Cod'ine

Album: It's My Way! (1964)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This much-covered number was penned by the folk singer Buffy Sainte-Marie and was originally a track on her 1964 debut album, It's My Way!
  • In 1963, recovering from bronchial pneumonia, Sainte-Marie became addicted to codeine; her recovery became the basis of this harrowing song.
  • Among the artists who have covered this are Donovan (who also had a hit with Sainte-Marie's "Universal Soldier"), Quicksilver Messenger Service and The Charlatans.
  • The Charlatans' version was used in the 1999 movie Boys Don't Cry, starring Hilary Swank.
  • Janis Joplin added new lyrics to this and recorded it in 1965. It went unreleased for 30 years until it was included on the album This Is Janis Joplin 1965.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Tomlin

Chris TomlinSongwriter Interviews

The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Ramones

RamonesFact or Fiction

A band so baffling, even their names were contrived. Check your score in the Ramones version of Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Bryan Adams

Bryan AdamsSongwriter Interviews

What's the deal with "Summer of '69"? Bryan explains what the song is really about, and shares more of his songwriting insights.