The Pusher

Steppenwolf

You know I've smoked a lot of grass
O' Lord, I've popped a lot of pills
But I've never touched nothin'
That my spirit could kill
You know, I've seen a lot of people walkin' 'round
With tombstones in their eyes
But the pusher don't care
Ah, if you live or if you die

God damn, The Pusher
God damn, I say The Pusher
I said God damn, God damn The Pusher man

You know the dealer, the dealer is a man
With the love grass in his hand
Oh but the pusher is a monster
Good God, he's not a natural man
The dealer for a nickel
Lord, he'll sell you lots of sweet dreams
Ah, but the pusher ruin your body
Lord, he'll leave your, he'll leave your mind to scream

God damn, The Pusher
God damn, God damn the Pusher
I said God damn, God, God damn The Pusher man

Well, now if I were the president of this land
You know, I'd declare total war on The Pusher man
I'd cut him if he stands, and I'd shoot him if he'd run
Yes I'd kill him with my Bible and my razor and my gun

God damn The Pusher
God damn The Pusher
I said God damn, God damn The Pusher man


Lyrics submitted by oofus

The Pusher Lyrics as written by Hoyt Wayne Axton

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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The Pusher song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • +1
    Song MeaningThe 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."
    shalayahonon February 17, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThey 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).
    Gimpy Jimon March 15, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentTHIS 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.
    XxFreebirdxXon February 16, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentJohn Kay, the vocalist, must have been tokin' some grass while singing this hippie song.
    Pink_Floyd_fanon March 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI 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.
    ironsmaidenon July 12, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentEveryone 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.
    NihilisticIdolon July 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSick
    Technicolor_Dreamson January 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis 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"
    ohmson July 29, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI 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.
    ibanezx123on September 28, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThe 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".
    bigglesworthon August 11, 2012   Link

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