Robben Ford Discussion

Daved · Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 9:55 am Post subject: Song Search

Hey, I have a question for you all that you might be able to help me with.

As I listen to some old Donovan stuff, his version of Codine reminds me of a question I've had rattlin' around my brain for decades.

In the late 60's, members of the top local band (Sweet Wine) in my home town would often, onstage and at parties/hangouts, break into a song they called "Cocaine". They often stated that it was a cover.

There is the tune "Codine", covered many times, by many bands, thruought the years (My favorite version being that done by the Welsh band, Man)... and there is, of course, Clapton's classic "(She Don't Like) Cocaine"... but this is a simply structured, blues-esque tune (tho they often broke into psychedelic versions) with a chorus that goes:

"Cocaine, cocaine. It's about enough to drive a man insane.
Cocaine, cocaine, rattlin' 'round my brain."

I have been searching for a recorded version of this song for, as previously stated, literally decades. Are any of you familiar with this song, and any history (who wrote it, who may have covered it, and any prominent recordings I might be able to find)?

Thanx for any help or suggestions.
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B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)

BlueRunner · Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:22 am Post subject:

Daved: Jeeeesh. Did you just dig up some memories, or what? In 1966-67 I played stand-up bass in a folksinging group called "The Bunch." We were all in high school, but through links from the folks who booked us for regular gigs at Larry Blake's Rathskeller in Davis we ended up playing all over Northern California, mainly at college-type parties. Anyway, our lead singer/guitarist (who's now the Dean of Arts & Sciences at the University of Virginia) did a song called "Cocaine" that I think is the one you're thinking of. Never knew where it came from, or where he'd heard it, but a web search yields sources that claim it was first recorded by Luke Jordan in the late 1920's. The lyrics I found closely match what I remember about our group's version:

Every time me and my baby go uptown,
Police come and they knock me down.
Cocaine run all 'round my brain.

Yeah, baby, come here quick,
This old cocaine 'bout to make me sick.
Cocaine run all 'round my brain.

Yonder come my baby, dressed in red,
She's got a shotgun, says she's gonna kill me dead.
Cocaine run all 'round my brain.

Early one mornin', half past four,
Cocaine knockin' at my door.
Cocaine run all 'round my brain.

You take Mary, I'll take Sue,
Ain't no difference 'twixt the two.
Cocaine run all 'round my brain.

Yeah, baby, come here quick,
This old cocaine 'bout to make me sick.
Cocaine run all 'round my brain.

Started down Beall Street and I'm turnin' up Main,
Lookin' for a gal that sells cocaine.
Cocaine run all 'round my brain.

Well, I reached into my pocket, grabbed my poke,
Note in my pocket said, ""No more coke.""
Cocaine run all 'round my brain.

Cocaine's for horses, not for men,
They tell me it'll kill me, but they won't say when.
Cocaine run all 'round my brain.

Yeah, baby, come here quick,
This old cocaine 'bout to make me sick.
Cocaine run all 'round my brain.
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- BlueRunner

mayer · Member Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 24

The Luke Jordan version is actually called "Cocaine Blues"... Johnny Cash did a song by the same name, covered by a bunch of people, but totally different lyrics/tune.

It's a typical alternating bass fingerstyle blues in C.

The main artist associated with this song was Rev. Gary Davis. He recorded several versions of this going back to the late 1930s, and you can find them all on amazon.

Dylan played it a lot in the early sixties (hence the folkie tie that BR mentioned above) and also recoded it again in the late 90s on "Lovesick". It also appears on the "Minnesota Hotel Tape" from 1961.

I saw John Prine do it live a long time ago, and think it appears on one of his older albums.
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- Mayer

point11 · Member Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 11 Location: calgary

I recalled in my late teens, there was a song titled "Cocaine" by Jackson Browne's Running on Empty" album ( yes, that what we called those LP records at that time) some time in 1977 that my friend was playing everytime that I went to his house. My friend really like that song comped only by an acoustic guitar.

Daved · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 8:47 am Post subject:

Thanx for the tips, particularly the Luke Jordan ones. I'll have to do some research along those lines as the lyrics Blue posted do seem to come close to how my clouded memories recall the song.

And BTW, Blue, you and I must have been covering some of the same territories in those heady days of the later 60's. I grew up in Stockton, graduating High school in '67, which means my teen music years centered around the whole Central & Northern Valley areas, mostly from Davis, Sac, and Lodi down to Modesto, Manteca, & Fresno, and from the San Francisco bay (San Jose, Berkley, Sausalito & S.F itself, of course) to the small towns of the West Sierras & their foothills.

An incredible period of amazing musical & cultural experiences!

And Point, interesting that you bring up the Jackson Browne reference as I have been thinking lately about buying the "Running On Empty" CD. That was always my favorite of JB's catalogue & I had forgotten that there was a "Cocaine" song on it.... I can't even remember how his tune goes.
_________________
B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)

BlueRunner · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 5:39 pm Post subject:

Daved: You and I are exactly the same age. And Davis and Stockton probably weren't that different. While folks wouldn't believe it by looking at our current photos, I'll be that like me, you had hair that actually touched the tops of your ears. Which meant that the Vice Principal for Discipline was always on your case about looking like a hippie. I'd also venture that you thought that San Francisco was the apex of the musical world (except that some of those guys from L.A., e.g., Doors, Buffalo Springfield, Byrds, etc.) were sort of OK. UC Davis was a great source of new musical experiences. One of my favorite memories is going to hear Big Mama Thornton, back up by a band that called themselves The Worlocks. They had this guy Jerry somethingorother playing guitar who was pretty good. Wonder whatever happened to them.
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- BlueRunner