#54

One Toke Over The Line

Artist: Brewer and Shipley
Album: Tarkio
Released: 1970

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Notes

This song was one of my first introduction to the drug culture. With any interpretation of the song you start with the "toke" which as a 12 year old I learned was a hit off a marijuana cigarette. It seems to be saying - I've taken one too many hits, and now I'm sitting in a rail station waiting for a train to get out of here. Or it can be taken as I've done too much of (name your pleasure).

Naturally, these two obscure artists became public enemy #1 in 1970 for the Nixon administration. They dared to admit that toking was ok. Next came Jonathan Edwards with "Shanty" and it was all over from there.

Check out the video below of the country duo Gail Farrell and Dick Dale singing "One Toke" on the Lawrence Welk Show in 1971. It's clear the singers have no clue that they're singing about marijuana.


Additional Resources

5:15
Live performance including intro
2:22
Gail Farrell and Dick Dale perform on the Lawrence Welk Show


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