Cranford was friends with my sister in school. I played bass for him after the death of our good friend and bass player Buddy Collins in the early 1990s. I didn't even know how to play a bass guitar when he had me pick one up. Within a few months of him mentoring me, I was playing well enough that he took me around metro Detroit to play gigs and at his friends' houses. One day he didn't answer his window. The few things that he kept with him were gone and the place was empty. I went to see his dad to find out where he was. He had hopped on a Greyhound bus in the middle of the night and went back to San Francisco. I never saw him again. Those were some amazing days but I'm not going to lie. I'm glad Cranford had the decency not to bring me along to San Francisco. I smoked cigarettes and drank, but I rarely smoked cannabis and never tried anything like Heroin. He knew that I would have followed him off the cliff one day, so he made sure I never had the chance. That was Cranford.

My son Brendan was an addict for ten years. In summer of 2020 he almost died from an OD and went back into a 30-day rehab facility. After he got out he went into a sober living house recommended by the rehab center. There, during the course of about a year, I got my son Brendan back. 29 years old, strong, proud and handsome....my boy came back to me. I could not have been happier, including my wife and his sister. Working, upbeat, making friends again like he so easily did in the past. August 4th I have a policeman pounding on my front door. I answer and he shows me a sheet of paper with my son's name at the top, just under the Coroner's Office heading. I had just had lunch with B a week earlier, and talked to him via phone 2 nights before. Everything was going "great" he said. The toxicology report stated he died of a massive fentanyl overdose, no heroin present. I guess if it wouldn't have been this poison something else would have gotten him. Either way the pain is something I've never experienced in many decades of life.

@maeksu

2 жыл бұрын

I am so sorry for your loss, you are telling a tale so many mothers are familiar with. Including my own

@trige000

2 жыл бұрын

I hate boomers so much, you have no idea, its so unreal.

@ianclark9351

2 жыл бұрын

🙏🏻 so sorry for your loss there is no heroin anymore… fentanyl is the warlord and he has talked everything from me including family and friends I feel your pain

@samanthariches8798

2 жыл бұрын

As a parent and a former user, your comment here lands in a really deep place for me. I don't know that I can say anything at all to alleviate the pain of your circumstances but all I can say is that your son was lucky to have you and you him, that I have read this part of your story and grieved the loss of your boy alongside you in that moment.. and I can thank you for sharing. Sending you love and unimaginable strength to cope with the inhuman dynamic of outliving your precious son and gratitude for your sharing as it has become more fuel in the tank in terms of my recovery. Xx

@Napoleonsyndrome

2 жыл бұрын

Im so sorry for your loss. May his suffering ve over and his spirit living on through you

Kicking my heroin addiction was the greatest thing ive ever done. 6 months sober and still counting

@keefy2002

4 жыл бұрын

matt cole so proud of you!

@tyleratkinson4354

4 жыл бұрын

Proud of you bub. I kicked for almost a year then relapsed...

@wtfpwnz0red

4 жыл бұрын

@@tyleratkinson4354 sobriety is a habit too. The more you do it the stronger it gets

@denske1272

4 жыл бұрын

6+ years now right?! My 6th year sober is coming up on oct 23rd!

@MrMattycc

4 жыл бұрын

Still here sober and playing music!

Its sad the person who sang this song was found dead by his dad from a heroin overdose with the needle still in his arm. his older sister was also hooked on it and went missing in the 80s. He had talent

@MissOddstar

5 жыл бұрын

I knew Cranford when he came to California in the 1980s. He was a very sweet man who was just trying to deal with life as best he could. I think of him very fondly.

@assurdo8888

4 жыл бұрын

Well, he must have had two sisters, as one is alive for sure, clean and well, i interacted with her here in the Tube few years ago.

@tysonrinker5958

2 жыл бұрын

Dats how it goes. Rip

@dereksulzberger3294

Жыл бұрын

This dude reminds me of my life. But ive been addicted to faster things. I still play. Just never made it big. I was born in the 80s when drugs were still pure ish. Poor fucker. He seemed like a real person. People/ the masses dont want to escape thier reality. And def didnt want to hear the reality of drug addiction.

@jodywest9044

Жыл бұрын

​@@assurdo8888his sister sheila is great. SHE sent me cranfords personal copy of the Malakas records bc I gave her this Italian interview and vinyl I got gifted

I'd break out, but I'm too weak to fight I feel that way right now Thank you for being there

@peggypetit1271

2 ай бұрын

You’re only as weak as you tell yourself. You’re a very strong person! Remember, the past is the past, today’s the present & tomorrow’s a gift. Enjoy each & every day, one day at a time.

Two and a half years clean from my own heroin habit and this hits. Ironically I could never listen to Cranford, Johnny or much other music that's based around using or whatnot whilst I was in active addiction. Now that I am clean I find a lot of comfort in it, strangely.

@shanefitz956

2 жыл бұрын

I feel the same way. 1 month clean now off fentanyl. It's crazy how much it messes with your head. When you're using, you fucking hate it. When you're clean you mourn it

@kennyfuktar5222

Жыл бұрын

same here, i found them while i was an alcoholic and didnt like em back then but after i stopped drinking thy give me a similar comfort alcohol used to give me

@theGodfather5870

Жыл бұрын

i feels *insert something about mountaintops and gazing over dark valleys* hehe 😁🤙 much love and respect from the Misty Mountains of North Carolina 🙏💜👽

Heard this song at 5am in a local radio station and it’s my new favorite song!!!

@theGodfather5870

Жыл бұрын

yo where you stay? y’all DJs on that real music 😮

Not a heroin addict, I just think the raw emotion is fire

His music rocks. It can be depressing at times but so is life lol. He captures so much raw emotion in his songs especially the ones about downers. His lyrics are scary relatable to my own life sometimes but that's why I love them.

Can't believe I hadn't heard this before. This is just breath taking.

A lot of people do drugs to have a good time, we did drugs cause we just wanted to be content 😔

I’ll never forget Cranford. R.I.P

curious as to who else found this link under videos related to johnny hobo@.@

@jodymcdougle8810

3 жыл бұрын

Yep

@tomblair5379

2 жыл бұрын

I found this link when I was listening to Johnny hobo and I didn't listen to it for the first couple months cuz I didn't trust the f****** internet you don't know what I like go f*** yourself internet machine but God damn if it wasn't right s*** is amazing

@shivarison5101

2 жыл бұрын

Yes..

@theLongPigChef

2 жыл бұрын

Found it listening to chris burrows

@sethraiche3958

2 жыл бұрын

Same here

I been sober off heroin for 4 years. This guys music has helped me threw my recovery that and klonopin lol

@WowDoodWuuut

3 жыл бұрын

Good thing Cranford has a song for that too.

I want to thank all the folks here who have been kind enough to reply to my post about my late son. We observed the second anniversary of his death this past August. Sadly the hurt doesn't seem to go away, just maybe not as intense as it was the first year or so. I'll be doing something and all of a sudden he's right there, at least in my mind. I still have dreams about him and strangely enough those are usually of the good times, when he was whole, happy, and strong. I hope all who struggle with addiction continue to fight the good fight, both for yourselves, your families and friends.

I came here after listening to some Choking Victim songs. When I saw the thumbnail I thought this dude looks like he probably ODed a while back. His music is probably great. I had better check it out. Glad I did :-D

Rings so true. Working at McDonald's... Cranford Nix, truly knows what we want to hear, or not hear. That's why every song of his is so easy to relate to.

I seem to be one of the few people who intentionally avoided a sober date. Been sober a few years now but I couldn't tell ya what season it was much less the date lol I barely remember it cause I was so fuckin sick. I decided against it way before I ever got clean cause several friends died on their anniversaries. It breeds a dangerous mentality for some of us. It's an anniversary so it seems right to celebrate and treat yourself. You've been doing really good. Some distance between your active abuse and that day makes it feel like it wasn't as bad as it actually was. Ya feel like ya could get high just this one time, then back to sobriety. Ya feel like it's all under control and it ain't shit to handle it. If you're lucky ya just lapse or relapse and have to get your shit back together. But way too many people don't realize how much their tolerance has plummeted and die. I know many people who have, several were good friends. I'll never forget watching a dude who had FIFTEEN YEARS sober shoot dope with us and puke his guts out. Dude was dead within a week after that long. And for what? I love dope, I love junkies, there was a lot about the life I loved and a lot about sobriety that I hate. So I don't judge, I don't think it's a bad thing I to be an addict. It just is what it is and different people carry it different ways. But don't accidentally wack yourself on a day that ya should be enjoying with other sober people who are proud of your progress.

I know it's about rehab, but this song reminds me of the looney bin.

@QWJPreport

9 жыл бұрын

same man

@davidwise9897

7 жыл бұрын

Me too- especially the line about 'an hour outside is like a vacation'

@redfogwhitefrost2583

6 жыл бұрын

It sounds like theres no difference.

@chimayoshite

5 жыл бұрын

Xodetide rehab is like being in a mental hospital and jail all at once. So yea right on.

@ericfelds6291

5 жыл бұрын

It’s about both I think considering he mentions Thorazine

Just found this song at the perfect time. I'm a recovering hardcore junkie... kind of. This song just gave me so much strength. Thanks.

@nickkemp2516

9 жыл бұрын

It's good u got clean I'm an alcoholic but I use it for pain instead of taking painkillers so that's the trade off I guess

@11THEW0RD11

9 жыл бұрын

You're awesome good choice of music you look like youve barely touched drugs hope things are going well beautiful :) stay strong and stop using

@smokepot6671

9 жыл бұрын

Good for you sweet heart I've been off of dope for a little more than a year keep your head up it hard but it gets better everyday, and this type if music kept me fighting when I quit

@Georgie2500

9 жыл бұрын

.."kind of" hmm

@reginavsTMumby

9 жыл бұрын

Hmm...I'll allways be a junkie...Its in my DNA, my blood...Not a resignation....just ME...

Classic. I used to listen to this when I was so fucking miserable strung out, and now I'm a year clean and I still listen.. oh yeahhh, alrightttttt! I do agree with Cranford on the 12 step meetings, although for some people in some circumstances meetings are ESSENTIAL.

@TheJakeHenderson

9 жыл бұрын

booognish I remember this from sitting on my bed dope sick waiting for the D man to come by....now im 15 months clean and i stumbled upon this song again. crazy how time fly's. Im an AA which is kind of funny. thats just how i chose to get clean. fuckin Cranny Nix lol

@marksnow5489

9 жыл бұрын

booognish Same for me. I was listening to all this stuff 3 years ago non-stop, strung-out, drunk, and thought I was enjoying the sarcasm of being a smart fuck up more than I actually was. Got sent to prison, now I'm back, and Crawford is even better sober.

@booognish

9 жыл бұрын

MrSleazymoney Yes, I think we would all be cool with receiving cookies..

@booognish

9 жыл бұрын

I just figure there's people that are just like we were out there listening and I hope we can give them even just a little hope by seeing that there is another side... It's still not easy, but I'm incredibly thankful to be out of the rat race of addiction, that's for sure.. Rather deal with the ups and downs of life in other ways cause that shit didn't do shit for me except make every day a more miserable struggle than the worst day sober...

@booognish

8 жыл бұрын

+booognish Yeah this comment seems really pretentious at this point. or something. I just liked the idea that it might inspire someone to believe they can get clean.. I'm finally off suboxone now, that was another hideous ordeal.. But worth it.

Listening to this it makes me thankful I am clean from heroin! I've been clean for 8 months and currently on the methadone maintenance program! I hope I can get off the methadone soon!!!! Wish me luck! 🐰💕🏳️‍🌈

@zacharyb8757

5 жыл бұрын

good luck, make certain you taper slowly. it is really hard but you can do it.

@ivan00001983

4 жыл бұрын

All the best to you! :-)

@douglasholtz5218

4 жыл бұрын

I been on and off methadone it is harder than heroin to get off. Way back I was on 125 mg then detoxed myself took over a year then my head never felt right without anything so I went back on it but this time I only went up to 35 mg glad I stopped going up 35 is better than nothing and is just enough to help some get to high of dose and it's like being on probation don't get you high block other narcotics and fill like shit without it. Heroin program would work better but what can you expect from the U.S. government

@bwaka9178

4 жыл бұрын

It never hurts to give the old cough meds a try alcohol is always an option dulls the pain

@tigerstyle4505

3 жыл бұрын

I tried methadone and just ended up abusing it. Twice. Suboxone was the only way I stayed sober but fuck of it ain't expensive. Hope all is well for ya.

Cranford nix is my spirit animal.. he helped me feel like I wasn't alone when heroine was the only reason I had to live..

This song brings back vivid memories of rehab centers an absolutely beautiful song

His sister Sue was the sister of my friend. Sue & I never hung out but I always thought she beautiful. Beautiful redhead for sure. I always wondered what happened to Sue after speaking with her father at the grocery store where he worked. I know why Sue lost it, she told me. I pray for the entire family. One day y’all be together again 🩷

every time i listen to this song i cry. I lost my best friend to dope, and i just think of all the time we had together which were some of the best ive had in my life. He's still alive but he is gone mentally. coke, dope and perks destroyed him. I called him everyday in rehab and did everything i could to help him. fuck dope man

listening to Charles Manson's music led me here. wuuu wuuuttt.

@gaylothropmissinformed1046

8 ай бұрын

What the fuck? Me too

Well dude, the sound of the song reflects and compliments the message of the song. The droning futility of continued drug use, the droning failures of rehab. It sets the mood, and if you understand or identify with the story he's telling it makes a lot of sense to sound like this, he's painting a portrait with music/structure of the song, its pretty fuckin brilliant!

Cigarettes and Heroin are my only friends Now I'm in a sanitarium wearing Depends Done a lot of damage but I feel OK The Thorazine I take it makes the monsters go away [Chorus] And my Dr says "Man if you apply your self here You can be working at McDonald's in about two years" Oh yeah, well alright!! You know it sucks in here and its so lonely at night Oh yeah, well alright!! You know I'd break out but I'm too weak to fight Oh yeah, oh yeah, well alright Well these 12 step meetings, they're oh so fun We drink coffee, and smoke cigarettes, and wish we had guns An hour outside, its like a vacation It's like a fucking prison, but we get medication [Chorus] These therapy sessions, well they're oh so sad Some crackhead fuck found out she hates her dad She never knew why, Oh now its clear Oh god, please get me the fuck out of here And my Dr says "Cranford just apply your self here You'll be working at Burger King man, in under two years Oh yeah, well alright! You know it sucks in here and its so lonely at night Oh yeah, well alright! I'd break out but I'm too weak to fight Oh yeah, oh yeah, Oh yeah, oh yeah, Oh yeah, oh yeah, well alright

Verse is just D-A-Bmminor-G Chorus is like this: D(oh yeah) A(alright) B-minor(sucks in here) G(lonely at night) D(oh yeah) A(oh yeah) D(oh yeah) G(oooooohhhhh yeah) D(oh yeah) A(oh yeah) D(well alright) Hope that helps...

@Defjet1

4 жыл бұрын

tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/cranford-nix/cigarettes-and-heroin-tabs-1247383

around three years dope-free...i miss it but i hate all pain i've caused EVERYONE that's ever loved me....i wish i had this song in my life years ago

@smokepot6671

7 жыл бұрын

Thats what keeps me clean brother , keep up the good work shits a bitch to stay off of it easy kicking but ao hard staying good, that being said i havent used in 2 years but its really hard aometimes

@JaVarimITeStvari

5 жыл бұрын

its 2019 we smoke crack

Raw Talent right here. Love the realness of his musicc

@shrek3346

8 жыл бұрын

same

Detox off suboxone is no fucking joke man. Shit takes forever. I used one of the lessons I learned while I was using to get clean. No matter how broke I was or whatever I always found a way to score. That taught me that in life there is always a way. No matter how hopeless it seems there's always a way. I hope you're doing well man, one day at a time. You can do it, there's always a way.

preach the truth man, so happy to see others that have overcome the hell that is hard addiction.

Anyway, besides my comments and answers regarding drugs/booze experiences of mine and of others that i typed in this and other Cranford Nix videos, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MUSIC ITSELF, AND LET'S STATE THE OBVIOUS: THIS SONG IS AMAZING. And it's great, like other tracks of his own, not only for the heart, but also for the simplicity and spontaneity: if he tried to be a blues guitar "hero", adding pompous solos and stuff like that, the heart factor could have been easily lost. His song writing is great just because it really sounds like street life, and street is rough and mean, beautiful and welcoming, cold and warm, depending on where your instinct leads you (and on fortune too, of course!).

My man broke out of 2 rehab facilities, the line about being too weak to fight is real

Breaks my heart you never got to xperience real recovery, this song really says a lot, rehab should be a place of feeling not somewhere that feels like prison but with medication, the meeting are not suppose to make you wish you had guns, and us people in recovery have way ore potential then the chance to work at a fast food restaurant, there is hope out there though and slowly these stigma are changing but its gonna take us as a recovery community standing together and showing the world who we really are. We could learn a lesson or too from the aids movement of the late 80s early 90s, thats proof of how people, standing together can change even the worst stigmas and makes thing better for everyone.

Thank you so much.

Thank You So Much For Posting This Song Its The Combination Of My Favorite Things In The World Playing My Acoustic Guitar Singing Writing And Cigarettes And Heroin I Know That's A Bad Thing To Glorify But I Know How Cranford Felt And I Can Really Relate To This Type Of Music From Bands Like Johnny Hobo Cranford Nix Alice In Chains And Stone Temple Pilots Thanks Again For Posting This

@mr.albert__3361

4 жыл бұрын

ShinobuoftheSensui7 i hope that you’re clean now

Choking victim/leftover crack videos brought me here. I dig it. I've lived it for too many years.

great song!

I was in a psych center for a year and a half and now what you mean. I really does help and I understand where you are coming from.

Love it.

He should be a legendary figure for song writing like this, should be some generations Dylan or Cobain or whatever.

I have ptsd and I really connect with this song ,

@chayoswest883

6 жыл бұрын

Sven Carlson check out my music yo

:D, you sound awesome. I of course have empathy for your suffering and pain, and admiration for your funny-face and attitude about the funny-farm

he will never know how much I relate to this...

what a great fucking song buddy just showed me this guy gotta love music you can relate too this much

It's weird, alot of people in the comment section relate this to legitamate drug problems (mainly heroine) and here i am, relating this song to mental health issues and family problems. I guess art really is in the eye of the beholder

@acigarette

Жыл бұрын

me too!

This is so darkly hilarious

@sithspitdanikan4725

Жыл бұрын

DUDE the delivery of "OH GOD PLEASE GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE" was so FUCKING accurate

Rest easy, Cranford.

I can't think of any other way to go 🤘😎🤘💯☠️🖤

wingnut dishwashers back in the day. picked it back up after seeing a blackbird raum and ramshackle show in tucson.

I'm currently living this song irl. frfr.

@sbFreakinxRican

7 жыл бұрын

rip

I found this song right after I got out of the mental hospital and I listen to this everyday. I know it's not talking about being in a mental hospital but that's exactly how I felt being in there for 8 days. It's like my new theme song.

@jessec.6303

Жыл бұрын

It IS though. He specifically says sanitarium. Sings about doctor. You had it spot on. Crazy how its not just rehab that comes with addiction, its insanity to the point of needing to be committed.

Defiantly relate to this song

This guy hits all the right points in his songs. He knows whats up. Fuckin awsome

He is a hero

I found this song in treatment and god damn it hits home too much aha

"you can be working at McDonald's in about 2 years!" lol my sister in law Is a dope addict shed laugh her ass off if I showed this to her

@chickenballstv1510

2 жыл бұрын

1.why 2.is she okay

He was a very talented everything he was a bad MF for real it's my life he is singing about it hits nerves he will never be forgotten.💯😎🤘the music is to cool and reality.

Can relate a lot to this song

@thegreaterg8r148

4 жыл бұрын

I hope your ok. Your life is worth more than a substance

@coreysturner2748

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks man I’m trying to get sober again

I love the line about working at a McDonald’s or Burger King. It’s so true they told me hey you can get a job at a grocery store and I acted like that job was beneath me and I wouldent do it. Completely forgetting that I’m starting from below point zero. Gotta start somewhere ya know? Also the shitty grocery store job ain’t as bad as you’d think

It is what it is 💯

I remember listening to this song back in highschool. Currently in uni atm I outgrew punk but still love cranford

@David_Downs

2 жыл бұрын

You outgrew punk? In other words, you never really got it.

This song is the fucking BEST

Really opened me up to acoustic. First it was Cranford and then it was Fat Mike

Song makes me sad

Probably the best song I've heard in years. I'm in a ward right now. This is so applicable to my life right now. "An hour outside is like a vacation it's like a fucking prison but we get medication!" Sigh♡

RIP Cranford.

❤👍❤ "She hated her dad, never knew why, well get me the fuck out of here" Sounds about par for the course on mandated inpatient treatment

Listening to this in rehab probably not the best idea, but starting to feel a lot of the frustration lol.

RIP Cranford x

@ivan00001983

Жыл бұрын

Slušati Cranforda Nixa i štovati lik i nedjelo Ratka Mladića, a fakat ste vi ultra-desničari puknuti u PM...

Some people say the junkie way of living is cool.. Its not.. I'm a recovering addict.. Nothing fun about

@trippygudakesa6391

6 жыл бұрын

the dude in all black its fun at first

@jokerquinn8569

6 жыл бұрын

the dude in all black no one says it's cool

@elimgarak4667

6 жыл бұрын

Until you do that shot that gives you pins and needles. Then you're in Heaven... Then Hell. Mostly Hell. True statement my friend.

@uzisuicide4080

6 жыл бұрын

Chris Butler do a banger speedball. Damn talk about a rush, first you taste the coke, then the ear ringing swooosh and then the heroin kicks in for the icing on the cake 😆. I can't lie I do miss it sometimes. 4 years clean ✌️

@ryanhughes2459

6 жыл бұрын

Man ain't that the truth...Eight months clean...feel like I'm missing a limb...

I didn't, but a friend happened to send it to me while I was listening to Acid Song. Close enough for me. :)

Giving me hope through inpatient rehab. Rip cranford Edit: one year out of that hell, finally getting of goddam depakot. Finally feel free

13 years of heroin addiction, i probably shouldve written some songs. lol.

RIP Cranford, gone too soon.

Right on.

this is fucking awesome.

It was hell to get out off heroin -so true what he says- 12 steeps so depressing makes you want to use- Great song-great voice-exactly how I felt at the time!!!!!!!!xxx free now-for now x

I sang this to myself in rehab lol

He was beautiful, Shame he had to leave.

Raw asf

found it listening to gg allin

@Blunt_Man

4 жыл бұрын

Guess I can see how this sounds a little to some of GGs acoustic stuff. RIP GG Allin!

No idea had this Angel showed up. I have punk Vancouver B.C ROOTS

I just discovered this guy a week or so ago and I'm completely hooked. His voice is incredible. Does anyone know where I could find some of his songs on disk or to download?

oh yeah!

same here!

dude...he's wearing 3 shirts... awesooommmmmeeee

it doesn't matter who's better really, i like them both

As a former addict, I feel for anyone going through the madness but this is a wealthy addict looking down on others without his financial stability. An entitled smug junky is still a junky at the end of the day. Drugs do not discriminate social or financial status.

this guy! not surprising tho they both sound like are slamming smack. XD haha they are great.

*generic comment about persons past substance abuse issues, hitting rock-bottom, something something about how this song was the only thing there to comfort him, now looking back and reflecting on this song, an older wiser man, something something yadda yadda, glamorization of drug use, “i just drink beer and smoke weed now,” yadda yadda*

@krustiestone1596

Жыл бұрын

🤣

Heroin is like a one sided relationship with a girl who just wants to take and take. But the sex aka the rush keeps you stick. I was found in my yard by my dog. I pulled through 6 narcans later. Been clean since April 25th. After almost 10 years of use. To anyone dabbling with pain pills or any drugs stop. Weekends become everyday.

@thelocalskid2355

6 жыл бұрын

lol Man how did you train your dog to narrcan you that's sweet

YYYYEESSS!

I can relate to this song... been there done that... fuck those places.

Dope

Yes drugs do destroy but then again all best music an artist where on drugs.

WELL ALRIGHT!!