Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Neil was one of the songwriters who for a time worked out of New York City's famous Brill Building. He has often been called a pioneer of the folk rock & singer-songwriter musical genres; his most frequently cited disciples are Tim Buckley, Harry Nilsson, and the Jefferson Airplane, but his most prominent descendants have been Stephen Stills, James Taylor, Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell. In concert appearances, as well as the liner notes for his 2003 album, Meet Me In Margaritaville: The Ultimate Collection, Jimmy Buffett called Neil "one of my heroes." Some of Neil's early compositions were recorded by Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison; he played as a session guitarist on hits by Bobby Darin and Paul Anka. In 1968, Nilsson recorded a cover version of Neil's song "Everybody's Talkin'," which became a huge hit a year later when it was featured in the film Midnight Cowboy.
Neil was an accomplished professional musician atypically inclined to a very modest frugality. "Candy Man", his first of two Top-40-hit compositions, substantially introduced him to a sufficient income stream for life in his early 20's; he became increasingly disinclined to work if he did not feel like it. Consequently his two fully realized albums (see next paragraph) are remarkable for their singularly unpretentious authenticity. His combination of baritone vocal and 12-string guitar remains unusual, and his combo recordings provide his shimmering melodies with muscular grooves; but his exemplarity is that of resolving the apparent opposition between aesthetic integrity and commercial value almost entirely in favor of aesthetic integrity, which gives all of his recordings a unique historical resonance.
He had debts to previous singer-songwriters such as Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, Chuck Berry and Hank Williams (Senior); but his approach to melody was more in the manner of Cole Porter and to rhythm very much in the school of Ray Charles. His popularly acclaimed albums are "Bleecker & MacDougal" (also known as A Little Bit of Rain) without drums (1965) and "Fred Neil" (also known as Everybody's Talkin') in (1966), made during his residences in the Greenwich Village section of lower Manhattan in New York City and in Coconut Grove, Florida, respectively.
The reigning web expert in (October) 2005 has been Richie Unterberger. The Rick O'Barry interview at the dedicated website (fredneil.com) claims that a third fully realized album, Neil's "Stuff Sessions" of 1978, was never released by Columbia. The unreleased "Walk on the Water" album was recorded at Bayshore studios in Coconut Grove, with a second set of sessions taking place in NJ with the group Stuff.
After the mid 1970s he ceased to maintain a residence in Woodstock, New York, and spent his remaining decades enjoying life on the shores of southern Florida. His last public performance was in 1981 coffeehouse concert in Coconut Grove where he joined Buzzy Linhardt onstage.
Fred Neil died of natural causes in 2001.
Sweet Cocaine
Fred Neil Lyrics
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I say cocaine
Cocaine
Runnin? round your heart
Runnin? round your brain
Yeah bittersweet
Come on quick
Cocaine make him poor boy
So sick
Oh sweet mama
When I thought you understood
You got no connections
It?s just no good for me
Hey sweet cocaine
I say cocaine
Cocaine
Runnin? round your heart
Runnin? round your brain
Yeah bittersweet
In Fred Neil's song "Sweet Cocaine", the lyrics dive deep into the dangerous addiction of cocaine, making references to the drug being able to control the heart and brain of the user. The opening lines of the song are "I say cocaine, cocaine, running round your heart, running round your brain, yeah bittersweet." The use of the phrase "bittersweet" shows how the singer is well aware of the negative impact of the drug, yet is still drawn to it.
The song also touches on the impact cocaine has on relationships, specifically the relationship between the singer and "sweet mama". The lines "Oh sweet mama, when I thought you understood, you got no connections, It's just no good for me" allude to the singer's disappointment in his partner not understanding the grip that cocaine has on him. While the song describes the negative effects of cocaine, the repetitive use of the phrase "sweet cocaine" shows the allure and temptation of the drug.
Overall, "Sweet Cocaine" is a cautionary tale about the consequences of drug addiction and the toxic impact it can have on relationships. The lyrics encourage the listener to stay away from harmful substances that can completely take over one's life, while also acknowledging the power of addiction and the difficulties that come with trying to break free from it.
Line by Line Meaning
I say cocaine
I am referring to cocaine as a subject of my song
Cocaine
Cocaine is a drug that affects the heart and brain
Runnin' round your heart
Cocaine affects the heart, it pumps more blood causing a faster heartbeat
Runnin' round your brain
Cocaine affects the brain, it releases dopamine and causes euphoria
Yeah bittersweet
The feeling of being on cocaine is pleasurable, but has negative consequences
I say come on mama
I am addressing a woman, referencing to cocaine as a female
Come on quick
Encouraging the female to take the drug quickly
Cocaine make him poor boy
The drug is addictive and can cause financial and personal ruin
So sick
The effects of cocaine can make you feel physically ill and mentally unstable
Oh sweet mama
Referencing to cocaine as 'sweet', the addiction is hard to resist
When I thought you understood
The singer feels that the woman understands the addictiveness of cocaine
You got no connections
The woman may have no sources to acquire cocaine
It's just no good for me
The drug is detrimental to the singer and their well-being
Hey sweet cocaine
The singer addresses cocaine again, acknowledging its hold over them
I say cocaine
Reiterating the subject of the song
Cocaine
Cocaine is a drug that affects the heart and brain
Runnin' round your heart
Cocaine affects the heart, it pumps more blood causing a faster heartbeat
Runnin' round your brain
Cocaine affects the brain, it releases dopamine and causes euphoria
Yeah bittersweet
The feeling of being on cocaine is pleasurable, but has negative consequences
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: FRED NEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind