Chilton said in the September 1994 issue of Guitar Player that he considers himself a "musical performer, not a songwriter" and that some of his songs sound only "half-baked" to him. Nonetheless, his compositions have been performed by a number of artists, including Teenage Fanclub, This Mortal Coil, The Bangles, Wilco, Graham Coxon, Garbage, Tom Bradbury, Son Volt, Counting Crows, Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, Superdrag, Evan Dando, Cat Power, Yo La Tengo, Placebo, Xiu Xiu, and His Name Is Alive. The Replacements wrote the song Alex Chilton in his honor on their 1987 Pleased to Meet Me album, produced by Jim Dickinson in Memphis.
On March 17, 2010, Alex Chilton died of an apparent heart attack in a hospital in New Orleans. He was 59.
If You's a Viper
Alex Chilton Lyrics
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Dreamed about a reefer five feet long
Mighty Mezz but not too strong
You'll be high but not for long
If you's a viper.
I's the king of everything
Light me a tea and let it be
If you's a viper.
When your throat get dry you know you're high
Everything is dandy
Truck on down to the candy store
Bust your konk on peppermint candy.
Then you know you're body's spent
You don't care if you don't pay no rent
Sky is high and so am I
If you's a viper, yeah.
When your throat get dry you know you're high
Everything is dandy
Truck on down to the liquor store
Bust your konk on peppermint candy.
Then you know you're body's spent
You don't care if you don't pay no rent
Sky is high and so am I
If you's a viper, yeah.
The song "If You's a Viper" by Alex Chilton is a tribute to the use of marijuana, also known as "viper," as a means of escape and relaxation from the stresses of daily life. The lyrics describe the experience of smoking a joint, the feeling of being high and carefree, and the physical and mental effects of the drug. The line "dreamed about a reefer five feet long, mighty Mezz but not too strong" refers to jazz musician Mezz Mezzrow, who was known for his love of marijuana and was a popular figure in the jazz scene in the 1930s and 40s.
The song's protagonist, who claims to be the "king of everything," needs to be high before he can "swing," or feel like himself. The act of lighting a joint is described as "light me a tea," and the lyrics suggest that smoking is a communal experience: "let it be." The chorus warns that the high won't last forever, but also implies that the experience is worth it: "You'll be high but not for long, if you's a viper."
The song also references other ways of getting high, such as drinking and eating candy, but suggests that smoking marijuana is the best way to achieve a carefree state of mind: "When your throat get dry you know you're high, everything is dandy."
Line by Line Meaning
Dreamed about a reefer five feet long
I had a dream about smoking a particularly long joint.
Mighty Mezz but not too strong
It was a blend of different strains, but not too potent.
You'll be high but not for long
The high won't last forever.
If you's a viper.
If you're someone who smokes marijuana regularly.
I's the king of everything
When I'm high, I feel like I rule the world.
I've got to be high before I can swing
I need to be high to feel inspired and creative.
Light me a tea and let it be
Pass me a joint and let me smoke it in peace.
When your throat get dry you know you're high
A sign of being high is having a dry throat.
Everything is dandy
Everything feels good and carefree.
Truck on down to the candy store
Head over to the store to satisfy cravings for sweets.
Bust your konk on peppermint candy.
Chew on some peppermint candy to refresh your breath and soothe your throat.
Then you know you're body's spent
Once you've smoked and eaten, you'll feel tired and relaxed.
You don't care if you don't pay no rent
When you're high, you're carefree and unconcerned about responsibilities like paying rent.
Sky is high and so am I
The sky is beautiful and limitless, and I feel the same way when I'm high.
If you's a viper, yeah.
Again, this refers to being a regular marijuana smoker.
Truck on down to the liquor store
Go to the liquor store to buy more alcohol.
Bust your konk on peppermint candy.
Use peppermint to mask the smell of alcohol on your breath.
Contributed by Matthew W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.