One Toke Over the Line

Brewer & Shipley

About One Toke Over the Line

"One Toke Over the Line" is a song written and performed by American folk rock duo Brewer & Shipley. It is a track from their 1970 LP Tarkio, and was released as their debut single in early 1971.


Year:
1976
205 

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One toke over the line sweet Jesus
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line

Awaitin' for the train that goes home, sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line

Whoooo do you love, I hope it's me
I've bin a changin', as you can plainly see
I felt the joy and I learned about the pain that my momma said
If I should choose to make a part of me, surely strike me dead
Now I'm one toke over the line sweet Jesus
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
I'm waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line

I bin away a country mile
Now I'm returnin' showin' off a smile
I met all the girls and loved myself a few
Ended by surprise like everything else I've been through
It opened up my eyes and now I'm
One toke over the line sweet Jesus
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
Don't you just know I waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line

Don't you just know I waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line

I want to be
One toke over the line sweet Jesus
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Don't you just know I waitin' for the train that goes home sweet Mary
Hopin' that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station
One toke over line
One toke, one toke over the line

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Brewer & Shipley

Brewer & Shipley were an American folk rock music duo of the late 1960s through 1970s, consisting of singer-songwriters Mike Brewer and Tom Shipley. They were known for their intricate guitar work, vocal harmonies, and socially conscious lyrics which reflected the concerns of their generation — especially the Vietnam War, and the struggles for personal and political freedom. Their greatest commercial success was the song "One Toke Over the Line" from their 1970 album Tarkio. They also had two other single albums which scored the Billboard charts: "Tarkio Road" (1970) and "Shake Off The Demon" (1971). They continue to perform, both separately and together, usually in the Midwest of the USA. more »

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Written by: MICHAEL BREWER, TOM SHIPLEY

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

General
"One Toke Over the Line" is a song written and performed by the American folk rock duo Brewer & Shipley.
Composition
The song, released in 1970, became their biggest radio hit and is arguably their best-known work. It reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Controversy
Despite the clear drug references in "One Toke Over the Line," it was performed on the Lawrence Welk Show, a television program known for its conservative, family-friendly content. Interestingly, Welk mistakenly introduced the song as a "modern spiritual."
Inspiration
The song was inspired by a phrase the pair heard – "one toke over the line" – while hanging out with a group of hippies in Kansas City. They liked the phrase and included it in a song.
Legacy
"One Toke Over the Line" is often considered a counterculture anthem. Its marijuana references made it controversial at the time, but it has since been covered by numerous artists and featured in several films and TV shows.
Artists' Explanation
According to Shipley, “When we wrote 'One Toke Over the Line,' I think we were one toke over the line. It means exactly what it says. It’s just a fun song."
Recording Process
Brewer & Shipley recorded the song in San Francisco, and the gospel feel was partly inspired by all the gospel music they heard on the radio while driving through the south on their way to California.
Misunderstanding
Despite the controversy and misunderstanding surrounding the song, "One Toke Over The Line" was actually written as a tongue-in-cheek critique of hard drug use, not an endorsement of it.
Historical
During the time when the song was released, President Richard Nixon had named drug abuse as "public enemy number one," which caused the song to receive more attention and scrutiny.
Pop Culture
The song also appeared in the 2000 film, "Saving Grace", in the 2005 film, "Brokeback Mountain" and in the TV series "Fear the Walking Dead" in 2016.
Album
"One Toke Over the Line" was included in Brewer & Shipley's album "Tarkio", which was the pair's most successful album.

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