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The 20 best songs about LSD

Taking you on a trip through the greatest tracks inspired by acid

• Mixmag crew
• 10 August 2022

Since the good ol' days of Woodstock and the Summer of Love , Lysergic acid diethylamide ( LSD ) has provided inspiration for many curious artists wanting to explore the hidden depths of their own minds.

Despite only having been synthesised in 1943 , the substance swiftly became a symbol of world counter-culture, from The Beatles' psychedelia through to acid house and the heyday of the 90s rave to Harry Styles' blissed-out mainstream pop. Whole subgenres—psychedelic rock, psytrance, acid house— are inspired by drugs that alter consciousness and LSD can improve music perception and trigger synaesthetic reactions — which cause people to see sounds as colours, patterns, or objects. LSD has infiltrated our culture's musical awareness and brought with it a great wealth of trippy bangers to serve as the soundtrack to your exploration into uncharted terrain.

So whether you're just out to trip balls, or you've come here for “The Message,” — let us take you on a bewildering journey through some of the best music about LSD.

Read this next: 30 best songs about cocaine

Ecstasy Club ‘Jesus Loves The Acid’

A classic of its time, this belter released in 1988 is quite simply not one to listen to while tripping on acid, despite what the title suggests. With screeching synths, wobbly 303s, and a sample of Pope John Paul II’s 1979 speech in Ireland kicking things off, this acid house number could send anyone into overdrive on the dancefloor, and the "ACID!" chants toward the end really help to top it off. Jesus most definitely loves the acid.

Aphex Twin 'Lisbon Acid’

From his 2005-released record ‘ Analord 07 ’, Aphex Twin ’s glitchy acid techno-inspired track ‘ Lisbon Acid ’ might not make direct remarks about the drug, but the producer certainly has a history with his hallucinogens. Starting out on the free party scene as acid house first emerged in the UK, Aphex Twin signed his first track while tripping on the drug: “[Mighty Force Records] made me sign the contract when I was off my face. I was tripping and they're waving this money and a pen at me,” he recounted. “I think if he had not done that trip that night there may have never been any Aphex Twin,” his friend said.

2 Boasters, A Digestive & A Jammy Dodger 'We Are About To Take LSD’

“WE ARE ABOUT TO TAKE LSD!” announces the opening vocals of this chaotic and slightly alarming track by 2 Boasters, A Digestive & A Jammy Dodger . Released in 1991 as part of a three-track EP alongside the comically named ‘Oh Crumbs’, this hardcore breakbeat number certainly doesn’t leave any hints on its backstory. The vocal sample runs on repeat throughout the entire five-minute tune, only pausing to drop into even heavier breaks.

Jockstrap ‘Acid’

UK experimental outfit Jockstrap have a more contemporary take on their hallucinogen preferences, this time documenting an unusual acid trip-turned-breakup. “Smash a pretty vase of acid” starts lead singer Georgia Ellery before crashing into unusual synths and orchestral moments lined with more hard-hitting lyrics. The distorted production throws this track askew, fitting for such a drug, but never quite feels too surreal.

Luke Vibert 'I Love Acid’

Complete with Daft Punk -esque robot voices, plainly titled ‘ I Love Acid ’, is likely to stick in your head for a couple of days after first listen. Released by Warp Records in 2003, British producer Luke Vibert declares his undying love for LSD alongside a trippy animation: “I love acid for the way it makes me move - I love acid it’s the sound you can’t improve - I love acid it insights a nasty groove,” repeat the robotic vocals piecing together this curiously French house style track. Vibert’s love for the hallucinogen was no secret, later releasing his 12-track album ‘ Lover’s Acid ’ in 2005 and creating more tunes in the same vein with titles such as ‘ Acid 2000 ’ and ‘ Funky Acid Stuff ’.

Read this next: 10 of the Best Songs Celebrating Ecstasy

1200 micrograms ‘LSD’

A real interdimensional journey, this psytrance track from 1200 micrograms will have you contemplating your steady trip through life. With the line “mind-altering psychedelic trip” playing throughout, this seven-minute song is fast-tempo, high energy and has a mechanical, robotic and space-like quality synonymous with the extra-terrestrial experience of an acid trip. “LSD, possibly the most powerful and important psychedelic drug on the planet” is whispered as the track ends.

D-Mob ‘We call it acieed’

“Acid, the musical phenomenon. Only for the headstrong” — a sample declares over the acid house beat. This is the debut single by British musician D-Mob and in 1989 it reached No. 1 on Billboard's Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart and No. 25 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart. Listeners are blessed with blaring synths, funky keys, a groovy bassline and the word “acid” ringing through their ears.

Time Tripping ‘Time Tripping’

With double drops of a deep bassline and a rolling drum pattern — this track will go down in drum 'n' bass history. But the repeated lines of “are we time tripping” is highly resemblant to that all-consuming feeling of not knowing where you are or what era you’re in when five hours into your trip. It’s a simple track but it is versatile and has been a favourite for drum 'n' bass club mixes for almost a decade... a great option for when you're two tabs in.

The Beatles ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’

Potentially the most famous track about acid there is. Despite the capitals in the track spelling out "LSD" John Lennon insisted that the titling choice was a mere coincidence . However, The Beatles did admit two weeks after the release of the seminal album in which this song is featured, ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ that the quartet did take acid when writing the album - implying that many of the songs and the colourful imagery which is described in them would have also been inspired under psychedelic influence.

Read this next: We spoke to an ecstasy dealer from the acid house era

A$AP Rocky ‘LSD’

We mean, it’s in the title. 'LSD' is a shaky, slightly ghoulish track about the drug and the love you can — or can't — make while using it. This track depicts Rocky rapping about being high on LSD and the experiences that he has had on it. When asked about the "Baby I'm just rappin' to this LSD" lyric by Billboard magazine, A$AP Rocky replied : "It helps me cope with life. I've been doing this stuff since I got into the industry. People are scared to talk about it."

The song is wistful and has smooth cadence, rhythm and flow, which allows listeners to join Rocky on a trip. It is a soft ballad that allows listeners to see a different side to the famed New York rapper, and gives us a chance to understand how the drug brings out a different side to him. Rocky refers to LSD as “love, sex, dreams” multiple times in the song, reminding listeners of the romantic and pleasurable effects of the lucid drug.

Rejjie Snow ‘ACID TRIP’

Even without the literal references to acid used on this track by applying effects to the piano and Rejjie’s vocals a floating feeling is undeniable. When listening to ‘ACID TRIP’ it’s airy echoing sounds and electronic synths transport you to a utopia. Lyrics include, "Took a little bit of acid, mum, I'm sorry", and the chorus "I feel like we on acid when we kiss" repeats so much it could be hypnotising you into a world of LSD.

Brockhampton ‘TRIP’

All seems well when you first start listening to ‘ TRIP ’ however as soon as the lyric, “this is our fantasy,” is rapped it’s as if the tab has finally hit your tongue. The lyric “flying on my rocket ship, I’m on an acid trip” isn’t as subtle of a hint.

Jefferson Airplane ‘White Rabbit’

This is a pretty self-explanatory choice if you’ve heard this classic but if you haven’t here you go. You’d think that the use of the ‘white’ in the title is referring to cocaine however, instead the name is referencing the white rabbit character within Lewis Carrol’s psychedelic tale of Alice in Wonderland . It’s release in 1967 at the height of LSD saw Jefferson Airplane become a pioneering psychedelic rock band. It’s said that Paul Kantner, singer, guitarist from Jefferson Airplane wrote the song after taking LSD and listening to Miles Davis’ album ‘ Sketches Of Spain ’ for 24 hours. The song is now commonly associated with mind-altering film The Matrix as well as its feature in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas .

Read this next: "Tripping revived me": Students are using LSD and magic mushrooms to get through lockdown

David Bowie ‘Space Oddity’

An obvious one but also a classic, ‘Space Oddity’ is the ultimate LSD-themed track. Released in 1969 this was Bowie’s first introduction to the astronaut persona Major Tom who later features on other tracks including ‘Ashes to Ashes’ where he is referred to as a “junkie”. A gentle track of Bowie’s soft vocals and acoustic vocals, the layering of instruments adds a bewitching atmosphere. Lyrics follow Major Tom’s departure and trip into space getting higher and higher until he spins around stuck in space. "Here am I floating 'round my tin can, far above the moon. Planet Earth is blue, and there's nothing I can do."

The Prodigy ‘Out Of Space’

A banger to say the least, this song really does take “your brain to another dimension”. Built for tripping, 'Out Of Space' features acid house breaks and a sample of the 1976 song ‘ Chase the Devil ’. Not only is the track hallucinatory but the music video is extremely vibrant and colourful and features them raving in industrial wear — oh, and lots of ostriches.

The Beatles ‘I am the Walrus’

This song is notoriously known for being heavily inspired by tripping, with Lennon penning the majority of the song while under the influence of LSD. During one trip, he heard the two-note pattern of a passing police siren. The sound became the first few notes of 'I Am The Walrus'. They're even echoed in the verse's two-note pattern. The line “See how they run like pigs from a gun”, emerged during another narcotics-fuelled music session.

Lyra Pramuk & Eris Drew 'Everything is Beautiful & Alive'

As part of the 'Delta' remix compilation of Pramuk's 2020 album ' Fountain ', 'Everything is Beautiful & Alive' isn't your traditional rework. Eris Drew instead of choosing "a track" to remix instead took vocal samples from the entire album and weaved them into a singular narrative — a deeply personal collaboration that referenced the two artists' friendship across time and space during the pandemic, with Lyra living in Berlin and Eris in New Hampshire. Eris is never shy to share her love of hallucinogenics within her music — regularly using acid and magic mushrooms in her creative process, and the track's reference to psychedelics comes via a vocal sample . "Everything is beautiful and alive" a soft female voice declares over the trippy beat, taken from an old news report of a young woman on acid, explaining how wonderful she feels to a suited-up male square.

Jhené Aiko 'LSD'

Jhené Aiko's ' LSD ' is the first track from her 2017 concept album ' Trip '. The whole record is in reference to the US R&B starlet's journey into psychedelics and healing following the death of her brother to cancer in 2012 — telling the story of journeys into the self through a dreamy, trippy lens. 'LSD' tells the story of her first acid trip during a car drive to the rugged Big Sur coastal stretch in California. Perhaps the most prolific description of her experience in the track comes from the last three lines: "Took a tiny piece of paper and put it under my tongue. This white guy said it'd be fun, and it was, but. What I saw, Oh my God, Oh my God."

Hallucinogen 'L.S.D' (Paul Oakenfold remix)

It doesn't get much more psychedelic and transcendental than Hallucinogen's 1995 track 'L.S.D'. Grinding drums, squelching chimes and trippy acid basslines make up this classic Goa trance banger. The track contains a vocal sample taken from the 1986 BBC documentary The Rise and Fall of LSD , which controversially showed British viewers footage of participants in an LSD study describing their experiences. Wanna kick the trip up a notch? The master of trance himself Paul Oakenfold remixed the track back in 2011 adding in even more big bass and synth siren calls.

Read this next: Why acid house is the last thing I want to listen to when I'm on acid

Chance the Rapper 'Acid Rain'

Though much of Chance's 2013 mixtape ' Acid Rap ' references his use of LSD, telling MTV MTV around the time of release: "[There] was a lot of acid involved in 'Acid Rap'. I mean, it wasn't too much — I'd say it was about 30 to 40% acid... more so 30% acid." The only track which gives a narrative of an acid trip is 'Acid Rain', which tells the story of Chance, real name Chancellor Bennet, going outside in New York while on a particularly intense dose of the drug. Throughout the song he comes to realisations about his life: whether it's about getting picked for sports in high school, his relationship with fellow rappers or his belief in god. His central point can be seen in the line "damn that acid burn when it clean ya" — alluding to an acid trip needed to be painful and challenging to reward him with the clarity he was looking for.

LCD Soundsystem 'American Dream'

Perhaps one of the more morose descriptions of an acid trip on this list. The title track from LCD Soundsystem's 2017 record ' American Dream ' describes the story of the morning after a regrettable bender. Remembering not a moment of clarity or self-discovery, instead, the lyrics pertain to feelings of fear and discomfort: "You took acid and looked in the mirror. Watched the beard crawl around on your face." The track itself maintains a dream-like psychedelic quality while remaining eerie and unsettling. Sometimes you have a bad trip, you know?

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10 Best Songs for Tripping on Acid of All Time, Ranked

By: Author Alex Kelly

Posted on Last updated: July 8, 2023

Home » Music » 10 Best Songs for Tripping on Acid of All Time, Ranked

Psychedelics have slowly become more and more intertwined with our recreational societies since its boom in the 60s. Despite their consistent controversy, psychedelics continue to influence and become intertwined with art, film, and music.

Some psychonauts like to pair their trips with dedicated, carefully curated playlists that guide them on a journey of their crafting, with each track delicately balanced towards the overall trip.

Here are some excellent songs that cater to the realm of psychedelia. Sit back, relax, and let the warmth of these tracks run through.!

1. Parabol/Parabola – Tool

Album: Lateralus Released: 2001

Tool’s impressive musical complexity has been noted as a prime choice for psychonauts, and some tracks stand out more than others in this regard. The hypnotic introduction of “Parabol” sets an alluring, warm tone that’s enough to transport anyone to another realm irrespective of the influence. 

When the powerful, riff-infested “Parabola” kicks in, it’s all systems go for a trippy ride full of enticing solos, insightful lyrics, and an overall mesmerizing atmosphere.

2. Funkadelic – Maggot Brain

Album: Maggot Brain Released: 1971

At a whopping 52 years of age, Maggot Brain’s immovable track “Maggot Brain” remains one of the most impressive and shockingly atmospheric tracks I have ever heard. Its introduction sends shivers, and as it gradually builds in fuzz and punch, it still offers moments of calming respite for the listener.

I think this is an ideal song to listen to in the evening, as the sun goes down, towards the end of the journey. Despite its impressive nature, I feel this is still a criminally underrated song. 

3. Unspoken – Four Tet

Album: Rounds Released: 2003

Sometimes, there’s no need for lyrics. Simply a comforting, repetitive tune that alternates between warm and expansive and detailed and curious. That’s just what Four Tet does impeccably, especially so in “Unspoken”. 

The drums in particular in “Unspoken” carry comfort to them that pairs beautifully with the thoughtful piano passages and basslines. It’s my personal favorite from the English electronic musician and would be a welcome addition for anyone wanting a soothing listening experience as they traverse the universe.

4. Shine On You Crazy Diamond – Pink Floyd

Album: Wish You Were Here Released: 1975

When it comes to atmospherics in classic rock, few hit the nail on the head like the British outfit Pink Floyd. Their music is still influential to this day and will continue to be timeless for many years to come; fitting all moods, times, and moments in our lives.

“Shine On You Crazy Diamond”, however, is perhaps their magnum opus in my eyes. Its impressive 13-minute length still somehow feels short, most likely due to the immense level of immersion the track offers. 

Curiously, the song is dedicated to Pink Floyd’s original founding member, Syd Barrett, who left the band in 1968 due to declining mental health. 

5. Space Oddity – David Bowie

Album: David Bowie Released: 1969

When it comes to exploring and pondering on the wonders of the cosmos, few did it better than David Bowie. The legendary British musician became known for his eclectic stage presence, musical personality, and frequent genre-hopping within his music. 

“Space Oddity” would go on to become one of his most popular songs, especially for those who delve into psychedelia. The warm strings that follow Bowie’s acoustic guitar work and alluring story make it an enveloping track that can’t help but entice comfort.

6. Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space – Spiritualized

Album: Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space Released: 1997

Now we’re getting into more ‘trippy’ areas. Spiritualized’s “Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space” could easily be mistaken for an interlude on a Gorillaz album, but it’s become their most popular song and arguably their defining album despite their 33-year history. 

The bellowing radiance that emanates from this track’s gradual build-up is like a musical hug; perfect for an altered journey and a great wind-down to any evening.

7. Siberian Breaks – MGMT

Album: Congratulations Released: 2010

If you dive through their discography, MGMT is so much more than the one trick pony they initially seem to be from their hit single “Kids”. Despite this heavily radio-oriented first-hand appearance, I was happily surprised when I first heard the impressive, trippy, and downright progressive “Siberian Breaks”.

Fluctuating from sound to sound and alternating genres, this is an ideal song for a curious evening that is approved by many who have experimented with the song. 

8. Alberto Balsam – Aphex Twin

Album: …I Care Because You Do Released: 1995

Sometimes, simple repetition is all that’s needed and Aphex Twin have that in abundance throughout moments in their discography. “Alberto Balsam”, to me, is the ultimate calm; its inviting piano work and synths create an enveloping atmosphere that seems to take the rest of the world away.

I think “Alberto Balsam” would be a welcome addition to a psychedelic playlist or any relaxation playlist for that matter.

9. Dayvan Cowboy – Boards Of Canada

Album: The Campfire Headphase Released: 2005

Boards Of Canada are one of the bastions of the electronic world. Fluctuating their sounds between ambient, drone, liquid, downtempo, and even trip-hop, they have become a master of every mood and emotion. Their extensive discography makes it difficult to pick out the ultimate track for an evening diving into the universe, but “Dayvan Cowboy” would be the best option.

Its ‘Portishead meets London Grammar’ atmosphere makes it introspective yet comforting; powerful yet charming and gentle. All without uttering a word. For that, I think it’s one of the best songs of all time. 

10. Gooey – Glass Animals

Album: Zaba Released: 2014

Finally, we have a perfect song for a brain-melting experience. Glass Animals burst onto the scene fairly quickly in the early 2010s, with their alluring, rich sound that escalated from a seductive lounge chill to bouncy bop. 

Offering the former for this article, “Gooey” is a luxurious tickle of the senses that is only amplified by mastermind Dave Bayley and a perfect addition to your evening. 

Alex is a man of many talents. He’s been playing music since he was young, and has been the main content writer at Tone Start for the past few years. Alex loves to play around with different styles of music and enjoys listening to anything from country to classical.

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Behold, The Perfect Playlist For An Acid Trip

As research continues to prove LSD’s (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) therapeutic viability , studies continue to pour in exploring the effects of certain stimuli and how they can affect the psychedelic experience.

Mendel Kaelen, a graduate student of neuroscience at Imperial College, has been focusing on how music in particular interacts with the brain on LSD. In his effort to stay true to the scientific method while incorporating music into psychedelic therapy, Kaelen has stumbled upon the formula for the perfect LSD soundtrack.

In a pilot study published last year, Kaelen and his peers returned to a classic theme of the ’50s and ’60s, “Do psychedelics enhance the emotional response to music?”

“If music is too familiar, it can reduce the ability to have a new experience, because you already had an experience with that song before in your life.”

In the study, five instrumental tracks were played to ten volunteers on two different occasions, one of which they were administered a placebo, and the other, LSD.

Ambient and neo-classical tracks proved to be the most effective at eliciting emotional response, namely by artists Greg Haines , Brian McBride , Ólafur Arnalds , Arve Henriksen .

Essentially, due to the challenging environment of an MRI scanner, especially for someone on an acid trip, Kaelen leaned towards more uplifting and positive sounds like that of Robert Rich .

As for the structure of the playlist, it’s not a constant. People are naturally nervous before the drug takes effect, so calming and reassuring sounds are at the onset. Approaching the peak, music turns more rhythmic, and during the peak, music straddles different emotional intensities according to Kaelen’s “pendulum effect.” Additionally, Kaelen produces his own experimental electronic music, so he has the ability to mix and adapt the spacing and volume of the playlist to suit the design of the study’s experience.

https://youtu.be/5L9V4t4YPnY

“People started to realize that it’s not the drug itself that provides a therapeutic effect; it’s the experience that the drug is able to produce in interaction with the therapist, with the environment, that has that potential.”

It’s seriously worth it to check out Motherboard’s original article. If you’ve made it this far, I guarantee you’ll find it fascinating.

H/T Motherboard ,  Dancing Astronaut

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Watch Roan Yellowthorn's "Acid Trip" Music Video Premiere Tonight

Join roan yellowthorn in the chat room tonight at 5p pt as they premiere the official "acid trip" music video on youtube.

Tonight at 5p PT/8p ET, you can join Roan Yellowthorn as they premiere the official "Acid Trip" music video on YouTube. Here's what Jackie McLean had to say about the video:

My new song, "Acid Trip," is about how trippy normal life can be when you look at it as a whole. I have some degree of synesthesia, and I see colors when I think about my life — flashes of vibrant green and blue. Red and orange. Yellow and white. An acid trip without any drugs at all.

Today, we are releasing the music video. The process of making this video was really special. And I think that the result is, too. We worked remotely with a wonderful director, Jake Bradbury. Neither one of us had ever made a video this way before, but the restrictions on travel drove us to be innovative. Luckily, Jake came up with a beautiful concept and ensured that we were as supported and prepared as we could be.

When the day came to film, we built a big bonfire on a friend's farm and threw vestiges of the past into the flames. "Acid Trip" is about taking stock of your life — seeing it from afar. And making a choice to do what you need to do. For yourself. In order to move on.

It was emotional for me to watch the finished product. Jake intertwined clips of me as a child from old home videos. But it felt cathartic to see myself transform on the screen — into the person I am today.

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The Best Acid Trip Playlist

Sit back and tune it. we've found the best psychedelic sounds—plus a little history, too.

Article by console.log(""); console.log("author name"); console.log(""); Jefferson Matthew VanBilliard .author-bio * {display: unset !important;} Published on February 29, 2024

When people think of psychedelic music, they often think of the counterculture movement in the late 1960s. However, artists have been using music to blur the lines of reality for far longer: The 1894 symphonic poem, “ Prelude to the Afternoon of a Fawn ,” by Impressionist Claude Debussy, is considered a turning point in modern music. The genre-bending Italian futurists in the early 20th century, whose electronic innovations helped build the sonic soundscapes used in modern psychedelia , there’s no shortage of songs that can inspire introspection, evoke emotion, and change how you perceive the world around you. 

There are many types of psychedelic music—and it would be educational for our playlist to include every psychedelic song ever recorded in chronological order. This list is slightly different: It’s intended as an informative, seamless, blissed-out auditory roadmap for your trip. And don’t worry: throughout the highs and lows of our journey, you’ll still hear some familiar classics alongside some rare gems and newer tracks worth experiencing. Follow along as we take you on an auditory tour of some of our favorite music for tripping with our best acid trip playlist. 

Many factors influence successful and rewarding psychedelic experiences. Take extra care and pay attention to the set and setting during your trip: Try experiencing psychedelics outdoors , where nature and sunlight can help you remain calm and grounded. Another thing to consider is the company you keep during these experiences. If you prefer not to trip alone, surround yourself with people you trust to avoid any unwanted situations or stress. 

READ: Incubus Lead Singer Brandon Boyd Talks Psychedelic Drugs

An Acid Playlist? Meet the Best Music for Tripping

Pet sounds, the beach boys.

Inspired by the innovative music of The Beatles and Phil Spector’s “wall of sound’ production style, singer Brian Wilson set out to create “The greatest rock album ever made.” The title track from his one-man opus features riffs teeming with the surf-rock heritage fans expect from a Beach Boys album, along with layers of lush instrumentation often from the least likely places (like using coke cans for percussion).

The album’s lukewarm initial reception has been shadowed by its now cult-like status among music aficionados. Pet Sounds is now regarded as one of the most influential albums ever made.

Maria También, Khruangbin

Formed in 2010 in Houston, Texas, Khruangbin’s psychedelic blend of soul, ’70s funk, and Middle Eastern influences will envelop listeners in a warm blanket of nostalgia. The trio stays true to the song’s title, skillfully blending Latin rhythms into a genre-bending track that begs to be played again. 

Time of The Season, The Zombies

The Zombies silently went their separate ways after their debut album, “Odessey and Oracle,” didn’t hit the charts. Nearly two years later, their US label chose to launch “Time of the Season” in the States, and the song soared to No. 3 on the Billboard chart, catapulting the Zombies back into the spotlight. 

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With the original members having moved on to various jobs, a production company quickly assembled a group they dubbed the Original “Zombies,” around a then unknown Dusty Hill and Frank Beard (Who would later form ZZ Top), and toured the US, fooling concert goers everywhere because the internet had not yet been invented. Originally recorded at Abbey Road Studios, “Time of The Season” remains synonymous with ’60s psychedelia and reminds us that it’s always the season for loving.

Remember Me, Tame Impala

No stranger to modern  psychedelia , Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker has headlined festivals and theaters worldwide. The band’s transcendent live performances—and penchant for layering multiple instruments to create a fresh sound rooted in the past—are why it’s included in this mix. 

He was initially recorded in 1997 by British DJ Alexis’ Lex’ Blackmore under his pseudonym Blue Boy. The mushroom jazz-infused track sampled blues singer Marlena Shaw, while Tame Impala’s version opts for Parker’s warbled vocals paired with a raucous rhythm section that keeps the energy and vibes pumping into our next track.

Hurdy Gurdy Man – Donovan

Written while Scottish singer Donovan Leitch was studying transcendental meditation in India alongside The Beatles, it is rumored that “Hurdy Gurdy Man” was initially intended for Jimi Hendrix. Although there are still some arguments over who was present at the recording time, the album credits guitarist Jimmy Page and drummer John Bonham, who helped usher in the Celtic rock sound they would use to form Led Zeppelin later. 

The song’s influential legacy, strange vocal delivery, and lyrics about being visited by an ‘enlightened stranger’ are why this song continues to inspire artists—and why it had to be included on our list. 

“It’s the most psychedelic experience I ever had, going to see Hendrix play. When he started to play, something changed: colors changed, everything changed.” -Pete Townshend

Burning Of The Midnight Lamp, Jim Hendrix

Initially released in the summer of ’67, this B-side to “All Around The Watchtower” marks Hendrix’s first use of the wah-wah effects that would become synonymous with his trademark  sound . During the four-minute opus, Hendrix talks of the “circus” moving on, leaving him alone in the desert. Despite this, he continues to burn the midnight lamp like a beacon, leading us further into our mix.

Xtal, Aphex Twin

Aphex Twin, aka Richard D. James, is a producer, composer, and DJ whose records span over three decades. Featuring the eerie vocal samplings of Donald Greig’s “Evil At Play,” Xtal muddles the distinction between ambient electronic, psychedelic grooves, and genuine pop sensibilities. Full of atmospheric textures created with dated electronics and recorded on a damaged cassette tape, the hauntingly melodic melancholia of this song will stay with you long after it’s over.

READ: Melissa Etheridge on Her Transformative Plant Medicine Experiences and Embracing Her “True Self”

California Owls, Death and Vanilla

Formed in Malmö, Sweden, by Marleen Nilsson and Anders Hansson, Death and Vanilla utilizes vintage musical equipment to emulate the sounds of ’60s/70s psych. This track’s warmth shines through the speakers like a hot summer’s day—it’s filled to the brim with sunshine and dreamy synth-layered echoes. At just over five minutes, California Owls is the organic sound that will help keep you safe and grounded during this journey–like a  trip sitter  for your ears.

Bat Macumba, Os Mutantes

Born out of São Paulo’s vibrant music scene at a time when Brazil was undergoing significant political and cultural changes. Os Mutantes were a seminal psychedelic band that emerged in the mid-1960s. Their music played a pivotal role in developing the Tropicália movement, which sought to revolutionize traditional Brazilian music and aesthetics by incorporating elements from abroad.

The song’s wildly inventive structure and energy marks our playlist’s departure from electronic music, venturing further into the birth of psychedelia.

Soul Sacrifice, Santana 

First introduced as the closing track to Carlos Santana’s infamous  Woodstock  performance in 1969, this six-minute instrumental answers the question,  can drums be psychedelic?  It’s a resounding yes. Known for experimenting with substances, Santana stated, “By the time we got to ‘Soul Sacrifice,’ I had come back from a pretty intense journey. Ultimately, I felt we had plugged into a whole lot of hearts at Woodstock”. The performance would skyrocket Santana into superstardom, becoming a global celebrity almost overnight and cementing his place in the Psychedelia Hall of Fame. 

Gbomei Adesai, The Psychedelic Aliens

While there’s no shortage of acid trip playlists full of bands from the American and British psychedelic scenes of the late sixties, our next track comes from an unlikely place–Ghana. Active for only three years, The Psychedelic Aliens fused funk, psych, and garage rock with African rhythms to produce an entirely new sound.

Kalinga, Free The Robots

The brainchild of Chris Alfaro, a Filipino American musician/producer from Santa Ana, California, Free The Robots makes music almost impossible to put into any singular category. Kalinga includes samples sourced from native Filipino albums and field recordings that give the track a perfect balance between the past and present. Alfaro says he was inspired to record Kalinga after a powerful psychedelic experience.

“I watched as my body vaporized into another dimension. Like a cannonball, my consciousness shot through my bloodline and I found myself amongst an indigenous tribe in a rice field/jungle where I was able to spend time communicating with strangers who may or may not have been my actual ancestors. Without words, what I took from the experience, I can’t explain.”  -Free The Robots

Expensive Shit, Fela Kuti

Nicknamed “ The Black President ,” Nigerian artist Fela Kuti may very well be the most beloved artist to grace this mix. Born into the upper class, Kuti would abandon his family’s traditional plans for his future, opting to study music in London instead. After a brief stint as a jazz player in San Francisco, Fela returned to Nigeria, where he renounced Western music and began incorporating African sounds into his work’s soul. 

Kuti became a vocal opponent and relentless critic of several Nigerian administrations, which he labeled as corrupt, undemocratic, and oppressive. His outspoken and politically charged music frequently made him a target of state violence, culminating in an illegal raid on his compound and landing Kuti in jail on trumped-up possession charges. After eating the cannabis-filled joint the police had planted on him, Kuti was kept under 24-hour surveillance until authorities could, ahem,  recover  the evidence—an expensive shit  indeed . 

Political turmoil has always pushed forth new music, and Kuti’s improvisational, percussion-driven anthems are no exception. By the time the dust has settled from the track’s three-minute opening jam session, Kuti arrives with a bang, delivering howling verses full of political criticisms and humor at the expense of his jailors.

Maggot Brain – Funkadelic 

As we come to the end of our mix, who better to represent the culmination of the genre than the collective known as Funkadelic? What began as a Doo-wop group in the mid-50s, Funkadelic transformed into a powerhouse act, fueled by the ideas of Black Power, free love, and their noted use of hallucinogens throughout the band’s lifetime. “Maggot Brain” has become a part of psychedelia infamy, as the song was reportedly captured in a single session when singer George Clinton, influenced by LSD, instructed his guitarist to perform as though they had just learned of their mother’s passing. 

The track’s raw emotion, spooky tones, and echoing saturation bring our mix to a close with arguably the most epic guitar solo ever recorded. 

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HIGH NOTES: 7 Songs That Were Inspired by Acid Trips

For decades, musicians have been known to experiment with LSD to stimulate their creative process. Because of the drug’s effects on the serotonergic system, people tripping on it not only experience warped sounds and images that might inspire music and lyrics but also become more open to experimenting with different styles. The result of these effects was no less than a musical revolution in the ’60s and ’70s and innovations in music that have continued up to the present day.

Many of the songs you’ve listened to have probably been inspired by acid trips, whether you realize it or not. Here are some songs that probably wouldn’t have existed as we know them without the help of lysergic acid diethylamide.

“Acid Rain” by Chance the Rapper

Hip hop may not be the genre you typically associate with LSD, but Chance the Rapper told MTV in 2013 that the drug inspired his album  Acid Rap . This is perhaps most obvious on the track “Acid Rain,” where he raps, “Kicked off my shoes, tripped acid in the rain.” The song, like several on the album, is a tribute to his late friend Rodney Kyles Jr.: “My big homie died young; just turned older than him / I seen it happen, I seen it happen, I see it always / He still be screaming, I see his demons in empty hallways / I trip to make the fall shorter.” Presumably, his use of the word “trip” indicates that his psychedelic experiences helped him through the loss of his friend.

“Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots” by The Flaming Lips

Though The Flaming Lips haven’t come out and said that this nonsensical story of a karate black belt’s battle with humanity-destroying robots was inspired by LSD, there are a few clues, the first being the weirdness of the whole story. The second clue is the album cover, which features the number 25 on a wall behind the robot, as James Stafford at  Diffuser  has observed . We also know that lead singer Wayne Coyne is a fan of LSD; he once said that the psychedelic “ SuperFreak ” video with Miley Cyrus was “originally intended to be for a song that has a reference to the drug LSD.”

“White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane

This list would not be complete without “White Rabbit,” possibly the trippiest song known to humankind. “It became the signature for the people who were doing the things it had reference to,” the band’s bassist Jack Casady told  Louder Sound . The song is based on Lewis Carroll’s  Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland,  which in turn is based on — you guessed it — acid. “One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small… logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead,” Grace Slick sang, evoking the visual distortions of psychedelic trips.

“I Am the Walrus” by The Beatles

The only song to rival “White Rabbit” as the world’s most obviously LSD-inspired song is “I Am the Walrus.” “I am he as you are he as you are me,” the opening line philosophizes before segueing into descriptions of “egg men,” “yellow matter custard dripping from a dog’s eye,” and a “pornographic priestess.” In case that doesn’t convince you that the song was written on acid, here’s a quote from John Lennon : “The first line was written on one acid trip one weekend, the second line on another acid trip the next weekend, and it was filled in after I met Yoko.” (I would’ve included “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” but Lennon has said this name actually came from the title of a drawing by his son. Still, it’s very possible that it was written on acid, too.)

“Lysergic Bliss” by of Montreal

With their wacky lyrics and colorful, over-the-top shows, of Montreal has a reputation for embracing the weird. This song leaves no mystery regarding its meaning, with a title referencing LSD’s full laboratory name, lysergic acid diethylamide. The song, however, appears to be not just about LSD but also about falling in love (perhaps falling in love on LSD?), with lyrics like “If we were a pair of jigsaw puzzle pieces / We would connect so perfectly.” But other lines like “Wearing an olive drab but feeling somehow inside opalescent” sound more like they’re about the drug itself.

“Acid Tongue” by Jenny Lewis

“Acid Tongue,” the eponymous song off Jenny Lewis’s first self-titled album, references Lewis’s first acid trip as a young teen in the line, “I’ve been down to Dixie And dropped acid on my tongue / Tripped upon the land ’til enough was enough.” She described the trip to  Rolling Stone : “It culminated in a scene not unlike something from  Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas —the scene where Hunter S. Thompson has to lock the lawyer in the bathroom. I sort of assumed the Hunter S. Thompson character and my friend – she had taken far too much – decided to pull a butcher knife out of the kitchen drawer and chase me around the house. … At the end of that experience, my mom was out of town on a trip of her own and she returned to find me about 5 lbs lighter and I had—I was so desperate to get back to normal I decided to drink an entire gallon of orange juice. I saw that it was in the fridge and decided that this would sort of flush the LSD out of my system, but I didn’t realize that it did exactly the opposite.”

“Black Peter” by The Grateful Dead

Robert Hunter, a songwriter who frequently worked with The Grateful Dead, consumed apple juice containing about a gram of crystal LSD worth around $50,000 in 1969, after which he experienced firsthand the deaths of JFK, Lincoln, and other assassinated public figures. This scary and expensive trip paid off, though, because it inspired him to write “Black Peter,” which recounts this experience of dying in lyrics like “All of my friends come to see me last night / I was laying in my bed and dying / Annie Beauneu from Saint Angel / Say ‘the weather down here so fine.'”

Hello. We're Audiofemme! We are a group of female music and culture writers formed in 2013 to bring you the best and brightest of what's out there in the world.

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