Honestly, I think any recreational drug that requires paraphernalia is kind of creepy. We’re getting out of the “let’s have a little spontaneous fun” world and into a lifestyle at that point, and that seems like a slippery slope to me. Back in the ’70s the coke spoon on a gold necklace was a thing — addiction as fashion accessory. Weed people seem to really enjoy that, too.
On the other hand, I get the lure of the ritual. As a little boy I watched my grandfather roll his own cigarettes from loose tobacco and light them with a Zippo that he maintained — flint, wick, fuel. Smoking didn’t hold any interest for me, but that process certainly did.
But that’s a romantic view of smoking. The truth of the matter for most people is disposable lighters and shitty cigarettes smoked in the rain outside of drab office buildings, and it’s the same with heroin: The ritual sounds pretty cool, but the reality not so much. The ritual makes for great songs and visually arresting movie scenes, but the reality is nodding off, scratching yourself bloody, and picking at your scabs.
Anyway, heroin songs:
“Heroin,” Velvet Underground. This is the big daddy of heroin songs. You can stop right here — you’ve heard the best.
“Mr. Brownstone,” Guns N’ Roses. An oddly upbeat song about a drug that makes you sleepy.
“Times of Trouble,” Temple of the Dog. This entire album is pretty much one long eulogy for a heroin death, but here we get explicit spoons and needles.
“King Heroin,” James Brown. JB knew his drugs.
“Needle and the Spoon,” Lynyrd Skynyrd. One of my favorites from Skynyrd. The version on One More From the Road remains my favorite.
“Needle and the Damage Done,” Neil Young. Most poignant heroin song ever written? Discuss.
“Heroin,” Alice in Chains. This cut is better known by its final title, “The Real Thing.”
“Fire and Rain,” James Taylor. This song is about a lot of things, but Taylor’s battle with heroin is one of them.
So there you have it: eight songs about heroin. Did I miss any songs about dead flowers? I’m listening.
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Categories: Deep Cuts
Why It Matters 
Lore has it that the Stones “Brown Sugar” was about it, amongst other things
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“Cold Turkey” – John Lennon
“Chinese Rock” – The Ramones
“Dead Flowers” – The Rolling Stones
and probably “Perfect Day” – Lou Reed
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“Down With The Sickness” by Disturbed relates to the madness of heroin and opiate addiction. Are you down with the sickness? You won’t know what that means, until you know what it means. Good song. Explicit lyrics.
“Down With The Sickness”
Can you feel that?
Ah, shit
Drowning deep in my sea of loathing
Broken your servant I kneel
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems what’s left of my human side
Is slowly changing in me
(Will you give in to me?)
Looking at my own reflection
When suddenly it changes
Violently it changes (oh no)
There is no turning back now
You’ve woken up the demon in me
[Chorus:]
Get up, come on get down with the sickness [x3]
Open up your hate, and let it flow into me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
You mother get up come on get down with the sickness
You fucker get up come on get down with the sickness
Madness is the gift, that has been given to me
I can see inside you, the sickness is rising
Don’t try to deny what you feel
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems that all that was good has died
And is decaying in me
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems you’re having some trouble
In dealing with these changes
Living with these changes (oh no)
The world is a scary place
Now that you’ve woken up the demon in me
[Chorus]
(And when I dream) [x4]
No mommy, don’t do it again
Don’t do it again
I’ll be a good boy
I’ll be a good boy, I promise
No mommy don’t hit me
Why did you have to hit me like that, mommy?
Don’t do it, you’re hurting me
Why did you have to be such a bitch
Why don’t you,
Why don’t you just fuck off and die
Why can’t you just fuck off and die
Why can’t you just leave here and die
Never stick your hand in my face again bitch
FUCK YOU
I don’t need this shit
You stupid sadistic abusive fucking whore
How would you like to see how it feels mommy
Here it comes, get ready to die
[Chorus (last line changed to “Madness has now come over me”)]
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