The Pusher Man
Steppenwolf is a Canadian-American rock band that was formed in 1967. The band is best known for their hit songs “Born to Be Wild” and “Magic Carpet Ride”, which are considered classics of the hard rock genre.
The Pusher, a rock song written by Hoyt Axton, was made popular by the 1969 movie Easy Rider which used Steppenwolf’s version to accompany the opening scenes showing 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 does not care “if you live or if you die”.
I would suggest that this version of The Pusher performed by Steppenwolf should also be considered a classic of the hard rock genre. The reason it isn’t? Many radio stations refused to play the song because it ‘glorifies drug use’. Which it doesn’t. The song is a warning against drug use.
Steppenwolf’s version of The Pusher was released on their 1968 album Steppenwolf and was produced by Gabriel Mekler . The song features John Kay on vocals, Michael Monarch on guitar, Goldy McJohn on organ, Rushton Moreve on bass guitar and Jerry Edmonton on drums. The song has a blues rock and psychedelic rock style and usually plays for over 5 minutes. However, when performed live, the band would often lengthen the playing time with extra instrumentals.
The Pusher was one of the songs that resonated with the youth culture of the late 1960s and early 1970s, especially those who were against the Vietnam War and the establishment . The song also reflected the social problems caused by drug abuse and addiction. The song was banned by some radio stations for its explicit language and anti-drug message.
The video below is the best live performance I could find of Steppenwolf performing The Pusher. It is from the KULTURA TV program on TVP (Poland). I couldn’t find the exact date, but it looks like the 70s. As is normal when musicians perform live, they often add, or delete, or change lyrics and/or add extra instrumentals, both of which Steppenwolf does during this performance. The sound is very good on this video! Give it a listen. The lyrics are below. Enjoy.
The Pusher
You know I’ve smoked a lot of grass | O’ Lord, I’ve popped a lot of pills
But I never touched nothin’ | That my spirit could kill
You know, I’ve seen a lot of people walkin’ ’round | With tombstones in their eyes
But the pusher don’t care | Ah, if you live or if you die
God damn, the pusher | God damn, I say the pusher
I said God damn | God damn the pusher man
You know the dealer, the dealer is a man | With the love grass in his hand
Oh but the pusher is a monster | Good God, he’s not a natural man
The dealer for a nickel | Lord, will sell you lots of sweet dreams
Ah, but the pusher ruin your body | Lord, he’ll leave your
He’ll leave your mind to scream
God damn, the pusher | God damn, God damn the pusher
I said God damn | God, God damn the pusher man
Well, now if I were the president of this land | You know, I’d declare total war on the pusher man
I’d cut him if he stands, and I’d shoot him if he’d run | Yes, I’d kill him with my Bible and my razor and my gun
God damn, oh, the pusher | God damn the pusher
I said God damn | God damn the pusher man…
Credits: Produced By Gabriel Mekler – Written By Hoyt Axton – Release Date 1968 – The Pusher lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
