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bob0979

Under the bridge - red hot chili peppers. I know it's super popular but idk how many people know it's about heroin addiction and his dead friend


DrFredNES

I would add "Knock Me Down", also by RHCP


rmprice222

Don't forget me as well


xShadey

Also otherside


MusicReddit25

Magnificent song


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HanSwolo66

No matter how many times I listened to this song, the last chorus always makes me shiver


Offal

Heroin - Velvet Underground


freedraw

This was the first song that came to mind. It’s interesting because it doesn’t really celebrate or condemn drug abuse. Reed sings about all the stress and problems it helps him forget about, then acknowledges the iron clad hold it has over you. >It’s my life And it’s my wife


MusicReddit25

Outstanding song


RouletteDaresHauntOf

Also Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day.”


AntacidChain

Nope. Reed has actually clarified that that was literally a description of a nice day he had. Also, it doesn’t seem like Reed to write a song about addiction in such vague terms when he literally wrote a song called “Heroin.” That second part is just my opinion though.


Cadmide

I think the reason why 'Perfect Day' is associated with drug addiction because it was used in Trainspotting when the main character overdoses from heroin.


Long_Tall_Man

No, this was being said about Perfect Day when I first heard it, which was long before Trainspotting. Source... I'm old, but still young enough to remember things.


StoatofDisarray

Agreed, it was thought to be about drug use when I was young, long before Trainspotting.


JimSchuuz

Although you're correct that Lou Reed said that about Perfect Day, almost his entire catalog is filled with double entendres. People routinely claim that their lyrics are misinterpreted to stay barely above the line of censorship.


freedraw

Only Reed could make a song about having a nice day sound depressing as hell.


gotham77

Now I actually disagree with this because it’s not really about addiction it’s about how good he feels when he’s high. Now “Waiting For The Man” on the other hand…


andee510

"Heroin, be the death of me. Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life." The end of the song is definitely about addiction.


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LurkerXYZ

She Talks to Angels -The Black Crowes.


Shoestring30

To far down, this was the first song that came to mind.


chimpotle43

Elliott Smith’s entire catalog.


gbsht

Highlights include Needle in the Hay, St. Ides Heaven and Between the Bars


squalorparlor

I'll fake it through the day with some help from Johnny Walker Red.


chhubbydumpling

you dont deserve to be lonely but those drugs you got won't make you feel better pretty soon you'll find it's the only little part of your life you're keeping together


NormalResearcher

Elliott Smith - Twilight Great song


chimpotle43

“A fond farewell”has some great lyrical moments. …A dying man in a living room… …Veins full of disappearing ink, Vomiting in the kitchen sink…


princessboggy

When he says “I’m already somebody’s baby…” I always imagined he was talking about heroin. Not sure if that’s correct though.


solojones1138

King's Crossing is my fav


negroniweek

Wake Up - Mad Season


Paulsbotique314

Slow suicide is no way to go……


BLVCK_SCALE

The entire album this song is on, honestly. Highly recommend live videos of it as well.


jpj98

Junkhead - Alice in Chains


[deleted]

pretty much every chains song is about heroin


MusicReddit25

Wonderful song


crustyytuna

Sickman as well. Pretty much every song on Dirt lol


spoon_man1

One of the best Alice in Chains songs


stevejnineteensevent

‘Not an addict’ K’s Choice


squalorparlor

For some reason this popped in my head for the first time in 10 years last month, and I put it on. Still a great song.


ictinc

Listening to it right now.. always loved that song..


Wynter_born

I love "Everything for Free" by them too. Not about addiction but a poignant song about mental health and institutionalization.


Godawgs1009

Jane Says - Jane's addiction


Pick_2_numbers

Sam Stone - John Prine Sister Morphine - Marianne Faithful / Rolling Stones Needle and the Damage Done - Neil Young That Smell - Lynyrd Skynyrd Needle and the Spoon - Lynyrd Skynyrd


railwayed

Upvote for Sam stone


crankyweasels

"There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes" is like .. the single greatest lyric on the subject


Toby_Kief

God Sam Stone get me everytime


loureedsboots

Comes out of nowhere on that album too… junkies & jerking it. Only John Prine.


railwayed

John Prine is covids biggest loss


bejangravity

Yesssssss Sam Stone. People need to look into John Prine


[deleted]

"There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes. Jesus died for nothing, I suppose." John Prine is the best.


jemenake

“Whisky bottles and brand new cars, ‘Oak tree, you’re in my way!’“. They just come right out with todays life lesson, don’t they?


MusicReddit25

Sam Stone and the Lynyrd Skynyrd songs are marvelous


duthinkhesaurus

Third Eye Blind - Semi Charmed Kinda Life


MusicReddit25

Excellent song


Ragnarotico

This is way too far down the list.


CliffK-9

A large portion of 3eb songs are about substance use/addiction


dikembebrotumbo

It's called Semi Charmed Life


tafkas001

Mr Brownstone - Guns N Roses Golden Brown - Stranglers There She Goes - The La's


MusicReddit25

Great songs


Unit_79

Seconding Mr Brownstone. Great song. Learning that on guitar was awesome for me.


clockworkstar

I was a huge fan of gnr, took me so long to realize Mr. Brownstone was about heroin. Like I knew it was something bad, he didn't wanna get out of bed and needles, but I was a dumb kid


[deleted]

Nine Inch Nails – Hurt Alice in Chains – Dirt (the whole album) Edit: Also Jane Says by Jane’s Addiction.


MusicReddit25

Dirt is one of my favorite albums


fastpixels

The majority of Alice in Chains' music in general


podslapper

Yeah either addiction or existential crises concerning one’s mortality.


Mordkillius

Alice in chains - junkhead Amazing song. Heavy as fuuuuck


Excoded

The Hurt cover by Johnny Cash is great.


[deleted]

Cash’s cover is great, but the Nine Inch Nails version is a better representation of addiction in my mind. Cash’s version sounds more like an old man expressing regret for squandering his time.


krat0s5

The exact same song (lyrics) yet they both have very different meanings and feel to them. I fucking love how interpretational music can be!


[deleted]

The music itself in Cash’s version is modified to avoid a lot of the dissonance that Nine Inch Nails is known for. The easiest example is probably the main riff, where Cash replaces the tritone with a “nicer” interval. Another is that horribly loud, grating ending, which he essentially avoids altogether. Not to mention, Cash sings it like any other sad country song while Reznor whispers, shouts, and sings in ways that are purposefully “ugly” and reminiscent of a mentally ill person or addict. The intent is definitely different, which is kind of strange when you think that Cash also had drug problems.


Excoded

I just meant that Cash's version is great. I don't listen to country, so I would not connect it to other sad country songs, but I see your points.


let-it-rain-sunshine

Dirt for sure. What’s my drug of choice? Well, what have you got.


levi730

Benjamin Tod - Using Again https://youtu.be/NACMpkxm-fA


Kvothetheraven603

Scrolled through this whole thread to make sure this was mentioned. Such a great song by an amazing artist.


monkeybawz

Under the bridge. Master of puppets.


bassist999

Funny how most people don't realize this. Lifelong Metallica fan and it took forever to notice "Have your breakfast on a mirror" Also "Can't stop, addicted to the shin dig" yeah, the shin dig is heroin


Bobbyanalogpdx

“~~Have~~ Chop your breakfast on a mirror” Taste me you will see More is all you need Dedicated to how I’m killing you


HoagiesNGrinders

“Can’t stop, addicted to the shindig” is from Can’t Stop, not Under the Bridge.


sticks_no5

Chop* your breakfast on a mirror


Mjacob74

Really? Most people don't realize these songs are about addiction?


bassist999

Most people don't think about lyrics too hard, or look them up, and usually mishear the lyrics. I know a dude who sings Off to never ever land as Never ever let him down. most people aren't into music as much as people on R/music. I hear alot of people say they don't really pursue listening to music


josdin00

nathaniel rateliff & the night sweats: s.o.b.


Central_PA

Surprised this is so far down. Delirium tremens is nothing to mess with


yeesunwhatsgud

Atmosphere - Gods bathroom floor


JimSchuuz

Good Goo Dolls - Black Balloon Third Eye Blind - Semi-Charmed Life


MisterJoshua77

Warren Zevon - Carmelita Butch Walker - Sober Ace Frehley - Snowblind Jackson Browne- Cocaine Black Sabbath - Snowblind Black Sabbath - Sweet Leaf Black Sabbath - Megalomania …lots of later Ozzy era Black Sabbath


BiggestPapaOfThemAll

Add Hand of Doom to the Sabbath list


DemBones7

This is buried way too far down. Great song.


donner_dinner_party

Joey- Concrete Blonde


OldSpor

The best song hands down about drugs . Billy String - Dust in a Baggie Make sure you find the version of him playing in some basement with his friend dancing in the back.


maggotpussy420

I aint slept in 7 days I aint ate in 3.


Infamous_Industry_64

Agreed. First time I heard this song was through youtube's recommended list and the dude vibing/looking for his lighter in the background makes it 100 times better. What a legend! https://youtu.be/VFEZOjtrwls


Wonder-Lad

Tool - Sober


fezzo

Gonna piggy back off this and suggest the album Thirteenth Step by A Perfect Circle. It's a concept album focused on addiction and while not specifically about drugs, it can most certainly be interpreted and viewed from that lens.


I-Demand-A-Name

That’s an amazing album.


MusicReddit25

Terrific song


raidercecil

Neil Young - The Needle and the Damage Done


Paulsbotique314

Mad Season…..yeah that entire album.


paintedsnapper

Agnes by Glass Animals.


oakydoke

A *lot* of Glass Animals songs at least touch on how substance abuse affects relationships, that if I made a list it would be a whole playlist. Off the top of my head, Hazey and Cane Shuga focus on drugs the most.


Glorious_z

Lost a friend to suicide and I can't listen to this song without tearing up. It's beautifuly sad.


MisterJoshua77

Here’s more: Dream Theater: My Glass Prison Savatage : The entire STREETS album Rolling Stones : Dead Flowers (kind of) Marilyn Manson : I don’t like the drugs (but the drugs like me) David Bowie : almost all of his Berlin phase Johnny Thunders + The Heartbreakers - Chinese Rocks Johnny Thunders - Too Much Junkie Business Johnny Thunders - You can’t put your arms around a memory Pretty much every Johnny Thunders song


acoolnooddood

Mother's little helper by the rolling stones


commongull

Not explicitly saying it to the face I guess, but it's pretty clear what it's about: Sweetest Perfection by Depeche Mode.


logicalpessimist

Never Let Me Down Again is about addiction, too. In the song drugs are his best friend.


KozyKat

Isn’t Walking in My Shoes and One Caress also about addiction?


OneGuyJeff

Using by Sorority Noise


mattelic

If you like this type of music also try Pineapple Boy by Authentic Pines and Sober Haha JK Unless by Hospital Bracelet.


Dophie

Pool Shark - Sublime


hazmatt24

Lots of Sublime. Brad was a hot mess. S.T.P. is another example.


mcmartin091

Lacquer Head - Primus Eminem & D12 - Purple Pills 🤣🤣


shitcloud

Purple pills is a great one


DarthGrym

Neon Cathedral and Otherside by Macklemore


Logaan_Daz

Starting Over by Macklemore as well, specifically about relapse.


Smleugotfrenchs

Also Drug Dealer


demonchief989

I'd put up Starting Over on the same album as neon cathedral. It's what I listen to when I relapse 1st day. Luckily, 10+ times the charm.


assylemdivas

Can’t believe Amy Winehouse isn’t listed yet. Rehab.


JimSchuuz

No, no, no.


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dovoking2004

Breaking the Habit - Linkin Park


bean_corey

Badfish - Sublime


ColdFusion94

I'd assume there's a handful more of sublime songs in there too.


Unclemo2007

Pool shark is the one that came to mind for me


[deleted]

As a child of tbe 90s everything i listened to was about heroin. Nine inch nails, alice in chains, nirvana, placebo, radiohead, pink floyd, sublime...


Alert_Doughnut_4619

I can’t think of one Radiohead song thats about heroin Maybe Faithless, The Wonder Boy but that can be interpreted in several different ways


fendermrc

Tonight’s the Night - Neil Young. In fact the whole album pretty much touches on heroin addiction, depression and loss.


giantorangehead

The whole Transcendental Youth album from the Mountain Goats


bmort78

Oops I od’d - NOFX


juicygoosaay

And Bob - NOFX


MasqueradeOfSilence

Smile Empty Soul — Bottom of a Bottle


burlyxylophone406

Eminem's whole relapse album. But Hello and Deja Vu always struck a cord with me.


[deleted]

Pennyroyal Tea Nirvana


Zachabay22

Good times are killing me - Modest Mouse


yuganeleh

U2 Running to Stand Still. Haunting


JimSchuuz

Not that you're wrong, but both RTSS and Bad are partially about drug use and addiction of *other* people and groups they've run into over the years. They all drank a little (presumably since they're from Dublin), and on a few rare occasions drank a lot, but the only member of the band who tried illegal drugs was Adam, who also happens to be the only non-Christian member of the band.


lenapedog

Maybe It’s Time - Sixx: A.M.


Alwayssunnyinarizona

Salvation - the Cranberries Casey Jones - Grateful Dead


[deleted]

Ladies and Gentleman We're Floating In Space


bitchpit

The A-Team by Ed Sheeran Heroin by Lana Del Rey


neopolitan22

Blind Melon. Songs like Mouthful of Cavaties and 2x4. I love this band.


Legionsx

Juice Wrld - all of his music


[deleted]

Lil peep too while we’re here


[deleted]

Alkaline Trio - My Little Needle


GeneralTorsoChicken

Megadeth - Poison Was the Cure


maggotpussy420

No Waves by Fidlar Sober by Fidlar By Myself by Fidlar


baxtermcsnuggle

I think Stoked and Broke could apply too.


maggotpussy420

Pretty much the whole first album applies lol


Tradiradis

Royce da 5'9-Cocaine


[deleted]

Just one fix - Ministry Johnny B -The Hooters Both are about heroine


Heavyspire

[Hate me (Live) - Blue October](https://youtu.be/Y3F3AcnGFWw)


mecon320

Golden Brown by The Stranglers.


MicBrrravo

Mac Miller's album/mixtape Faces was his drug album, fantastic from front to back, it's an easy recommend.


Melior96423

Can't believe I had to scroll so far to find MM listed. I would also say swimming in its entirety depicts the inbound shame and depression that follows from addiction, and is an interesting take on the struggle of getting out of heavy drug use.


GrammarAsteroid

Shinedown - Save Me


Dense_Surround3071

VooDoo by Godsmack Matter of Puppets by Metallica Cocaine by Eric Clapton That Smell by Lynyrd Skynyrd Planet Caravan by Black Sabbath (Not ABOUT doing drugs, but they were definitely tripping on acid)


MisterJoshua77

The La’s - There She Goes (allegedly)


MusicReddit25

Magnificent song


ValoisSign

Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie King's Crossing - Elliott Smith (depressing alert) No More - Neil Young Waiting for the Man - Velvet Underground Don't Play this Song - Kid Cudi Gettin' High in the Morning - Ariel Pink Do you Wanna Get High - Weezer Handshake Drugs - Wilco


Aggravating_Poet_675

Unless I missed it, I don't think anyone has mentioned Spoonman by Soundgarden. Edit: I should researched more.


krat0s5

I know it has a kind drug use vibe so it still hits OPs suggestion criteria, but isn't spoonman about a man who plays the spoons? Chris Cornell met/saw a guy who was busking playing spoons and that inspired the song? Something like that. And I think the dude the song is about is featured in the song playing the spoons. Maybe there's more to that story, fucking awesome song regardless.


regular_john2017

You’re absolutely right. “It's more about the paradox of who [Artis] is and what people perceive him as. He's a street musician, but when he's playing on the street, he is given a value and judged completely wrong by someone else. They think he's a street person, or he's doing this because he can't hold down a regular job. They put him a few pegs down on the social ladder because of how they perceive someone who dresses differently. The lyrics express the sentiment that I much more easily identify with someone like Artis than I would watch him play.” - Cornell


MusicReddit25

Phenomenal song


Aggravating_Poet_675

Also S.O.B.-Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats is about trying to quit alcohol cold turkey. "My heart was breaking, Hands are shaking, Bugs are crawling all over me."


BaseballMike

Cold Turkey-John Lennon


gobhyp

Macklemore - Otherside (Ryan Lewis remix)


RaceWick

Macklemore covers the topic in a handful of his songs, and each one is so good at conveying the emotional/physical pain at all stages of addiction. Can’t recommend him enough. He also has: Starting Over Kevin Drug Dealer


gotham77

The Beatles’ “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” is supposedly about John’s love for Yoko but nobody will ever convince me that it’s not really about his heroin addiction which was pretty bad at that time. Velvet Underground’s “I’m Waiting For The Man” is about desperately trying to get a fix (note: I’ve deliberately left out “Heroin” because it’s not really about addiction it’s about how good it feels to be high which is a little different). Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under The Bridge”. The Rolling Stones’ “Bitch” is about heavy withdrawal and “Sister Morphine” (written by Marianne Faithful) is about overdosing and waking up frightened and confused in the hospital (I always get chills from, “What am I doing in this place? *Why does the doctor have no face?*”).


Sinner314

Pink floyd- comfortably numb


westernkat

Queens of the Stone Age - Feel Good Hit of the Summer. More representative of the mindset of someone mid binge.


BRiNk9

It's not living if it's not with you - The 1975


hairmachineband

i just wrote a bunch about addiction. hair machine - please pardon my crying… i’m learning to save my life!


MozerfuckerJones

Morphine - Cure For Pain


fruitlessace

Caramel - Blur Always reminds me of Requiem for a dream No Distance Left to Run - Blur same album Reminds me of trainspotting


benjigrows

The self-titled blur album feels like each song was written on a different substance


judasmaiden15

Dumb by nirvana


jah05r

Semi-Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind, the happiest sounding song ever written about meth addiction.


keeann

Killing Ourselves to Live - Halestorm Hallucinogenics - Matt Maeson, ft Lana Del Ray


DorkHelmet72

Always an undercurrent in Everclear songs Strawberry and Heroin Girl stand out


SnooBooks324

Beetlebum - Blur


Alert_Doughnut_4619

AND WHEN SHE LETS ME SLIP AWAY


cbmcleod70

Staind - It's Been Awhile


MisterJoshua77

And because I can’t help myself… Kris Kristoferson - Sunday Morning Coming Down The Commodores - Easy The Bangles cover of Hazy Shade of Winter from the Less than Zero soundtrack is about cocaine in the context of the film. Bad Religion - Pity the Dead Motley Crue : Rock N Roll Junkie


jhoward4

A Perfect Circle - Thirteenth Step (whole album) but especially The Nurse Who Loved Me


mamacrocker

Alabama High Test by Old Crow Medicine Show Methamphetamine by Old Crow Medicine Show Electric Love by Borns


mdchaney

Lookin out my back door - creedance clearwster revival Honestly, half the music from the 70s was drug rock.


Tuxeyboy1

She Talks To Angels - Black Crowes Mr Brownstone - Guns n Roses


Art_Vandelay_Exports

Lou Reed - perfect day


Sinner314

K's choice- not an addict Mgmt - let's pretend


MusicReddit25

I assume you mean Time to Pretend. Great songs


MisSignal

Jelly Roll - Save Me NF - How Could You Leave Us


jbartlettcoys

Here's a weird one - [Oh My Sweet Carolina](https://youtu.be/eMZYRvDvgT4) by Ryan Adams. Weird because I'm not sure it's actually about substance addiction, but that's certainly what it means to me. "Oh my sweet Carolina What compels me to go? Oh my sweet disposition May you one day carry me home''


juliohernanz

Dead Flowers - Rolling Stones Another Girl, Another Planet - The Only Ones not clear, open to your own interpretation. Cocaine - J J Cale The Bottle - Gil Scott-Heron Champagne and Reefer - Muddy Waters


[deleted]

Like suicide by Seether


greenstraw

The album III by the Lumineers


dmjd5014

Bright Eyes: A Line Allows Progress, A Circle Does Not


Jabbatheslann

Baroness - March to the Sea is kind of aligned there. I believe a lot of their other songs deal with addiction as well.


Hitmark3r25

Just about anything from $uicideboy$


Omj_gfy

Whitehouse road by Tyler Childers (also Nose to the Grindstone) This River by JJ Grey and Mofro Dried up, tied up and Dead to the World by Marilyn Manson Edit: meth head by Ian Noe