Don't Step On The Grass, Sam

Steppenwolf's song "Don't Step On The Grass, Sam" is a powerful critique of the anti-marijuana sentiment prevalent in the 1960s. The song opens with the protagonist flipping through TV channels, searching for something meaningful amidst the wasteland of television programming. The protagonist stumbles upon a show featuring 'Obnoxious Joe' and 'self-righteous Sam,' who represent the establishment figures vehemently opposed to marijuana, referred to here as 'Mary Jane.' The song immediately sets the stage for a confrontation between the free-spirited counterculture and the conservative establishment.

The character Sam, who claims to be 'elected by the masses,' launches into a tirade against marijuana, labeling it as 'evil, wicked, mean, and nasty.' The chorus, with its repeated plea, 'Don't step on the grass, Sam,' serves as a direct challenge to Sam's authority and misinformation. The lyrics highlight the absurdity and hypocrisy of the anti-marijuana rhetoric, suggesting that Sam's arguments are not only baseless but also harmful. The song's protagonist and the counterculture at large see through Sam's lies and call him out for wasting resources and spreading falsehoods.

The song's final verses underscore the frustration and hope of the counterculture. The protagonist accuses Sam of wasting taxpayer money to imprison people for using marijuana, a 'noble weed.' The lyrics suggest that Sam's lies have been repeated so often that some people have come to believe them, but the protagonist remains hopeful that once figures like Sam are gone, progress and hope will flourish. Steppenwolf's song is a rallying cry for truth and freedom, urging listeners to question authority and stand up against misinformation and hypocrisy.