So conclusively, in Clapton’s own words, it is up to the listener whether or not this mellow song encourages them to get stoned or not. But that being noted, as time progressed Eric was compelled to slightly modify the wording, at least during live performances, to really-really make sure that the intended message got across. In other words, he didn’t want to sound too patriarchal with what, in actuality, is “an anti-cocaine song”. And yes, considering his style of delivery as well as the ambiguity of the track’s wording (which he didn’t write), this classic does tread a thin line between sounding pro-drug and anti-drug.īut all things considered even in the 1970s popular musicians weren’t running around, overtly dropping pro-drug songs like that. In the 1960s yes, perhaps a bit more so, but even then they would rely on metaphors to get their point across. That may be one of the reasons, even if subconsciously so to speak, that many people actually consider this to be a pro-cocaine song. But such is not the case. Rather Clapton, under his estimation, felt that if “Cocaine” was too heavily imbued with an anti-drug message, then those who most direly need to digest the lyrics would rather just ignore them.
And it was during that time, being highly dependent on drugs for his musical creativity even, in which Clapton ironically dropped this song. Thankfully he was able to kick the habit in the early 1970s. But unfortunately he replaced it with alcohol and cocaine abuse.