Re: Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (was: Re: Jimson Weed)

Date: 17 Jun 2003 15:18:59 -0700
Newsgroups: alt.drugs.psychedelics
Size: 4,862 bytes

"rfgdxm/Robert F. Golaszewski" <email-address-deleted> wrote in message news:<3eef24c1$0$153$email-address-deleted>...
> Derek Snider wrote:
> > No there isn't. The Beatles never denied that the song was about LSD
> > -- they only denied that the title intentionally turned out to have
> > the same letters.
> Where did they ever say that the song was about LSD? There certainly
> is doubt absent one of them saying specifically that the lyrics were
> written with LSD in mind.
They never denied it is my point -- and there were certainly asked
about it. The only thing they denied was that the title was
intentionally a reference to LSD.
> > Saying, "I'd love to turn you on" is in no way the same as saying,
> > "You should try LSD". It could be argued that it holds the same
> > meaning, but you'd have to be employing 60s drug culture slang. It's
> > not openly promoting drug use.
> What would they turn people on with? I'll concede that another
> possible interpretation could exist.
To "turn someone on" has a more established meaning than introducing
someone to psychedelics -- that is to turn them on sexually or
intellectually.
> > Lennon never denied that the lyrics were about LSD or that they were
> > inspired by his many LSD trips. Again, if there is a single reference
> > in that song that can be directly tied to LSD (or LSD-like drugs --
> > psilocybin, mescaline, etc) it would be the "kaleidoscope eyes", hands
> > down.
> Sounds to me just like a reference to child-like things.
"Kaleidoscope eyes" sounds like "a reference to child-like things"???
Do you even know what a kaleidoscope is? What the history behind it
is?
Certainly there are cheap plastic kaleidoscopes for children, but they
are a relatively recent product, and are not particularily popular
among most children.
Historically kaleidoscopes were quite expensive, and an aristocratic
item for those with an artistic mind. A novelty more for adults than
children.
Anyways, the song lyrics are not something a child would come up with,
nor something necessarily designed to entertain a child. The Beatles
didn't write children's songs. They're not Sharon, Lois and Bram.
Have you even read the lyrics? Picture yourself in a boat on a river,
The song starts out with "picture yourself" ... a line instructing you
to put yourself into this picture. This song was meant to be listened
to on psychedelics, and the lyrics do not contain anything
threatening.
Being on a boat on a river would constitute being on a trip. With tangerine trees and marmalade skies
It is common for people to note that colors are a little different
than normal -- sometimes everything takes on a different hue. Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly,
It's not uncommon for people on psychedelics to be slow to respond
when they are off in their own little world. A girl with kaleidoscope eyes.
The kaleidoscopic visuals from psychedelic drugs are well documented. Cellophane flowers of yellow and green,
Things looking more fluid/liquid and plastic/shiny/transparent is also
common to psychedelics. Towering over your head.
Same with size/proportion distortions. Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes, And she's gone.
It's not uncommon to lose track of other participants in a group LSD
experience, even when they're right beside you. Lucy in the sky with diamonds. Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain Where rocking horse people eat marshmellow pies, Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers, That grow so incredibly high.
The word "high" here is quite emphasized in the song. Newpaper taxis appear on the shore, Waiting to take you away. Climb in the back with your head in the clouds, And you're gone.
Head in the clouds, and clouds in general have drug associations.
When peaking strong on LSD, you are most certainly "gone" to those
around you. Lucy in the sky with diamonds, Picture yourself on a train in a station,
Again... being told to picture yourself in this situation, bringing
you back from being "gone". Being on a train would also constitute
being on a trip. With plasticine porters with looking glass ties,
Plasticine -- a very soft and oily (almost shiny) modeling
substance... again things are described as being formed out of this
liquid-like solid.
Looking glass ties -- a looking glass is a mirror, mirror ties would
certainly be shiny. Items having mirror-like qualities is also not
uncommon with psychedelic experiences. Suddenly someone is there at the turnstyle, The girl with the kaleidoscope eyes.
Give these lyrics to any kid and ask them what they think. Chances
are they will think they are pretty weird, and will not equate it with
"Candy Land" or any other child-like fantasy land.