I put this song on repeat today before it finally hit me. Yes, this song is no doubt about smoking heroin. Heroin comes in two forms, the white powder which looks similar to cocaine which is ultra high quality and usually snorted or injected, or the less expensive black tar variety which is more commonly smoked or free based. I think in this song they are talking about the latter.
"I'm holding a mystical stone, it's direct from Lhasa"
Black Tar heroin usually comes in a little ball or clump that looks like a pebble, and Lhasa as mentioned previously is in Tibet, which is a region known for the production of the drug.
"Tonight when I chase the dragon"
Smoking heroin off of aluminum foil
"The water may change to cherry wine"
In order to smoke black tar heroin, you have to dilute it with water and create a paste which can be spread on the aluminum foil, almost the consistency of toothpaste which has a ruby color, similar to cherry wine.
"The silver may change to gold"
Once the substance is spread on the foil and heat is applied, the foil turns amber/golden from the burning of the drug, which creates the smoke, which is 'chased' by the user holding a hollow tube (like a straw) and inhaled.
"Time out of mind"
Many heroin users describe the feeling of using heroin as a complete escape from reality, almost like an out of body experience, hence the feeling of spending time out of one's own mind.
"Son you better get ready for love"
Heroin users almost exclusively express a love for this drug over any other. Most users develop what is called a "love affair with the needle" or whatever manner they choose to ingest it. They are just as tied to the drug as they are the means by which they use it.
"Keep your eyes on the sky, put a dollar in the kitty, don't the moon look pretty"
One of the effect of the 'high' of heroin is that the users eyes will roll back in their head (or upwards) as the drug lulls the body into almost a coma like state. Put a dollar in the kitty speaks to the inexpensive nature of the drug. Don't the moon look pretty is pretty much all the user can look at, since their eyes are rolling upwards.
@chuckdiesel Smoking opium, not heroin I don't think. Chasing the dragon refers to smoking opium. Opium is rolled into a ball (a sphere from lhasa) and then put into the opium pipe for smoking and time disappears and miracles happen and it's all right here. That grace that we search for in church or try to capture through drugs like opium is right here all the time.
@chuckdiesel Smoking opium, not heroin I don't think. Chasing the dragon refers to smoking opium. Opium is rolled into a ball (a sphere from lhasa) and then put into the opium pipe for smoking and time disappears and miracles happen and it's all right here. That grace that we search for in church or try to capture through drugs like opium is right here all the time.
@chuckdiesel Very interesting comment and well thought out. BUT WRONG! You are misinterpreting the main clue: "silver will turn to gold" is obviously a reference to the alchemical process of transmuting substances into their "pure" essence. The dragon plays extensively in alchemical symbolism. Look into it chuckymeboy. Have a nice day.
@chuckdiesel Very interesting comment and well thought out. BUT WRONG! You are misinterpreting the main clue: "silver will turn to gold" is obviously a reference to the alchemical process of transmuting substances into their "pure" essence. The dragon plays extensively in alchemical symbolism. Look into it chuckymeboy. Have a nice day.
There is actually some debate in recent years on this and here's why: "snow" which is obviously coke, in this case, has been to possibly be crack cocaine, and here is why. YES chasing the dragon has traditionally meant smoking China White...heroin. YES Walter Becker had a massive heroin addiction. But they had just started doing crack with L.A. Laker Magic Johnson for which the other track Showtime was written.
There is actually some debate in recent years on this and here's why: "snow" which is obviously coke, in this case, has been to possibly be crack cocaine, and here is why. YES chasing the dragon has traditionally meant smoking China White...heroin. YES Walter Becker had a massive heroin addiction. But they had just started doing crack with L.A. Laker Magic Johnson for which the other track Showtime was written.
I put this song on repeat today before it finally hit me. Yes, this song is no doubt about smoking heroin. Heroin comes in two forms, the white powder which looks similar to cocaine which is ultra high quality and usually snorted or injected, or the less expensive black tar variety which is more commonly smoked or free based. I think in this song they are talking about the latter.
"I'm holding a mystical stone, it's direct from Lhasa" Black Tar heroin usually comes in a little ball or clump that looks like a pebble, and Lhasa as mentioned previously is in Tibet, which is a region known for the production of the drug.
"Tonight when I chase the dragon" Smoking heroin off of aluminum foil
"The water may change to cherry wine" In order to smoke black tar heroin, you have to dilute it with water and create a paste which can be spread on the aluminum foil, almost the consistency of toothpaste which has a ruby color, similar to cherry wine.
"The silver may change to gold" Once the substance is spread on the foil and heat is applied, the foil turns amber/golden from the burning of the drug, which creates the smoke, which is 'chased' by the user holding a hollow tube (like a straw) and inhaled.
"Time out of mind" Many heroin users describe the feeling of using heroin as a complete escape from reality, almost like an out of body experience, hence the feeling of spending time out of one's own mind.
"Son you better get ready for love" Heroin users almost exclusively express a love for this drug over any other. Most users develop what is called a "love affair with the needle" or whatever manner they choose to ingest it. They are just as tied to the drug as they are the means by which they use it.
"Keep your eyes on the sky, put a dollar in the kitty, don't the moon look pretty" One of the effect of the 'high' of heroin is that the users eyes will roll back in their head (or upwards) as the drug lulls the body into almost a coma like state. Put a dollar in the kitty speaks to the inexpensive nature of the drug. Don't the moon look pretty is pretty much all the user can look at, since their eyes are rolling upwards.
Just some of my thoughts.
@chuckdiesel Smoking opium, not heroin I don't think. Chasing the dragon refers to smoking opium. Opium is rolled into a ball (a sphere from lhasa) and then put into the opium pipe for smoking and time disappears and miracles happen and it's all right here. That grace that we search for in church or try to capture through drugs like opium is right here all the time.
@chuckdiesel Smoking opium, not heroin I don't think. Chasing the dragon refers to smoking opium. Opium is rolled into a ball (a sphere from lhasa) and then put into the opium pipe for smoking and time disappears and miracles happen and it's all right here. That grace that we search for in church or try to capture through drugs like opium is right here all the time.
@chuckdiesel Very interesting comment and well thought out. BUT WRONG! You are misinterpreting the main clue: "silver will turn to gold" is obviously a reference to the alchemical process of transmuting substances into their "pure" essence. The dragon plays extensively in alchemical symbolism. Look into it chuckymeboy. Have a nice day.
@chuckdiesel Very interesting comment and well thought out. BUT WRONG! You are misinterpreting the main clue: "silver will turn to gold" is obviously a reference to the alchemical process of transmuting substances into their "pure" essence. The dragon plays extensively in alchemical symbolism. Look into it chuckymeboy. Have a nice day.
There is actually some debate in recent years on this and here's why: "snow" which is obviously coke, in this case, has been to possibly be crack cocaine, and here is why. YES chasing the dragon has traditionally meant smoking China White...heroin. YES Walter Becker had a massive heroin addiction. But they had just started doing crack with L.A. Laker Magic Johnson for which the other track Showtime was written.
There is actually some debate in recent years on this and here's why: "snow" which is obviously coke, in this case, has been to possibly be crack cocaine, and here is why. YES chasing the dragon has traditionally meant smoking China White...heroin. YES Walter Becker had a massive heroin addiction. But they had just started doing crack with L.A. Laker Magic Johnson for which the other track Showtime was written.