This song is almost definitely about drugs. There is no reason for anyone to have an "illegal smile" without the use of illicit substances otherwise it would have no reason to be an illegal smile.
It sounds like he had a bad LSD trip, in the beginning he says he's having a crappy day so he decides to drop acid (which is an obvious mistake for someone experienced with LSD to make) then he gradually progresses through the story ending up in his closet where he experiences irrational paranoia and delusions.
The chorus of the song seems to take defense of the drug
The randomness at the end seems just like an LSD sort of thing too. Hot Dog Bun, My Sister's a Nun. Lots of people tripping their nuts off will say strange things, I've seen people recite their ABC's, list different types of cars for 3 hours, or simply just say anything that rhymes rapid fire.
Also an "illegal smile" moment to Ted Kooser... I read that as "I was stoned out of my mind when I wrote this."
Either way it's a good song...but definitely about drugs whether he'll admit it or not. If it was just vague references within the lyrics it'd be another story but everything is explicitly stated in the song and parallel with a heavy psychedelic intoxication of some sort.
I definitely agree with your points about the paranoia and the "word salad" lines at the end.
I definitely agree with your points about the paranoia and the "word salad" lines at the end.
Regarding Prine's denials about this song, does anyone have the verbatim quote? Did he deny that it was about drugs period, or did he make what TVTropes.org calls a "suspiciously specific denial" by saying it wasn't about weed specifically? If the latter, that adds credence to the LSD theory.
Regarding Prine's denials about this song, does anyone have the verbatim quote? Did he deny that it was about drugs period, or did he make what TVTropes.org calls a "suspiciously specific denial" by saying it wasn't about weed specifically? If the latter, that adds credence to the LSD theory.
This song is almost definitely about drugs. There is no reason for anyone to have an "illegal smile" without the use of illicit substances otherwise it would have no reason to be an illegal smile.
It sounds like he had a bad LSD trip, in the beginning he says he's having a crappy day so he decides to drop acid (which is an obvious mistake for someone experienced with LSD to make) then he gradually progresses through the story ending up in his closet where he experiences irrational paranoia and delusions.
The chorus of the song seems to take defense of the drug
The randomness at the end seems just like an LSD sort of thing too. Hot Dog Bun, My Sister's a Nun. Lots of people tripping their nuts off will say strange things, I've seen people recite their ABC's, list different types of cars for 3 hours, or simply just say anything that rhymes rapid fire.
Also an "illegal smile" moment to Ted Kooser... I read that as "I was stoned out of my mind when I wrote this."
Either way it's a good song...but definitely about drugs whether he'll admit it or not. If it was just vague references within the lyrics it'd be another story but everything is explicitly stated in the song and parallel with a heavy psychedelic intoxication of some sort.
I definitely agree with your points about the paranoia and the "word salad" lines at the end.
I definitely agree with your points about the paranoia and the "word salad" lines at the end.
Regarding Prine's denials about this song, does anyone have the verbatim quote? Did he deny that it was about drugs period, or did he make what TVTropes.org calls a "suspiciously specific denial" by saying it wasn't about weed specifically? If the latter, that adds credence to the LSD theory.
Regarding Prine's denials about this song, does anyone have the verbatim quote? Did he deny that it was about drugs period, or did he make what TVTropes.org calls a "suspiciously specific denial" by saying it wasn't about weed specifically? If the latter, that adds credence to the LSD theory.