The Pusher
Encyclopedia
"The Pusher" is a rock
song written by Hoyt Axton
, made popular by the 1969 movie Easy Rider
which used Steppenwolf
's version to accompany the opening scenes of drug trafficking.
The lyrics of the song distinguish between a dealer in drugs such as marijuana—who "will sell you lots of sweet dreams"—and a pusher of hard drugs such as heroin—a "monster" who doesn't care "if you live or if you die".
released a cover version
of the song on their 1968 album Steppenwolf. When performing the song publicly in the late 1960s, the repeated lyric "God Damn" was often controversial, most notoriously in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
, where City officials attempted to force the band to use a euphemism (such as "Gosh darn") rather than the actual lyric. Though the band promised not to sing the line, at John Kay
's urging, the audience obliged by loudly filling in the offensive words at the appropriate places in the song.
Organist Goldy McJohn, who recorded the original Steppenwolf version, said the version that appears on Early Steppenwolf
performed by "Sparrow" (pre Steppenwolf moniker) in 1967 at the Matrix came about when singer John Kay and Jerry Edmonton
were late for a performance:
apparently did not record "The Pusher" himself until he included it on his 1971 album, Joy to the World.
Nina Simone
included a soulful version of this song on her 1974 album, It Is Finished
. She was evidently untroubled by the lyrics, since she is well known for writing and recording an even fiercer song, "Mississippi Goddamn" (appearing on her 1964 album Nina Simone In Concert
).
The band Blind Melon
also did a version of "The Pusher" with a completely different perspective. The late Shannon Hoon sings about how the pusher got him addicted to drugs. Rather than the original lyrics reading "with tombstones in their eyes", he sings "with these tombstones in my eyes", and the chorus lyrics were changed from "God damn the pusher man" to "God damn that bible-pushing man", referring to hard drugs being as important in Shannon Hoon's life as the bible is to many others. It can be found as the first track on their third album Nico
(released in 1996). This is not intended to be a religious song - the one lyric referring to the bible is not a biblical reference, it is a drug addiction reference. This song can also be interpreted, and more likely, to mean that the singer is tired of bible-pushers "pushing that thorny crown onto [his] head so hard" to the point that his "knees are two inches in the ground."
The band Cowboy Mouth
covered the song for the soundtrack of the movie "Half Baked".
Canadian rockers Helix
released a cover of "The Pusher" on their 1998 CD half-ALIVE.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
song written by Hoyt Axton
Hoyt Axton
Hoyt Wayne Axton was an American country music singer-songwriter, and a film and television actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice. As he matured, some of his songwriting efforts became well...
, made popular by the 1969 movie Easy Rider
Easy Rider
Easy Rider is a 1969 American road movie written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Terry Southern, produced by Fonda and directed by Hopper. It tells the story of two bikers who travel through the American Southwest and South with the aim of achieving freedom...
which used Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
's version to accompany the opening scenes of drug trafficking.
The lyrics of the song distinguish between a dealer in drugs such as marijuana—who "will sell you lots of sweet dreams"—and a pusher of hard drugs such as heroin—a "monster" who doesn't care "if you live or if you die".
Steppenwolf version
The song was made popular when rock 'n' roll band SteppenwolfSteppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
released a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the song on their 1968 album Steppenwolf. When performing the song publicly in the late 1960s, the repeated lyric "God Damn" was often controversial, most notoriously in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
, where City officials attempted to force the band to use a euphemism (such as "Gosh darn") rather than the actual lyric. Though the band promised not to sing the line, at John Kay
John Kay (musician)
John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...
's urging, the audience obliged by loudly filling in the offensive words at the appropriate places in the song.
Organist Goldy McJohn, who recorded the original Steppenwolf version, said the version that appears on Early Steppenwolf
Early Steppenwolf
Early Steppenwolf is a collection of live recordings by the band Steppenwolf when they were still known as "The Sparrow" [nee: "The Sparrows"]. It was released in 1969 under the label ABC Dunhill Records...
performed by "Sparrow" (pre Steppenwolf moniker) in 1967 at the Matrix came about when singer John Kay and Jerry Edmonton
Jerry Edmonton
Jerry Edmonton was the drummer for the rock band, Steppenwolf.He was born Gerald McCrohan in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Both he and his brother Dennis, also known as Mars Bonfire, changed their surnames to Edmonton during the 1960s, when they performed in a group called The Sparrows...
were late for a performance:
- NickNick St. NicholasNick St. Nicholas is a bassist, and is best known for his membership in Steppenwolf from 1968 to 1970, and then again from 1976 to 1980. After World War II, his family moved to Toronto and became Canadian citizens. Sister Maren joined the Canadian Ballet Company & Conservatory of Music as pianist...
and MarsMars BonfireDennis Edmonton , also known by the stage name Mars Bonfire, is a Canadian rock musician and songwriter, best known for writing the hit song "Born to Be Wild" for Steppenwolf....
and me started that long version of the Pusher. John and Jerry's flight was late one night at the Avalon Ballroom, so we started and then we perfected it at the "Arc" in Sausalito on New Year's Eve in 1966.
Other versions
Songwriter Hoyt AxtonHoyt Axton
Hoyt Wayne Axton was an American country music singer-songwriter, and a film and television actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice. As he matured, some of his songwriting efforts became well...
apparently did not record "The Pusher" himself until he included it on his 1971 album, Joy to the World.
Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
included a soulful version of this song on her 1974 album, It Is Finished
It Is Finished
It Is Finished is the title of an album by Nina Simone, originally released in 1974 and her last work for RCA Records.-Track Listing:# "The Pusher" - 5:10# "Com' by H'Yere" - 5:50...
. She was evidently untroubled by the lyrics, since she is well known for writing and recording an even fiercer song, "Mississippi Goddamn" (appearing on her 1964 album Nina Simone In Concert
Nina Simone in Concert
Nina Simone in Concert is an album by singer/pianist/songwriter Nina Simone. It was her first album for the record label Philips and was made up of three live recordings in Carnegie Hall, New York City in March and April 1964...
).
The band Blind Melon
Blind Melon
Blind Melon is an American rock band active from 1989 to 1999, and from 2006 onward.Best remembered for their 1993 single "No Rain", the group enjoyed critical and commercial success in the early 1990s with their neo-psychedelic take on alternative rock...
also did a version of "The Pusher" with a completely different perspective. The late Shannon Hoon sings about how the pusher got him addicted to drugs. Rather than the original lyrics reading "with tombstones in their eyes", he sings "with these tombstones in my eyes", and the chorus lyrics were changed from "God damn the pusher man" to "God damn that bible-pushing man", referring to hard drugs being as important in Shannon Hoon's life as the bible is to many others. It can be found as the first track on their third album Nico
Nico (album)
Nico is the third album by the band Blind Melon, released in 1996 by Capitol Records. The album was released after lead singer Shannon Hoon's cocaine overdose that resulted in his death in 1995. The album was named for his daughter, Nico Blue, and the proceeds arising from album sales were placed...
(released in 1996). This is not intended to be a religious song - the one lyric referring to the bible is not a biblical reference, it is a drug addiction reference. This song can also be interpreted, and more likely, to mean that the singer is tired of bible-pushers "pushing that thorny crown onto [his] head so hard" to the point that his "knees are two inches in the ground."
The band Cowboy Mouth
Cowboy Mouth
Cowboy Mouth is a rock band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Their name usually means "One with a loud and raucous voice". The nucleus of the band formed in the 1990s, and they have become a powerhouse live act whose performances have been likened to "a religious experience."Some of their most...
covered the song for the soundtrack of the movie "Half Baked".
Canadian rockers Helix
Helix (band)
Helix are a Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band. They formed in 1974, and are best known for their 1984 single "Rock You". The original lineup was formed by drummer Bruce Arnold, and consisted of lead vocalist Brian Vollmer, guitarists Ron Watson and Rick "Minstrel" Trembley, keyboardist Don...
released a cover of "The Pusher" on their 1998 CD half-ALIVE.
Cultural references
- This song appeared in the movie and soundtrack Easy Rider, along with SteppenwolfSteppenwolf (band)Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
's "Born to be WildBorn to Be Wild"Born to Be Wild" is a rock song written by Mars Bonfire and made famous by the Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. It is often used in popular culture to denote a biker appearance or attitude...
". - In the movie Pulp FictionPulp Fiction (film)Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino, who co-wrote its screenplay with Roger Avary. The film is known for its rich, eclectic dialogue, ironic mix of humor and violence, nonlinear storyline, and host of cinematic allusions and pop culture references...
by Quentin Tarantino, the character played by Uma Thurman imitates the song's line "I said God damn!" while using cocaineCocaineCocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. - The song appears in the film Tropic ThunderTropic ThunderTropic Thunder is a 2008 American action satire comedy film written, produced, and directed by Ben Stiller, and starring Stiller, Robert Downey, Jr., and Jack Black. The main plot revolves around a group of prima donna actors who are making a Vietnam War film...
. - It was also used in the Top Gear limousine challenge when Richard HammondRichard HammondRichard Mark Hammond is an English broadcaster, writer, and journalist most noted for co-hosting car programme Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, as well as presenting Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky 1.-Early life:...
showed his MGFMGFMGF may stand for:* MG F, a 1995 mid-engined, rear wheel drive roadster manufactured by the Rover Group* Machine Gun Fellatio, an Australian alternative band* Magnesium fluoride...
-based limo. - The song also appears during the final episode ("Return to Queens Boulevard") of the fifth season of HBO's TV series: Entourage.
- In the TV show Clone HighClone HighClone High is a Canadian-American animated television series that aired for one season on MTV and Teletoon....
, an episode entitled "Raisin the Stakes" employs a character known as "The Pusher" who is voiced by Jack Black.