The most commonly known song titled "Cocaine" was written and recorded by J.J. Cale in 1975. It was famously covered by Eric Clapton. There are many other songs with the same or similar titles, such as Davy Graham's "Cocaine" and Blind Gary Davis' "Coco Blues", causing some confusion as to who wrote it. Despite these mix-ups, full writing credit for the song "Cocaine" covered by Clapton is given to J.J. Cale. This article is about the musical composition. ... J.J. Cale (born December 5, 1938) is an American songwriter and musician, best known for writing two songs that Eric Clapton made famous, After Midnight and Cocaine . He is one of many artists that play the Tulsa Sound. ... An album or record album is a collection of related audio or music tracks distributed to the public. ... For other uses, see September (disambiguation). ... See also: 1970s in music. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the genre. ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Mercury Records is a record label currently headquartered in the UK, and is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... J.J. Cale (born December 5, 1938) is an American songwriter and musician, best known for writing two songs that Eric Clapton made famous, After Midnight and Cocaine . He is one of many artists that play the Tulsa Sound. ... Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE[2] (born 30 March 1945) [3], nicknamed Slowhand, is a Grammy Award-winning English rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. ...

The song's message

Contrary to popular belief, “Cocaine” is an anti-drug song, according to Eric Clapton:

“It’s no good to write a deliberate anti-drug song and hope that it will catch. Because the general thing is that people will be upset by that. It would disturb them to have someone else shoving something down their throat. So the best thing to do is offer something that seems ambiguous--that on study or on reflection actually can be seen to be ‘anti’--which the song “Cocaine” is actually an anti-cocaine song. If you study it or look at it with a little bit of thought... from a distance... or as it goes by… it just sounds like a song about cocaine. But in actual fact, it is quite cleverly anti-cocaine.”^[1]

Over the years, Clapton has added the lyrics 'that dirty cocaine' in live shows to underline the anti-drug message of the song. Clapton was a heavy heroin user in the early '70s (upon his return to England after recording Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, he was spending £1500 per week), and got off it in 1974. He eventually founded the Crossroads Centre in Antigua to help others who are fighting addiction. For other uses, see Heroin (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Eric Clapton chronology Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is a blues-rock album by Derek and the Dominos. ... The Crossroads Centre is a drug and alcohol addiction rehabilitation centre located on the island of Antigua. ...

Clapton has also commented:

“...that’s an anti-drug-song. The fans only listen to the refrain: ‘She don’t lie, she don’t lie, cocaine.’ But it says, ‘If you wanna get down, down on the ground, cocaine.’ It’s sad how young people destroy themselves with drugs. I hate listening to my old records, which I did stoned or drunk.”^[2]

Performances and cover versions

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Glyn Johns produced the Clapton recording. He had previously worked with The Who, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. Clapton has also recorded several other songs written by Cale, including "After Midnight" and "Travelin' Light". Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Glyn Johns (born February 15, 1942 in Epsom, Surrey, England) is a recording engineer and record producer. ... The Who are a British rock band that first formed in 1964, and grew to be considered one of the greatest[1] and most influential[2] bands in the world. ... For the bands 1969 eponymous debut album, see Led Zeppelin (album). ... This article is about the rock band. ... After Midnight is a blues song written by J.J. Cale. ...

Clapton played "Cocaine" at The Crossroads Guitar Festival. Although Cale was present, Clapton played this without him. Clapton would later join Cale when he played his set, which included "After Midnight". In 1988, Elton John and Mark Knopfler joined Clapton on stage to perform this at the 6th annual Prince's Trust Rock Gala. Proceeds from the show went to charity. The Crossroads Guitar Festival was a music festival and benefit concert first held in 2004 and again in 2007. ... After Midnight is a blues song written by J.J. Cale. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Mark Freuder Knopfler OBE (born August 12, 1949, Glasgow, Scotland) is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and film score composer. ... The Princes Trust is a UK based charity headed by HRH The Prince of Wales. ...

The song was also covered by Scottish rock band Nazareth appearing (in a live recording) on their album The Fool Circle, and by the guitarist Andy Taylor (ex-Duran Duran) on his album "Dangerous". For other uses, see Nazareth (disambiguation). ...

Usage in film and television

In Michael Moore's 2004 documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, the guitar line of the song is played once while the camera is showing George W. Bush's blacked-out medical records, a clear reference to allegations that Bush used cocaine.^{[citation needed]} Michael Francis Moore (born April 23, 1954) is an American political-activist, a film director, author, social commentator, and political humorist. ... Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to document reality. ... Fahrenheit 9/11 is a controversial, award-winning documentary film by American left-wing filmmaker Michael Moore which presents a critical look at the presidency of George W. Bush, the War on Terrorism, and its coverage in the American news media. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the forty-third and current President of the United States of America, originally inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Allegations of substance abuse have arisen during the political career of George W. Bush. ...

The song was featured in the 2004 movie Starsky & Hutch, during a montage sequence of cocaine trafficking. The song was also used in the 2005 movie Lord of War, during a scene concerning, fittingly, cocaine. The song is also played in the VH1 show The Drug Years when the show examines cocaine use. Starsky & Hutch is a 2004 American comedy/action film directed by Todd Phillips. ... Lord of War is a 2005 film written and directed by Andrew Niccol and starring Nicolas Cage. ...

References

1. ^ The Best of Everything Show, with Dan Neer
2. ^ Stern magazine, Germany, 1998