Comments: 51

• Scee0912 from MontrealIf you've got bad news, you want to kick them blues, cocaine
  When your day is done, and you want to run, cocaine
• Hugh Palmer from CanadaTo Ace Davis. To harsh on what creation is in music. From Jennings.
  
  Clapton] said to me, "I want to write a song about my boy." Eric had the first verse of the song written, which, to me, is all the song, but he wanted me to write the rest of the verse lines and the release ("Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees..."), even though I told him that it was so personal he should write everything himself. He told me that he had admired the work I did with Steve Winwood and finally there was nothing else but to do as he requested, despite the sensitivity of the subject. This is a song so personal and so sad that it is unique in my experience of writing songs.
• Ace Davis from From Nc, Live In HawaiiRobert is correct, total scumbag, also a racist, why does he get a pass calling Hendrix a "spade"? And Linc is wrong. Will Jennings wrote Tears in Heaven for that movie, it was repurposed to be about his kid for greed. As far as Layla, it was an Albert King song, Duane wrote both licks, even Rita Coolidge wrote the piano half, Crapton did steal the name from "Layla and Manjun". There's an interview with Bobby Whitlock explaining who wrote what, all the thief Crapton could do is nod his head sheepishly. Let's not forget his songwriting thievery began with Harrison writing Badge, 1st pressings say only Crapton wrote it, poor Ringo never got his credit. And is adding aaa-c-g, REALLY crapton writing Sunshine? Gingers drumbeat is far more important, no credit for him. So let's review, the height of his career was Cream 50+ years ago, and then a bunch of covers that he sometimes stole credit for, and the same 20 boring licks played since Cream. Even his version of cocaine, the main riff was stolen from Sunshine....
• Seventh Mist from 7th HeavenFor most of my life, I thought the lyrics were "She don't like...cocaine."
• Debbye from Oklahoma Luv the song Cocaine just cause it drives the cops up the wall and into crazytown!
• Jeff K. from Los AngelesSerious question- is there any relationship between this song and Post Toastee by Tommy Bolin? They came out around the same time. Did Bolin borrow Cale's riff?
• Grande from MichiganThe line "if your day is gone and you wanna ride on / don't forget this fact, you can't get it back"... So subtle! Totally anti-cocaine.
• Doug Fellers from VermontIn an interview, Clapton has said this was actually an anti drug song. If most people "misunderstand" your lyrics to be a pro cocaine song, then you are either a bad lyric writer, or lying.
• George from Vancouver, Canada@Earl in Daytona Beach, FL; you're close, the lyric is: "she don't lie(X3) Cocaine"
• Jim from Enid, OkEric Clapton's live version of this song was good. I liked the drumming. EC could never, in my mind, top the guitar playing that he did in the live, as well as the studio versions of Spoonful. Also, Cat's Squirrel. Jimi Hendrix expanded his song writing by use of special effect guitar components like the wah wah pedal, fuzz box and tremelo bar. He was open to trying new types of guitar special effects and composed phantastic songs with them.
• Earl from Daytona Beach, FlIs it me,or in the live version is the chorus [ she will lie,she will lie, she will lie cocaine?
• Jason from Santa Barbara, CaActually this song was released as a single on RSO records in 1977. I have it on 45.
• John from Brownsvalley, Caumm cory who would name their daughter cocaine?
• Erik from Brownwood, Txbrian is right! you can hear it... but its really quiet! might be a subliminal message?
• Brian from Boston, MaIf you listen to this song very carefully I think he might be talking about drugs.It's very subtle so listen carefully.
• Lisa from Melrose, WiI remember playing this over and over in the arcade in 80.
• Kenzi from Riverside, UtGrowing up we always thought that one of the verses said..... Legalize... Legalize... Legalize.. COCAINE. Maybe We just wanted it to say that lol.. but Thats how a group of us used to sing it. Oh the young and innocent... just thought I'd share !~
• Nandha from Jamshedpur, Indiathis here is a gr8 song...best part is the simplicity of the basic notes...easy to pick up unlike say hotel calif...and this gives u a lot of room to "IMPROVISE" or improvisation as said...give it a try & u'll feel real good
• Linc from Beaumont, TxBear in mind - that most singer are not song writers. You would be hard pressed to find a band that didn't cover a song or sing someone else's song at some time or another...even the Beatles. It's a form of flattery really to be imitated. And yes it can get old, but you know no one says anything about Elvis (did he ever write anything?)There is an entire industry that write songs and sell them to record labels or to singers. And I believe Clapton wrote Layla, You Look Wonderful Tonight, Tears in Heaven...Oh, and Clapton is a master guitarist! In fact his songs are some of the most difficult for musicians to master or "cover" because he often would tune his guitar to a minor third and play in a different position. He also played in the band Cream and wrote song with them so to say he "never" wrote anything and is a scum bag - not sure why would would think that. And also, if you hate him so why you would bother to comment at all...
• Robert from Los Angeles, Cablake is right. clapton was not graet, not good, not even descent. he was a washed up scum bag who had no originality and did covers. poeple who covered his songs made them famous, then years later people realize that clapton actually wrote and recorded it but it flopped so people like jimi hendrix had to cover it to make clapton look like he actually had something ggod out there. clapton bit big guys. he bit the big hairy one. sorry, that's the trurh.
• Blake from Tahlequah, Okok this song is pretty cool not the coolest ever but cool. I would have to agree with josh from westborough.
• Mark from San Francisco, CaWhen did Eric Clapton's version play on the air? Was it 1980 or sooner?
• Avery from Bucksport, MeThis is the best song by Eric Clapton..i think its so catchy and it has a good rythem
• Josh from Westborough, Masorry about that tirade in the above message. this song had a lot to do with studio 54. u would walk in and see 1000s of half-naked people, others behind the curtains having sex, and on the balcony they'd be serving cocaine. clapton was saying, if u wanted to hang out there, u pretty much had to do cocaine. otherwise, watching fat, naked senior citizens dancing might not be the way u want to spend ur saturday night.
• Josh from Westborough, Mai'm not sure, but i THINK this song is about cocaine. can someone clarify??? OF COURSE IT'S ABOUT COCAINE U (non-nice persons)!
• Jared from Sacramento, CaMeL, South Australia,
  Best clapton song??? only if this is the only one you've heard, come on, he has a huge list of amazing songs, this is good, but not the best sorry
  
• Ben from Charlotte, NcThe original song lyrics were "Champaign", not "Cocaine".
• Guy from Wellington, New ZealandLove J J Cale's version. The song has one of the greatest riffs ever created.
• Mike from Hastings, NeActually, the song was released as a single. Just got finished playing it on my turntable. It was the live version, released on the RSQ label in 1980. The flip side of the 45 is the song "Tulsa Time".
• Dan from New York, NyFun fact, Clapton stopped playing it for a while because he felt it gave people the wrong message about cocaine. When he brought it back to his set list, he arranged it so that the backup singers repeat the line, "that dirty cocaine." I dunno, i think its interesting.
• John from Southampton, PaThis song is definitely about Cocaine. I don't know how you could say otherwise, just look at the lyrics, this is how I see it:
  
  If you wanna hang out you've got to take her out.
  Cocaine.
  If you wanna get down, down on the ground.
  Cocaine.
  She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie;
  Cocaine.
  
  The first verse is a bit ambiguous. The second line, "If you wanna get down" is straightforward, Cocaine. And the third, well I take this to mean, "Cocaine don't lie, cocaine don't lie, cocaine don't lie." Basically, things come out when you are on Cocaine that generally tend to be the truth.
  
  "When your day is done and you wanna run. Cocaine." Basically, when you're feeling beat and need that pick-me-up, Cocaine.
  
  "Don't forget this fact, you can't get it back.
  Cocaine." I think of this as an innocence thing. Once you do it, you've done it and can't go back. It's always with you.
• Zoloft from Milton, WvPinkard and Bowden did a classic parody titled "Propane". You gotta hear it. It's HILARIOUS.
• Mel from South Australia, Australiahow ironic is it that some artists best material came out during their lowest times... best clapton song...
• Danielle from West Chester, OhTheres no puns or metaphors to make you think anything else! It is strictly about cocaine as the song is titled. Look up the cause an effects of cocaine but view it as what the consumer sees an how it makes you feel! Its speed and hes describing it when you want to do it. Come on people, its not like your all angels on here someone can relate this!
• Kartik from Peace River, CanadaI think the song is talking about cocaine for the first verse, saying god knows what. Then its' saying what it does to you in the second verse and saying it's bad at the very end but i dunno. Kinda vague.
  And there's nothign wrong with making a parody about Kurt Cobain. He was popular at the time and that was before he died, so it wouldn't be like disrespecting the dead
• Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScI know what you mean Robert. It's another way of saying "Duh!!"
• J from Atl, GaSeriously, is this song about drugs???
• Cory from Boonville, InCould it possibly be about a girl named cocaine. Erics mom doesnt like her, but he continues to see her anyway? Just a thought.
• Martijn from Helmond, Netherlands"Jimi's version is very good too." I think this came about after he died, so that would be quite a feat in itself. B.t.w. calling J.J. Cale a blues player is stretching things a bit.
• Ali from East Lansing, MiDoes anyone agree with me that this song satirizes drug use more than promotes it? The lyrics are sort of built like a cheesy commercial for the new product "Cocaine".
• Gerald from Stockton, CaActually, Tim, someone did do "Rogaine". I don't remember who did it, but I do remember hearing it on Dr. Demento's radio show in the early 1990s.
• Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScDaniel from Australia. C'mon! I think most people would be surprised if the song wasn't about drugs. Hence the name cocaine.
• Tim from Oklahoma City, OkI'd like to hear somebody do a "Rogaine" version (if it hasn't been done already.)
• Daniel from Werribee, AustraliaMy theory is that this song is about Drugs.
• Matt from Millbrae, CaBob Rivers is a jackass! How dare he release a song making fun of Kurt Cobain (I'm enraged even though it was 11 years ago).
• Dan from City, CaThis song is # 58 on Guitar World magazine's 100 greatest guitar solos list.
• Liquid Len from Ottawa, CanadaA live version of this was released around 1980, I remember the radio would play it a lot, I think it got to around #5 in the charts. And it went on and on and on way longer than it should have.
• Blake from Kennesaw, Gai like Eric Clapton, and he is one of the greatest guitarest ever, but ever notice how most of his songs are covers, in hs solo career and also with Cream they had many covers
• Brady from Fort Stockton, Txmy friend and i both thought it would be a good idea for the senior song our freshman year-because his brother and his friends were all into coke
• Victor from Vienna, Vathis is probably the coolest, most badass song ever
• Andrew from Springfield, MoJimi's version is very good too

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