From: Them@There.edu (Who) Subject: Re: King Heroin Date: 1995/07/27 newsgroups: alt.drugs.hard,alt.drugs >>About 25 years ago I read a poem and had a copy of it, it was >>called "King Heroin" But since then moving around I have lost it. >>If anyone has a copy of this I would appreciate it very much if you >>could post or email it to me... I would appreciate any help with this >>as it is important to me. > >I thought it was a song by James Brown? > >Anyone else? > Versions of "King Heroin", "The Signifying Monkey", and countless others are all part of the tradition of jailhouse "toasts". Toasts are rhythmic poems/boasts/dirty jokes/street instruction with a history that likely goes back centuries, possibly to the griot tradition in Africa. I've long wanted to record Toasts for posterity, though doubtless this has been done and of course King Heroin and others have found there way into song. It's safe to say that Rap would not exist without Toasts. =================================================================== From: John French Subject: Re: RE: King Heroin Date: 1995/08/12 newsgroups: alt.drugs.hard synthonics@aol.com (Synthonics) wrote: >About 16 years ago, I read a poem called "Marriage Creed". An >acquaintance of mine needs to read this (it may just save his life). >However, I can't remember the whole thing . . . is there anybody out there >that can help me fill in the blanks? This is what I remember --if you can >remember more, please let me know: > >THE MARRIAGE CREED >SO, LITTLE MAN, YOU'VE GROWN TIRED OF GRASS, >LSD, GOOF-BALLS, COCAINE & HASH >THEN SOMEONE, PRETENDING TO BE A TRUE FRIEND, >SAYS "I'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO MISS HEROIN" >WELL, HONEY, BEFORE YOU START MESSING WITH ME >JUST LET ME INFORM YOU OF HOW IT WILL BE >I WILL SEDUCE YOU AND MAKE YOU MY SLAVE >I'VE SENT MEN MUCH STRONGER THAN YOU TO THEIR GRAVE >(don't remember this part) >YOU'LL SWINDLE YOUR MOTHER AND JUST FOR A BUCK >YOU'LL TURN INTO SOMETHING VILE & CORRUPT >(don't remember this part) >THE HOT CHILLS, THE COLDSWEATS, THE WITHDRAWAL PAINS >CAN ONLY BE SAVED BY MY LITTLE WHITE GRAINS >(don't remember this part) >YOU'LL WELCOME ME BACK IN YOUR ARMS ONCE AGAIN >ONCE I'VE ENTERED DEEP DOWN IN OUR VEINS >THE CRAVING WILL NEARLY DRIVE YOU INSANE >YOU'LL GIVE UP YOUR MORALS, YOUR CONSCIENCE, YOUR HEART >AND YOU WILL BE MINE, UNTIL DEATH DO WE PART > >Sorry about the shouting (THE CAPS), but It's my understanding that's what >this drug does to you. > >Now, I may not even have what I do remember in the right order, but I'm >hoping someone can provide the entire version. Any children of the '70's >w/"black light" posters w/this message out there? > >Thanks, >Synthonics@aol.com I first heard this poem in a county jail in Texas in the early 1950's. It was then titled King Heroin - and should keep that title. Heroin is not a lady, queen, princess, miss, or anything else that might even appear dainty. Cocaine is the "girl" in a "boy and a girl"speedball combination. One line I remember that you don't have is: I've made teachers forget their books And school girls forget their looks. There are dozens of variations on this and other jail house poems that grew up starting in the 1940's. Your variation appears to be a newer one, since it mentions drugs other than heroin. That is a reflection of the times, in which there are garbage heads all around us. There are even variations that focus on cocaine. I would love to see some of these posted. In particular, The Signifying Monkey is a classic! Nothing about drugs, but damn is it good poetry. And then there's Honky Tonk Bud, what's-her-name duFontaine, Cocaine Lil, and a mess of others. In fact, now I have to get out there and find some of these myself. I had forgotten. John French