The Pusher

THIS SONG IS $#%&ING AWESOME!!! I have to say that I am suprized few people have commented on this song. It was in Easy Rider, and this song boosted the band along with Born to be Wild, also from Easy Rider. They didn't write this song though, it was written by a guy who was a student of the woman who wrote Heartbreak Hotel for Elvis. Anyway this song is great to get high to.

The lyrics themselves have a literal and obvious meaning to them. It's really interesting because from what are taken from the words, it's as if what he (John Kay) is against drugs. If it's not specifically drugs themselves, then it was about the nature of drug deals. At that time, the drug industry was stagnating into what it is now. It became a do or die agenda. A lot of bums on the street became big time drug traffickers overnight, establishing their own rules, similar to the mafia in the early 20th century. This a direct jab to all of that, saying "God damn the pusher man."

They wouldn't play this song on the radio because they said it promoted drugs. It's a great song though and obviously about how the people selling grass aren't bad but people pushing hard drugs are monsters (as John Kay puts it).

John Kay, the vocalist, must have been tokin' some grass while singing this hippie song.

I agree with gimpy. THis song is about how hard drug deals are bastards but grass growers are cool. Once again many people might think that this is about how drugs are bad. NO! its about how hard drugs suck and grass rules.

Everyone seems right on so far discussing this song. To review: a) banned b) weed = good, hard drugs = bad c) awesome to listen to high

Also, anyone who likes this song and hasn't heard the 20-some minute uber-psychedelic live jam version of this song recorded by Steppenwolf when they were still called Sparrow and released later under the title of "Early Steppenwolf" absolutely must. It's a mindfuck. I have the vinyl, but I believe it was released on CD, and some of the other songs like Howlin' Wolf covers are pretty impressive, too.

Sick

this song was written by Hoyt Axton.as was "snowblind friend"you see the father in gremlins?thats him.he wrote one of if not the first drug songs "cocain blues"

I don't do drugs or smoke, or anything but i still think this song is really Bad A$$. A musician such as myself can tell when a song is good, regardless of the genre. I think drugs are a choice that you have to personally make, just like Food. You decide what you eat and the consequences are seen by all. The pusher man doesn't care weather you are dead or alive. God damn the pusher. But who is the pusher man? Police? Or people who are trying to get you to do more risky and heavy drugs? is it an ego thing? the human body is the same and will react the same. Don't feel forced by your peers and think about the consequences. So even though i don't do drugs, i can still relate to this song...music is my drug...i need it to survive...without music i'd be a dead man. When you play this song on your instrument, you can really feel it. The pusher man can be whoever you want it to be.

The lyrics are obvious.

However, many big-time grass growers are nasty murdering criminals. But if governments legalised grass these creeps would vanish overnight.

BTW, Hoyt Axton as pointed out by "ohms" is the author of this and other "drug songs". His mother, Mae Axton, a school-teacher, wrote Elvis Presley's hit "Heartbreak Hotel".