While this song may have what appear to be drug references to stoners and others who are so drugged up that they can't think clearly, the song was written as a children's song pure and simple. After rumors that Peter Yarrow was actually singing about marijuana, the band started performing the Star Spangled Banner at concerts stopping at different times to explain how past lines could be about drugs, to show how ludicrous the claimes were.
While this song may have what appear to be drug references to stoners and others who are so drugged up that they can't think clearly, the song was written as a children's song pure and simple. After rumors that Peter Yarrow was actually singing about marijuana, the band started performing the Star Spangled Banner at concerts stopping at different times to explain how past lines could be about drugs, to show how ludicrous the claimes were.