Songs of Experience The relationship of drugs to writers and their work Diplomarbeit zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades einer Magistra der Philosophie an der Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz vorgelegt von Eva SCHACHNER am Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik Begutachter: Ao. Univ.Prof. Mag. Dr. Hugo Keiper Graz, 2010 Table of Contents 1. Introduction........................................................................................................................1 2. On the origins of drug use..................................................................................................3 2.1. Shamanic practices....................................................................................................5 3. The Drugs...........................................................................................................................8 3.1. Cannabis.....................................................................................................................8 3.1.1. Botanical description...........................................................................................8 3.1.2. Psychoactive properties......................................................................................9 3.1.3. History................................................................................................................11 3.1.4. Prohibition..........................................................................................................13 3.1.5. Medical use.......................................................................................................15 3.1.6. Cannabis in song lyrics.....................................................................................16 Peter Tosh: “Bush Doctor“.......................................................................................16 Cypress Hill: “Hits from the Bong” ..........................................................................21 Jazz songs..............................................................................................................25 3.1.7. Cannabis in literature........................................................................................26 One Thousand and One Arabian Nights.................................................................26 “Théophile Gautier on the Club des Haschischins” ...............................................28 Arthur Rimbaud: “Matinée d'Ivresse”......................................................................30 Louisa May Alcott: “Perilous Play”..........................................................................31 Contemporary literature..........................................................................................32 3.2. LSD...........................................................................................................................34 3.2.1. History...............................................................................................................34 3.2.2. Chemical characteristics...................................................................................35 3.2.3. Effects of LSD....................................................................................................35 3.2.4. LSD research.....................................................................................................36 Government Research............................................................................................36 Research in psychotherapy.....................................................................................37 3.2.5. Prohibition..........................................................................................................38 3.2.6. LSD in song lyrics..............................................................................................38 The Beatles: “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”.......................................................38 The Doors................................................................................................................40 “Break on through” (1967).......................................................................................41 The Grateful Dead...................................................................................................44 “Dark Star”...............................................................................................................45 3.2.7. LSD in literature.................................................................................................46 Irvine Welsh: “The Acid House”...............................................................................46 3.3. Opium and opiates....................................................................................................49 3.3.1. Botanical / chemical description........................................................................49 3.3.2. Psychoactive properties....................................................................................50 3.3.3. Medical use.......................................................................................................51 3.3.4. History...............................................................................................................52 3.3.5. Prohibition..........................................................................................................53 3.3.6. Opiates in song lyrics........................................................................................54 Neil Young: “The Needle and The Damage Done”.................................................56 Alice In Chains: “Junkhead”....................................................................................58 Lou Reed: “Waiting for the man“.............................................................................61 3.3.7. Opiates in literature...........................................................................................63 Thomas De Quincey: Confessions of an English Opium Eater (including a short comparison to William Burroughs' Naked Lunch)...................................................63 Irvine Welsh: Trainspotting......................................................................................65 3.4. Cocaine.....................................................................................................................68 3.4.1. Botanical / chemical description........................................................................68 3.4.2. Psychoactive properties....................................................................................69 3.4.3. Medical use.......................................................................................................70 3.4.4. History and Prohibition......................................................................................70 3.4.5. Cocaine in song lyrics.......................................................................................72 Robbie Williams: “Come undone”...........................................................................72 Red Hot Chili Peppers: “Under the Bridge”.............................................................76 3.5. Amphetamines..........................................................................................................79 3.5.1. Botanical / chemical description........................................................................79 3.5.2. Psychoactive properties....................................................................................80 3.5.3. Medical use ......................................................................................................81 3.5.4. History...............................................................................................................82 3.5.5. Prohibition..........................................................................................................83 3.5.5. Amphetamines in song lyrics.............................................................................85 Canned Heat: “Amphetamine Annie” .....................................................................85 Motörhead: “Speedfreak”........................................................................................87 Green Day: “Geek Stink Breath”.............................................................................89 3.5.6. Amphetamines in literature................................................................................90 Jack Kerouac: On the Road....................................................................................90 4. Conclusion.......................................................................................................................93 5. References.......................................................................................................................95 Primary works..................................................................................................................95 Secondary works.............................................................................................................96 Books...........................................................................................................................96 Articles.........................................................................................................................96 Sound Recordings...........................................................................................................98 Internet resources............................................................................................................99