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Beatles Drug Use
The Beatles and Their Hidden Drug References Were the songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney of The Beatles hidden drug references due to them living in the sixties and seventies when drug use was very common?
The songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney of The Beatles are some of the best songs ever written, but to many people’s surprise The Beatles have hidden references to drugs like marijuana, acid, heroin, LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide), and cocaine. Both Paul McCartney and John Lennon have had problems with drugs throughout their lives with Paul McCartney actually being jailed in Japan when a half pound of marijuana was found in his luggage in the customs of an airport in Japan (BBC. Beatles Drug Use). Songs like: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Got to get you in my Life, Day Tripper, Happiness is a Warm Gun, With a Little Help From my Friends, Helter Skelter and countless others all had supposed drug references. Both Paul McCartney and John Lennon who wrote most of The Beatles songs have both admitted to taking drugs. McCartney has done heroin, cocaine and smoked marijuana and John Lennon took heroin, did cocaine and also smoked marijuana (BBC. Beatles Drug Use). Both had problems with drugs and both were arrested for marijuana related charges. John Lennon’s second wife, Yoko Ono, also had been charged with him for the same crime of possession of Marijuana (Times. John Lennon fined £150 on drug charge). John Lennon was also an advocate for Marijuana. Some believe that was the reason for his murder (David Malmo-Levine. Was John Lennon Killed for his Pot Activism?). Paul McCartney was the first member of The Beatles to openly talk about taking LSD or acid even though he was reluctant to try it at first. The first to try LSD was John Lennon in his cup of coffee at a dinner party at the house of fellow band member George Harrison. George Harrison and John Lennon soon deliberately experimented with the drug and on one occasion they were


References: Lavine, David M. "Was John Lennon Killed for His Pot Activism? | Cannabis Culture Magazine." Cannabis Culture Magazine | Marijuana Magazine. 15 June 2006. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4764.html>. Lindman McCartney, Paul, and Barry Miles. Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now. London: Vintage, 1998. Print. Shmoop Editorial Team. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds Meaning."  Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 08 Dec 2010. "Sir Paul Reveals Beatles Drug Use." BBC News. 02 June 2004. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3769511.stm>. Wilkinson, Peter Wikipedia contributors. "Lysergic acid diethylamide." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 8 Dec. 2010. Web. 8 Dec. 2010. "With A Little Help From My Friends | The Beatles Bible." The Beatles Bible: Songs, Albums, History, Profiles, Places, Photos and More. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends/>.
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