Just read the post about Sugar Ray Johnson - When your Jones come down, and it made me think as well about S.O.U.L. - The Joneses.

And I thought, who the hell are these people, the Joneses? In S.O.U.L's record I thought they were his relations (got my joneses on my back) but everybody can't be singing about them surely?

So, anyway, I looked it up and apparently it refers to cravings during withdrawal from drugs. So there you go...

So Mr. Billy Paul what have you been up to really?

There was a track on one of Toppers CDs that I'm sure was about "keeping up with the Joneses"?

It had the line "try it, you'll like it" that sounded very drug orientated.

Doc

There was a track on one of Toppers CDs that I'm sure was about "keeping up with the Joneses"?

It had the line "try it, you'll like it" that sounded very drug orientated.

Doc

Same record Doc, S.O.U.L. - The Joneses and yes it's a totally drug orientated track.... 'I tried it, I liked it and now I'm here to stay, I've got the Joneses on my back and it's plain to see that I won't be very much when they're through with me' if those lyrics aren't talking about heroine/cocaine addiction then I need to stop smoking so much

Used to mean withdrawal symptoms and the overpowering craving for more drugs. Modern day equivalent (UK at least) is 'rattling'.

Used to mean withdrawal symptoms and the overpowering craving for more drugs. Modern day equivalent (UK at least) is 'rattling'.

the "jones" used also in some of the greatest lyrics the great Curtis wrote on the soundtrack to Superfly

in the track "Little Child Running Wild"........

LITTLE CHILD RUNNING WILD...WATCH A WHILE...

YOU SEE HE NEVER SMILES...

BROKEN HOME...FATHER GONE...

MAMA TIRED...SO HE,S ALL ALONE...

KIND OF SAD...KIND OF MAD...

GHETTO CHILD...THINKING HE,S BEEN HAD...

IN THE BACK OF HIS MIND HE,S SAYING...

DIDNT HAVE TO BE HERE...

YOU DIDNT HAVE TO LOVE FOR ME...

WHILE I WAS A NOTHING CHILD...

WHY COULD,NT THEY JUST LET ME BE...

LET ME BE...LET ME BE...LET ME BE...

ONE ROOM SHACK...

ON THE ALLEY-BACK...

CONTROL IM TOLD...

FROM ACROSS THE TRACK...

WHERE IS THE MAYOR?...

WHO,LL MAKE ALL THINGS FAIR...

HE LIVES OUTSIDE OUR POLLUTED AIR...

AND I DIDNT HAVE TO BE HERE...

YOU DIDNT HAVE TO LOVE FOR ME...

WHILE I WAS JUST A NOTHING CHILD...

WHY COULD,NT THEY JUST LET ME BE...

LET ME BE...LET ME BE....LET ME BE...

I GOT A JONES RUNNING THROUGH MY BONES...

IM SORRY SON...ALL YOUR MONEYS GONE...

PAINFUL RIP...IN MY UPPER HIP..

I GUESS ITS TIME.. TAKE ANOTHER TRIP...

DONT CARE WHAT NOBODY SAY...

I GOT TO TAKE THE PAIN AWAY...

ITS GETTING WORSER DAY BY DAY...

AND ALL MY LIFE HAS BEEN THIS WAY...

CANT REASON WITH THE PUSHERMAN...

FINANCE IS ALL THAT HE UNDERSTANDS...

YOU JUNKIE...MAMA CRIES...YOU KNOW...

WOULD RIP HER...BUT I LOVE HER SO...

LOVE HER SO..

steve

Curtis Mayfield - Little Child Running Wild - Curtom

Edited March 2, 201114 yr by Soul-Integrity

....thinking of drug related lyrics in songs, maybe the best anti drug lyrics were writen by Sam Dees in his "Signed Miss Heroin" track

these lyrics should be used in eduction system imho.....

Well, now little man, you've grown tired of grass,

L.S.D., Acid, cocaine, and hash.

Somebody that's supposed to be your so called friend,

said, "I'll introduce you to Miss Heroin."

Well, honey, before you start fooling with me,

Just let me inform you of how it will be.

For I will seduce ya and make you my slave.

I've sent men much stronger than you to their grave.

You think you could not become a disgrace,

and end up addicted to poppy seed waste.

So, you'll start inhaling me one afternoon.

You'll take me into your arm and very soon.

And once I have entered deep down in your vein,

The craving will nearly drive you insane.

You'll need lots of money (as you have been told).

For, darling, I'm much more expensive than gold.

Signed Miss Heroin

You'll swindle your Mama; and, just for a buck,

you'll turn into something vile and corrupt.

You'll mug, you'll steal for my narcotic charm.

and feel contentment when I'm in you arms.

The day you realize the monster you've grown,

you'll solemnly promise to leave me alone.

If you think that you've got the mystical knack.

Then sweetie, just try getting me off you back.

Signed Miss Heroin

The vomit, the cramps, your gut tied in a knot.

The jangling nerves screaming for just one more shot.

The hot chills,cold sweat, the withdrawal pains,

can only be saved by my little white grains.

There’s no other way, and there's no need to look.

For deep down inside you, you will know that you're hooked.

You'll desperately run to the pusher, and then

You'll welcome me back to your arms once again.

And when you return, just as I foretold!

I know that you'll give me your body and soul.

You'll give up your morals, your conscience, your heart,

and you will be mine until Death Do Us Part.

Signed Miss Heroin

Say! you're holding the losing hand,

and you just can't win.

Smoking dope aint nothing but a sin.

The faith in you, that they had in you brother!

What will you do now?

Powerful lyrics for sure!!

steve

sam dees - signed miss heroin - atlantic

Edited March 2, 201114 yr by Soul-Integrity

"keeping up with the joneses" is not a drug reference and has nothing to do with heroin jonesing. It is a phrase that means caring what your neighbors think of you and trying to be like them. The temptations have a record "don't let the joneses get you down".

"keeping up with the joneses" is not a drug reference and has nothing to do with heroin jonesing. It is a phrase that means caring what your neighbors think of you and trying to be like them. The temptations have a record "don't let the joneses get you down".

Yeah that's a British phrase too Bob. I understood Jonesing and 'the Jones' were interchangeable in a drug use context. Maybe that's what you were saying.

I was responding to the original question. All of the songs mentioned in this thread have nothing to do with heroin jonesing and are not drug sounds, they're all about caring what your neighbors think.

I was responding to the original question. All of the songs mentioned in this thread have nothing to do with heroin jonesing and are not drug sounds, they're all about caring what your neighbors think.

except for the mayfield track...

I was responding to the original question. All of the songs mentioned in this thread have nothing to do with heroin jonesing and are not drug sounds, they're all about caring what your neighbors think.

I didn't say anything about keeping up with the Joneses Bob, that was Doc. The S.O.U.L. track doesn't contain the phrase 'keeping up with the Joneses' Doc just thought it did.

Are you saying The Joneses by S.O.U.L isn't about drug cravings then? Sounds like it is to me. And the Sugar Bear Johnson 45.

Edited March 2, 201114 yr by Matt Male

I was responding to the original question. All of the songs mentioned in this thread have nothing to do with heroin jonesing and are not drug sounds, they're all about caring what your neighbors think.

the "keeping up with the Joneses" phrase aint about caring what your neighbors think, it's about envy aint it? "if he's got a shed.... I want two"

steve

If it's not about drug addiction and is about keeping up with next door, it makes no sense.

Unless you are smacked off your tits.

Edited March 2, 201114 yr by Ollie Lailey

I didn't say anything about keeping up with the Joneses Bob, that was Doc. The S.O.U.L. track doesn't contain the phrase 'keeping up with the Joneses' Doc just thought it did.

Are you saying The Joneses by S.O.U.L isn't about drug cravings then? Sounds like it is to me. And the Sugar Bear Johnson 45.

I listened to the track just now and you are right, he's talking about having a jones and a jones being on his back

the "keeping up with the Joneses" phrase aint about caring what your neighbors think, it's about envy aint it? "if he's got a shed.... I want two"

steve

yes, it's about wanting what your neighbors have i guess

"Home is where The Hatred Is " by Gill Scott Heron and covered brilliantly by Esther Phillips has some very powerful lyrics concerning drug addiction.

Not heard the Sam Dees track before, thats really good.

esther phillips - home is where the hatred is - kudu

Edited March 2, 201114 yr by Ollie Lailey

So Jones/Joneses is a drug reference. Except when it isn't. And none of the above tunes refer to Jones/Joneses in a drug use context. Except the ones that do. Meanwhile Jones can also mean caring what the neighbours think about you. In an envious way.

Phew - glad we got that one sorted. Now, my friend has a record by the Smiths...

So Jones/Joneses is a drug reference. Except when it isn't. And none of the above tunes refer to Jones/Joneses in a drug use context. Except the ones that do. Meanwhile Jones can also mean caring what the neighbours think about you. In an envious way.

Phew - glad we got that one sorted. Now, my friend has a record by the Smiths...

Case closed. Next!