James Brown – Public Enemy No. 1, Pt. 1

Vuonna 1972 James Brown ensin julkaisi singlenä King Heroin -kappaleen ja muutaman kuukauden kuluttua jatkoi aiheesta tällä kaksiosaisessa Public Enemy -biisillä.

”You know, this is James Brown

I’m such a lover of people
because people did so much for me
I’m a lover of humanity, all of mankind
and I feel that He who has been successful
should look out for his fellow brother,
I feel that is my role, that is my job

I know when i was a kid,
see I was going to be a preacher, huh, ay
maybe I am, but I feel like I’m a teacher, somewhat,
because i’ve been able to experience things that most, the poor,
or a lot of other people have never been able to, even the rich.

So I’ll start by preaching right here,
because I want to preach to you one more time about heroin.

I talked once before, now I want to preach.
i want to start by saying
I heard heroin talking one more time and said

From where I came, nobody knows
I come from the land where the poppy seed grows
a whole nation gathered to plot my destruction
because I’m a breeder of crime and wholesale corruption
…you say, I’m pure and then undilluatable
and once I’m in your blood I make it pursuitable

now only they say sing it on son,
sing it on son, she says i’ve lost my son, he’s gone away
sing it on son, you might save a life

I said madam, lookie here,
I say, on the record and make all men
that date to use it will wallow in sin
driven then to commit a world of crime
…captive their will and destroy their mind
they changed their lives and destroyed the meek
misuser of fools and made the strong men weak.

I know!!
wait a minute,
lookie here,
they take gold from the rich and made them poor
take young foolish maden and made her a whore.
look at that!

and then I heard, about that time,
I heard a man in the corner,
he was sitting down with his head down low,
I noticed him when he first walk in

and he was addicted to drugs and he said I feel it,
and brother I want to getup and testify
so everybody started screamin and hollerin and crying
I saw a little tears coming from my eye, because I know I felt it
and this brother got up and said, let me have it!
I want to tell you everything! Talk to a man that knows!

he said, some will sell me and some will buy
for a state of affection and they cause high
but regardless of the position, and reason of use
you control my addition, and I give nothing but abuse

he said let me tell you about heroin,
and the full cause of torment
for its pleasures and pain
it will take all of your money and poison your brain

lord, I started singing, mmmmm
the place started rocking a little bit
I heard someone tapping their foot, and they said sing on brother
I started humming a little in the back ground
and then that brother said wait a minute

he said, beware of the sharp needle brother
it’ll make you sick
annoint angels and won’t let you kick
it’ll make you hustle, steal, borrow and beg
I’m still talking about that bad thing, king heroin
when you want to look for a vein in your arm or your leg

…I felt so bad I didn’t know what to do.

he said, more more precious than diamonds, more treasured than gold
more potent than whiskey, more gathered than wine
it’ll just give you discomfort, and no peace of mind

and when you come out the nod you’ll always be aware,
you shot every drop into your heart
and its full of fear

now you must rush out and hit another sting
praise me, as I oh heroin the king

but he said be quick my friend, get off your knees!
oh yeah!!! get off your knees.
you’re up tight and accept no pleas”

Gil Scott-Heron – Angel Dust

”He was groovin’
and that was when he coulda sworn
the room was movin’
But that was only in his mind
He was sailin’
he never really seemed to notice
vision failin’
’cause that was all part of the high
Sweat was pourin’ —
he couldn’t take it
The room was exploding —
he might not make it.

Angel Dust
Please, children would you listen.
Angel Dust
Just ain’t where it’s at.
Angel Dust
You won’t remember what you’re
missin’, but down some dead end streets
there ain’t no turnin’ back.

They were standin’
ev’rybody in a circle;
the whole family
listening to the preacher’s words
Sis was cryin’
She alone held all the secrets
’bout his dyin’
tears fallin’ to earth
Maybe her fault
He was so trusting
God only knew why
they was dustin’!

Angel Dust
Please children would you listen.
Angel Dust
Just ain’t where it’s at.
Angel Dust
You won’t remember what you’re
missin’, but down some dead end streets
there ain’t no turnin’ back.”

Sly and the Family Stone – (You Caught Me) Smilin

Sly and the Family Stonen 1972 singlena julkaistu biisi kuvaa tilannetta, jossa biisin kertoja on pilvessä tai tripillä ja tämä huomaa kaverinsa havainneen olevansa tripillä. Hmmm… hankalasti selitetty, mutta sanat kertonevat paremmin:

”You caught me smilin’ – again
You caught me smilin’ – again

Hangin’ loose,
’Cause you ain’t used to seein’ me turned on.

You caught me smilin’ – again
You caught me smilin’ – again

I’ll be gone,
And it won’t take you long to climb a tree about me.

You caught me smilin’ – again
You caught me smilin’ – again

I ain’t down
I’ll be around to carry on

You caught me smilin’ – again
You caught me smilin’ – again

In my pain
I’ll be sane to take your hand.”

Marvin Gaye – Flyin’ High (In the Friendly Sky)

Biisi löytyy Marvinin klassiselta Whatäs Going on albumilta. Kyseessä taitaa olla heroiiniaddiktion kuvaus.

”Flying high in the friendly sky
Flying high without ever leavin’ the ground, no
Rest of the folks are tired and weary
Oh Lord, and have laid their bodies down.
I go the place where danger awaits me
and it’s bound to forsake me.
So stupid minded.
I can’t help it
oh ya, so stupid minded.
But I go crazy when I can’t find it,
In the morning, I’ll be alright, my friend.
But soon the night will bring the pains,
The pain, oh the pain
Flying high in the friendly sky
Without ever leaving the ground
And I ain’t seen nothing but trouble baby
Nobody really understands, no no
And I go to the place where the good feelin’ awaits me
Selfdestruction in my hand
Oh Lord, so stupid minded
Oh and I go crazy when I can’t find it
Well I know I’m hooked my friend
To the boy who makes slaves out of men.
And oh beleive me
Flying high in a friendly sky
Oh baby, flyin’ high”

Curtis Mayfield- Freddie’s Dead

Tässä lauletaan aivan hemmetinmoisen liikuttavasti hyväksikäytetyn pikkunistin kuolemasta. Upea biisi.

”Freddie’s dead
That’s what I said
Let the rap a plan
Said he’d see him home
But his hope was a rope
And he should’ve known
It’s hard to understand
That there’s love in this man
I’m sure all would agree
That his misery was his
Woman and things
Now Freddie’s dead
That’s what I said

Everybody’s misused him
Ripped him up and abused him
Another junkie plan
Pushing dope for the man
A terrible blow
But that’s how it goes
A Freddie’s on the corner now
If you want to be a junkie, wow
Remember Freddie’s dead”