As such, the song is often cited by critics as being the first psychedelic rock song, as well as a classic of the counterculture era. Musically influenced by Ravi Shankar and John Coltrane, “Eight Miles High”, along with its McGuinn and Crosby penned B-side “Why”, was influential in developing the musical styles of psychedelic rock, raga rock and psychedelic pop. All rights reserved by Columbia Records, a division of S. > For decades, the story went that 'Eight Miles High' was a commercial failure because it had been banned from radio due to its perceived pro-drug messages.

The failure of “Eight Miles High” to reach the Billboard Top 10 is usually attributed to the broadcasting ban, but some commentators have suggested that the song’s complexity and uncommercial nature were greater factors. Music video by The Byrds performing Eight Miles High (Audio/RCA Version). The line is 'Eight miles high and falling fast- landed foul out on the grass.' McLean could be sardonically implying that the song is about drugs, since 'foul grass' was slang for marijuana. The band strenuously denied these allegations at the time, but in later years both Clark and Crosby admitted that the song was at least partly inspired by their own drug use. radio ban shortly after its release, following allegations published in the broadcasting trade journal the Gavin Report regarding perceived drug connotations in its lyrics. Top 20 hit, and also their last release before the departure of Gene Clark, who was the band’s principal songwriter at the time.

“Eight Miles High” became The Byrds' third and final U.S. The single managed to reach the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the Top 30 of the UK Singles Chart.The song was also included on the band’s third album, Fifth Dimension, released on July 18, 1966. Roger McGuinn), and David Crosby and first released as a single on Ma. “Eight Miles High” is a song by the American rock band The Byrds, written by Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn (a.k.a. Plot: punk, punk rock, rising to stardom, musicians life, lifestyle, life is a bitch, artists and showbiz, music band, music, ambition, rise and fall, drug.

Eight miles high about to fall