Born James Alan Hull in Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne on 20th February1945, he became a member of the band The Chosen Few alongside keyboard player Mick Gallagher in 1962. He supported himself one year by working as a nurse at a mental hospital while appearing as a folk singer and guitarist in local clubs before helping to form Brethren and Downtown Faction, which evolved into Lindisfarne in 1970. He also released a one-off solo single, "We Can Swing Together", which was re-recorded with the group on their first album, Nicely Out of Tune, and became a regular favourite in their stage performances.
As the group's most prolific songwriter and joint lead vocalist, Hull came to be regarded as its leader. In 1972, dissatisfied with the sound and critical reception of their third album Dingly Dell, he considered leaving the group, but instead he and joint lead vocalist Ray "Jacka" Jackson formed a new six-piece Lindisfarne the following year, leaving the three other original members to form Jack the Lad. He also released a first solo album, Pipedream, in the same year, and published a book of poems, Mocking Horse.
Lindisfarne disbanded in 1975, and Hull released a second solo album, Squire, then formed the short-lived Radiator, which also included drummer Ray Laidlaw of Lindisfarne and Jack the Lad. At the end of 1977 the original line-up of Lindisfarne reformed after a well-received Christmas show at the Newcastle City Hall which was broadcast on local radio. Thereafter he combined his musical career as front man of the group with a solo career. He was also a staunch Labour Party activist.
In 1994, he recorded Back to Basics, a live all-acoustic survey of the best of his songwriting from 1970 onwards. On 17th November 1995 whilst working on a new album, Statues & Liberties, Hull died suddenly of a heart thrombosis, at the age of fifty.
Drug Song
Alan Hull Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Woe is me, I'll never roll a joint no more.
I took some speed and ran 'round in circles
A thousand miles, a thousand miles or maybe even more.
I took a trip to find me a better self
But I only found I'd merely lost all common sense.
Marijuana, why do you want me
Constantly ? Very close indeed to me.
If you drive me mad, you'll make mother very sad
And she'll maybe even cry, she'll maybe shade a tear
When she sees my coffin go gliding by.
The lyrics of Alan Hull's "Drug Song" tackle the dangers and consequences of drug abuse in a poignant and introspective manner. The first line sets the tone of the song with a sense of regret and remorse. The singer seems to have come to the realization that their drug use has led to a point of no return-- so much so that they have ruined their ability to roll a joint, even if they wanted to. The second line, "Woe is me, I'll never roll a joint no more," is a clear indication that whatever pleasure the singer derived from drugs is no longer worth the cost.
In the following lines, the singer describes their experiences using other drugs, such as speed. The repetition of "a thousand miles, a thousand miles or maybe even more" suggests a frenzied, almost out-of-control state of mind. The singer yearns to find a better version of themselves, but instead realizes that their drug use has only made them lose all common sense. The last stanza brings a sense of finality to the song, warning of the damage that drug use can inflict not only on oneself but also on loved ones. The singer's mother is portrayed as a tragic figure who will weep over her child's self-inflicted demise.
Overall, Alan Hull's "Drug Song" is a powerful commentary on the dangers of drug use, weaving together regret, anxiety, and loss. The lyrics paint a bleak picture of the effects of addiction and the difficulty of breaking free from its grasp.
Line by Line Meaning
I rolled a joint and crushed it on the floor
I wasted some marijuana by crushing it on the floor and lament that I won't be able to smoke it.
Woe is me, I'll never roll a joint no more.
I feel sorry for myself because I wasted the marijuana and won't have another opportunity to roll a joint.
I took some speed and ran 'round in circles
I consumed speed drug which made me run around in circles quickly and without direction.
A thousand miles, a thousand miles or maybe even more.
I ran around so aimlessly that it felt like I covered thousands of miles without a clear destination.
I took a trip to find me a better self
I went on a journey to search for a better version of myself.
But I only found I'd merely lost all common sense.
Unfortunately, the journey didn't help me improve myself; instead, I lost all sense of rational thought and judgment.
Marijuana, why do you want me Constantly?
I question why I am constantly drawn towards marijuana and why it appeals to me so much.
Very close indeed to me.
Marijuana seems to have a strong attraction and influence on me.
If you drive me mad, you'll make mother very sad
If drug addiction makes me lose my mind, my mother will be very upset and may cry when she sees my casket being carried in the funeral procession.
And she'll maybe even cry, she'll maybe shade a tear When she sees my coffin go gliding by.
The sight of a son losing his life to drug addiction can be so sorrowful that it may even make a mother cry and shed tears when she sees his funeral procession.
Contributed by Declan W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.