Cocaine
Southern Tenant Folk Union Lyrics
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I own houses and land
The more I own the less I hold dear
My darling young wife
Doesn't understand
Looks through me as if I was not here
Cocaine
The devil is marching around in my brain
Cocaine
Cocaine
What's happening to me
Won't someone explain
Cocaine
Cocaine
The devil is marching around in my brain
Cocaine
Cocaine
What's happening to me
Won't someone explain
I made a deal with the devil
And I pray it comes true
You would love me as much as I love you
But Satan he laughed
Put me down in my place
The only one you love is in the mirror staring back at your face
Cocaine
Cocaine
The devil is marching around in my brain
Cocaine
Cocaine
What's happening to me
Won't someone explain
Cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine
The Southern Tenant Folk Union's "Cocaine" is a haunting song about addiction and the lengths it can drive people to. The first verse introduces the singer as a wealthy man who owns property and possessions, but finds that the more he has, the less he cares about them. His wife, who is likely younger than him ("darling young wife"), does not seem to understand him or see him as a vital presence in her life. The chorus then comes in, repeating the word "Cocaine" with ominous emphasis.
The second verse reveals the source of the singer's troubles: he has made a deal with the devil in the hope of gaining his wife's love. The devil has not delivered on this promise, instead mocking the singer and revealing that his love is only self-directed. The chorus repeats again, intensifying the sense of dread and confusion. By the end of the song, the singer is lost in the grip of addiction and desperately seeking some explanation for what is happening to him.
Overall, the lyrics of "Cocaine" portray addiction as a devilish force that can seduce and destroy even the most successful and wealthy people. The repeated refrain of "Cocaine" serves as a reminder of the substance's insidious power, and the sense of despair and longing in the verses encapsulates the dark emotional toll of addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a wealthy man
I have a lot of money
I own houses and land
I possess multiple properties
The more I own the less I hold dear
As I accumulate more material possessions, they become less valuable to me
My darling young wife
My spouse who I love deeply
Doesn't understand
She does not comprehend my inner struggles
Looks through me as if I was not here
She ignores me and acts like I am invisible
Cocaine
A highly addictive drug that has taken hold of my life
The devil is marching around in my brain
I feel like I am being controlled by an evil force inside my head
What's happening to me
I am confused and scared about the changes in my behavior and personality
Won't someone explain
I am reaching out for help and understanding
I made a deal with the devil
I have made a pact or agreement with a negative or destructive force
And I pray it comes true
I hope that my desires will be fulfilled
You would love me as much as I love you
I wish that my love for someone would be reciprocated equally
But Satan he laughed
My hopes and dreams have been mocked by the devil
Put me down in my place
The devil has made me feel insignificant or unworthy
The only one you love is in the mirror staring back at your face
The only person I truly love or care about is myself, which is reflected in my drug use
Cocaine
A powerful addiction that continues to consume me
Cocaine
A destructive substance that has taken over my life
Cocaine
A harmful drug that I am struggling to break free from
Cocaine
A dangerous habit that is destroying me from the inside out
Writer(s): Eamonn Flynn Copyright: Santa Mira Songs
Contributed by Dominic G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.