The Pusher (Steppenwolf cover)

The Steppenwolf version seems to be directly relating to a man who is tired of his 'pusher man', a seller of narcotics.

However, Blind Melon covered this song and changed the lyrics a bit to alter the meaning. Now it describes someone who can not stand the "bible pushing man", or a religious figure trying to convert people.

• just an observation

I'm going to focus not only on the meaning of this song but it's relationship to the Steppenwolf (Hoyt Acton) original.

The way I see it is the original Steppenwolf version is from the point of view from somebody who smokes grass and sees grass as a good thing. But then sees the pusher, a cruel dealer who sells hard drugs eg. Heroine, as an evil corruptive person.

The Blind Melon version seems to be told from the perspective of an addict who's speaking out against society, embodied as a sort of missionary, who is trying to correct the addict.

Steppenwolf line for line

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

I've done drugs, weed and pills, but I've never touched anything crazy (hard drugs)

You know, I've seen a lot of people walkin' 'round With tombstones in their eyes

 People mentally fucked up from drugs, dead inside.

But the pusher don't care Ah, if you live or if you die

 The dealer of hard drugs doesn't give a fuck about what happens to the people he's selling to.

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

 The weed dealer is a decent dude spreading the "love grass".

Oh but the pusher is a monster Good God, he's not a natural man

 The hard drugs dealer is a monster.

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

 The pot dealer isn't scamming the fuck out of you but the pusher and his drugs will fuck you up.

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

 Pretty self explanatory here. Note the mention of the bible though, I think the pusher in the Blind Melon version actually represents this man, the man who would beat down this evil hard drug dealer, beat him down with the Bible (a representation of what's right). And this "Bible man" might also go after the evil dealer's victims/the addicts, or at least effect them by cutting off their supplier.

Blind Melon line for line

Snow flakes rolling over my ear, goose bumping liver

 First off it sure sounds live Shannon is singing liver not weather. I think the Snow flakes could be Cocaine and as we know Shannon did coke, that's what he ODed off of. It also doesn't really snow in LA. And goose bumping liver probably just means fucked up liver and body.

If I'm hungry at 4:30 in the morning, Pink Dot will deliver

 It sure sounds like he's singing Pink Dot here. Pink Dot is a grocery/convenient store that is known for doing deliveries in LA, where the band is from. And my theory that this song isn't directly against religion helps prove he isn't singing "think God will deliver?" 

And I'm oh so tired of you pushing that thorny crown Down onto my head so hard, my knees are two inches in the ground

 Our Narrator is having a crown of thorns pushed down on him. The crown can represent religion but it can also represent being secluded and punished because that's why the Romans has Jesus wear it. So our Narrator is being punished by his pusher.

And I said, God damn, God damn that Bible pushin' man

 The Pusher is punishing and forcing the Bible onto our Narrator the Bible might not literally represent religion but rather sobriety and society's idea of what's right.

You know I smoked a lot of grass and I've popped a lot of pills

  Same as Steppenwolf version, our Narrator, Shannon, has done plenty of drugs.

But I've never done nothing that my spirit couldn't kill

 This is different Shannon changed two words from the Steppenwolf version, But I've never touched nothin' that my spirit could kill. Touched to done and could to couldn't, this changes the meaning from "I've never touched those harder drugs" to "I've never done anything I couldn't handle, even the hard stuff"

And I walk around with these tombstones in my eyes

 He is one of these people who is fucked up and dead inside.

But I know the pusher don't care, if you live or if you die.

 The 'Bible' (sobriety) pushing man doesn't actually care about you he just wants you gone. He sees you as a pest. So God damn that Bible pushing man!

A Steppenwolf cover, just twisted around a bit.

Pretty self explanitory I guess.

I like this a lot, it's the same song, just with a bit of a different taste, a little more valid the this generation than the origanal.

it says "i smoke a lot of grass, and i pop a lot of pills".. present tense...give it a good listen..

I was just wondering if this song is talking about specifically people who try to push their religion on other people or about God in general. I think this is one of Shannon Hoon's best songs ever. Too sad, what happened.

A few comments:

1. This isnt a 'cover' of the Steppenwolf song, though it borrows from it. The Steppenwolf piece expressed anger toward the Pusher that sells death vi-a-vis smack addiction. The Blind Melon version piece expresses anger towards the pusher of religion, a different kind of addiction. Shannon has visited this theme more than once. (eg Holy Man, etc)He appears to have had some serious issues with religion or religious people.

2. The line "Pink Dot will deliver" is incorrect. I've seen this around the net. Pink Dot is an LA company.. Doesnt jive with the line before.. No snow in LA.. Doesnt even get particularly cold.. Doesnt jive with the theme of the song in general. Line should read: "If I'm hungry at 4:30 in the morning, think God will deliver ?" (i.e. when he's hungry will G-d put food in his belly?"

With out hearing the Steppenwolf song, I think of both addiction and the question "Is addiction related to a lack of moral character or lack of religion?" Many people think it is. Seeing it from the side of the addict and a person who has also seen many people struggle with addiction...I don't think it is. Perhaps religion has helped many people answer certain questions about their own use and abuse of drugs. But for any addict who suffers from the disease...the struggle is about more than knowing right from wrong or what god or anyone else wants for/from a man or woman. This doesn't mean that there's no hope...but the struggle is one that requires a spiritual solution...not necessarily concerning a denominational recognized religion.

Paraphrasing as I believe the lyrics are...and I'm probably wrong.

{Snow flakes rolling over my ear, goose bumping liver} (goosebumps are a symptom of opiate withdrawal)

{If I'm hungry at 4:30 in the morning, pink dot will deliver} now I always thought the lyric was "think god will deliver" but I wonder if this is a bit of a trick they have played on me. Being from Ohio...I never heard of pink dot...but just as this song has many double references...maybe this was intended.

i don't have any other notes about the lyrics above. Just that they are great...making an awesome thought provoking song...one of my FAVS by the band. I am revisiting the jewel that is BLIND MELON today...thanks for letting me share.

it's comparing religion to drugs and bible pushers to drug pushers.

Pink Dot is a Los Angeles–based chain of grocery stores that is known for delivering items such as groceries, deli food, cigarettes, and alcohol. Im pretty sure he does say pink dot, not think god.