Personnel changes resulting from the departure of several original band members resulted in Quist, Robinson, Reichenberg, and Bergeron reforming the group as The Montana Band in 1981. They had some national success and, described as "well-adapted to today's modern country sound," were being favorably compared to major groups of the time such as Alabama and the Oak Ridge Boys. After the departure of Quist, Terry Robinson was the only remaining original band member when a plane crash killed all then-members of the Montana band in 1987.
The surviving M2WB members reunited in 1992 and began to play periodic reunion concerts from that time forward, released a compilation of their work in 2005, and after adding new members to the band, produced two additional albums in 2011 and 2014. Their fan base and concert experience was compared favorably to that of the Grateful Dead. The band was the subject of a 2009 PBS documentary, Never Long Gone: The Mission Mountain Wood Band Story.
The band was formed in 1971 when guitarist and banjo player Rob Quist, from Cut Bank, Montana and bassist Steve Riddle from Libby met as members of the University of Montana's "Jubileers", an audition-only singing group. They soon recruited other University of Montana (UM) students, starting with guitarist and Kalispell native Terry Robinson as lead vocalist. They performed as an acoustic three-piece group before adding two more UM students originally from Billings: Christian Johnson on guitar, mandolin and fiddle, and drummer Greg Reichenberg. They were mentored by Joseph Musselman, a music professor at the university, and all band members were proficient on at least two instruments. They took their band name from the nearby Mission Range of mountains.
Their public debut was in Bozeman, Montana in 1971 as the opening act for Rare Earth. Their band logo was designed by Missoula artist Monte Dolack. The band was influenced by folk and traditional country music traditions as well as contemporary bands of the time such as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Band members also credit the influence of Jonathan Edwards. A 1974 fundraiser performance helped propel a then-young politician, Max Baucus, to victory in his first race for the United States House of Representatives.[5] Baucus later returned the favor when as a U.S. Senator, he introduced the band (sitting in the balcony) from the floor of the Senate chambers as "Montana's Favorite Sons".
Take a Whiff on Me
Mission Mountain Wood Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stormin' the avenues two by two
Oh lord honey take a whiff on me
Said Sue "It'll be able to do a little more harm
To have this one little shot in the arm
Oh lord honey take a whiff on me
Everybody take a whiff on me
Hey, hey honey take a whiff on me
Take a whiff take a whiff take a whiff on me
Everybody take a whiff on me
Hey, hey honey take a whiff on me
Tell it to me boy tell it to me
Drink corn liquor let your cocaine be
Oh lord honey take a whiff on me
Cocaine for horses, not for men
Docs says t'will kill ya
But he don't says when
Oh lord honey take a whiff on me
Take a whiff take a whiff take a whiff on me
Everybody take a whiff on me
Hey, hey honey take a whiff on me
Take a whiff take a whiff take a whiff on me
Everybody take a whiff on me
Hey, hey honey take a whiff on me
Yeah way up high upon that hill
Lies the body of Cocaine Bill
Oh lord honey take a whiff on me
And in the graveyard by his side
Lies the body of his Cocaine bride
Oh lord honey take a whiff on me
Take a whiff take a whiff take a whiff on me
Everybody take a whiff on me
Hey, hey honey take a whiff on me
Take a whiff take a whiff take a whiff on me
Everybody take a whiff on me
Hey, hey honey take a whiff on me
It's a whiff-a-ree, an-a whiff-a-rye
Gotta keep on whiffin' until I die
Oh lord honey take a whiff on me
Now all the whiffin gonna make you dead
If you don't stop putting' that stuff in your head
Oh lord honey take a whiff on me
Take a whiff take a whiff take a whiff on me
Everybody take a whiff on me
Hey, hey honey take a whiff on me
Take a (snort) take a (snort) take a (snort) on me
Everybody take a (snort) on me
Hey, hey honey take a whiff on me
(Yodeling)
The lyrics to Mission Mountain Wood Band's song "Take A Whiff On Me" seemingly describe different experiences and perceptions of drug use. The first verse talks about using cocaine and morphine with the lines, "Cocaine doing a little morphine soon, stormin' the avenues two by two." The following lines encourage the listener to join in, "Oh lord honey take a whiff on me," which may be an invitation to participate in drug use or a satirical quip on the nonchalant attitude toward drug use at the time. The second verse references a person giving in to peer pressure with the line, "Said Sue 'It'll be able to do a little more harm to have this one little shot in the arm." The song goes on to mention a graveyard and the potential peril of using drugs. The lyrics seem to present a cautionary tale of the risks and consequences of drug use, while also hinting at the allure and social pressures surrounding it.
The chorus of the song, "Take a whiff take a whiff take a whiff on me, everybody take a whiff on me, hey hey honey take a whiff on me," appears to showcase the contagious and persuasive nature of peer pressure regarding drug use. It may also serve as a commentary on how certain behaviors become glamorized through socialization.
Overall, the song "Take A Whiff On Me" is a representation of the attitudes and experiences surrounding drug use in its time. It seems to be a cautionary tale, highlighting both the appeal and dangers of drug use. The song also examines the social constructs that pressure individuals to engage in harmful behaviors.
Line by Line Meaning
Cocaine doing a little morphine soon
Combining cocaine and morphine
Stormin' the avenues two by two
Going out to buy drugs in pairs
Oh lord honey take a whiff on me
Asking someone to try drugs with them
Said Sue "It'll be able to do a little more harm
Encouraging someone to take more drugs
To have this one little shot in the arm
Suggesting injecting drugs
Take a whiff take a whiff take a whiff on me
Repeated offers to try drugs
Everybody take a whiff on me
Urging everyone to try drugs
Hey, hey honey take a whiff on me
Inviting someone specifically to try drugs
Tell it to me boy tell it to me
Asking someone to share their drug stories
Drink corn liquor let your cocaine be
Using alcohol to enhance drug effects
Cocaine for horses, not for men
Warning against using cocaine
Docs says t'will kill ya
Acknowledging the risks of using drugs
But he don't says when
Implying the uncertainty of the timeline for drug-related harm
Yeah way up high upon that hill
Referencing someone who died from drug use
Lies the body of Cocaine Bill
Naming the person who died from drug use
And in the graveyard by his side
Naming the person's partner who also died from drug use
It's a whiff-a-ree, an-a whiff-a-rye
Describing a string of drug uses like a chant
Gotta keep on whiffin' until I die
Acknowledging a commitment to drug use
Now all the whiffin gonna make you dead
Warning against excessive drug use
If you don't stop putting' that stuff in your head
Encouraging someone to stop drug use
Take a (snort) take a (snort) take a (snort) on me
Suggesting snorting drugs
Yodeling
Musical interlude
Writer(s): Ledbetter, Mission Mountain Wood Band
Contributed by Olivia A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.