>[[Stern (magazine)|Stern]] magazine, Germany, 1998</ref></blockquote> ==Performances and cover versions== {{Expand|date=April 2007}} [[Glyn Johns]] produced the Clapton recording. He had previously worked with [[The Who]], [[Led Zeppelin]] and [[The Rolling Stones]]. Clapton has also recorded several other songs written by Cale, including "[[After Midnight]]" and "Travelin' Light". Clapton played "Cocaine" at [[Crossroads Guitar Festival|The Crossroads Guitar Festival]]. Although Cale was present, Clapton played this without him. Clapton would later join Cale when he played his set, which included "[[After Midnight]]". In 1988, [[Elton John]] and [[Mark Knopfler]] joined Clapton on stage to perform this at the 6th annual [[The Prince's Trust|Prince's Trust]] Rock Gala. Proceeds from the show went to charity. The song was also covered by Scottish rock band ''[[Nazareth (band)|Nazareth]]'' appearing (in a live recording) on their album ''The Fool Circle'', and by the guitarist Andy Taylor (ex-Duran Duran) on his album "Dangerous". ==Usage in film and television== In [[Michael Moore]]'s 2004 [[Documentary film|documentary]] ''[[Fahrenheit 9/11]]'', the guitar line of the song is played once while the camera is showing [[George W. Bush]]'s blacked-out medical records, a clear reference to allegations that [[George W. Bush substance abuse controversy#Illegal drugs|Bush used cocaine]].{{Fact|date=March 2008}} The song was featured in the 2004 movie ''[[Starsky & Hutch (film)|Starsky & Hutch]]'', during a montage sequence of cocaine trafficking. The song was also used in the 2005 movie ''[[Lord of War]]'', during a scene concerning, fittingly, cocaine. The song is also played in the VH1 show ''The Drug Years'' when the show examines cocaine use. In the movie Bad News Bear the song can be heard during the hooters scene. ==References== <references/> [[Category:1976 songs]] [[Category:J. J. Cale songs]] [[Category:Eric Clapton songs]] [[Category:Cocaine]] [[es:Cocaine]] [[fi:Cocaine]]