King Heroin

Greg Edwards, James Brown

About King Heroin

"King Heroin" is an anti-drug song by James Brown, David Matthews, Manny Rosen and Charles Bobbit. Brown recorded this poem set to music at a studio in New York with session musicians in January 1972 and released it as a single in March. It was his fifth single for Polydor Records and reached number six on the U. S. Hot Soul Singles chart and number forty on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring. The song was included on Brown's 1972 album There It Is. The poem was originally written by Rosen, who worked at the Stage Delicatessen on Seventh Avenue in midtown Manhattan. It was written from the point of view of the drug, and explained in graphic detail by first-person narrative the effects heroin addiction has on people who use it, from fashion models neglecting their looks, to "the most virile of men losing their sex," to committing murder, to cold turkey withdrawal. Rosen's poem was then set to music by Brown, his arranger David Matthews, and Brown's manager Charles Bobbit. Brown added an intro to start off the piece, referring to heroin as "one of our most deadly killers in the country today"; and towards the end, he noted, "This is a revolution of the mind" – referring to the title of his 1971 live concert album recorded at the Apollo Theater in New York. 


Year:
2003
3:54
47 
#2

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Ladies and gentlemen
Fellow Americans
Lady Americans
This is James Brown

I wanna talk to you about one of our
Most deadly, killers in the country today
I had a dream the other night, and I
Was sittin' in my living room

Dozed off to sleep
So I start to dreamin'
I dreamed I walked in a place and
I saw a real strange, weird object

Standin' up talkin' to the people
And I found out it was heroin
That deadly drug that go in your veins
He says

I came to this country without a passport
Ever since then I've been hunted and sought
My little white grains are nothin' but waste
Soft and deadly and bitter to taste

I'm a world of power and all know it's true
Use me once and you'll know it, too
I can make a mere schoolboy forget his books
I can make a world-famous beauty neglect her looks

I can make a good man forsake his wife
Send a greedy man to prison for the rest of his life
I can make a man forsake his country and flag
Make a girl sell her body for a five-dollar bag

Some think my adventure's a joy and a thrill
But I'll put a gun in your hand and make you kill
In cellophane bags, I've found my way
To heads of state and children at play

I'm financed in China, ran in Japan
I'm respected in Turkey and I'm legal in Siam
I take my addicts and make 'em steal, borrow, beg
Then they search for a vein in their arm or their leg

So, be you Italian, Jewish, Black or Mex
I can make the most virile of men forget their sex
So now, no, my man, you must, you know, do your best
To keep up your habit until your arrest

Now the police have taken you from under my wing
Do you think they dare defy me, I who am king
Now, you must lie in that county jail
Where I can't get to you by visit or mail

So squirm, with discomfort, wiggle and cough
Six days of madness, you might throw me off
Curse me in name, defy me in speech
But you'd pick me up right no if I were in your reach

All through your sentence you've become resolved to your fate
Hear now young man and woman, I'll be waitin' at the gate
And don't be afraid, don't run, I'm not chased
Sure my name is Heroin, you'll be back for a taste

Behold, you're hooked, your foot is in the stirrup
And make, haste, mount the steed and ride him well
For the white horse of heroin will ride you to Hell, to Hell
Will ride you to Hell until you are dead
Dead, brother, dead

This is a revolution of the mind
Get your mind together
And get away from drugs
That's the man
Back, back

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James Brown

James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of funk music and is a major figure of 20th century popular music and dance. more »

2 fans

Written by: CHARLES BOBBITT, CHARLES FRED BOBBITT, DAVE MATTHEWS, JAMES BROWN, MANNY ROSEN

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Composition
"King Heroin" is a spoken word song written and composed by James Brown, Manny Rosen, Dave Matthews, and Charles Bobbit; it is a rarity in Brown's music catalog as it doesn't follow his standard groovy funk style.
Album Release
The song was released in 1972 as part of James Brown's album titled "There It Is."
Inspiration
The song represents a stark warning against drug usage, specifically heroin. It was inspired by the detrimental impact of drug addiction that Brown witnessed within the music industry and his community.
Billboard Ranking
Upon release, "King Heroin" rapidly climbed the charts and secured a position at #6 on the Billboard R&B chart and #40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Narrative Structure
The song has a distinctive structure, with James Brown speaking over a slow, mournful rhythm section and the lyrics mimicking the perspective of the drug, personifying heroin as a merciless king in the lives of addicts.
Social Impact
At a time when drug addiction was growing in the US, especially within urban communities, the song played a part in raising public awareness about the devastating effects of heroin usage.
Anti-drug Advocacy
"King Heroin" signified Brown's stance against drugs and his efforts to curb drug addiction, cementing his role as an anti-drug advocate.
Song Imprints
The song's poignant lyrics, such as “My strength will make you curse the day you tried me”, and unique spoken-word style left unfading impressions on its listeners.
Critic Reception
The song was well-received by critics for its candid take on drug culture, being hailed as a powerful anti-drug anthem.
Legacy
James Brown has since became known for his fervently anti-drug position; the lingering influence of "King Heroin" echoes in his later works and interviews. This song solidified his social standing not just as a musician, but as a leader opposing drug abuse.

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    King Heroin

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1972

    Billboard #40


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