10 Classic Rock Songs That Were Written About Drugs

There's a good chance that Roger Waters didn't realize how autobiographical the Wall was when he was first coming up with the concept. As much as some of the manic episodes of the rock opera could be attributed to Syd Barrett's loss of sanity towards the end of his run with Pink Floyd, the feeling of isolation and loneliness that comes with being a rock star can wear on pretty much anyone who has been around the sleazy part of the industry for too long. The show must go on though, even if it means putting something in your body to do it.

By the time we reach Pink at the beginning of the song, he has locked himself away in his hotel room, having built the wall in his mind and not wanting to speak with the rest of the world. Once the manager gets the door open, they figure the only way to get Pink onstage that night is to put more drugs into his system, with the doctor insisting that the sedative will keep him going through the rest of the show.

Being inspired by a real incident when the band had to make it onstage and Roger was stuffed with what he called enough drugs to kill an elephant, the rest of the opera almost turns a corner from here, with Pink getting more agitated before being drunk with power and having to tear down the wall that he built up in his mind. Drugs are almost a necessary evil in most rock bands, but hearing everything play out like this makes them feel like their own horror movie.