Back in May, John Mayer asked an L.A. audience an urgent question in the form of a song: “Who says I can’t get stoned?” Now he’s releasing the studio version as his latest single under the more demure title “Who Says.” As before, it’s a pleasant acoustic number. “Who says I can’t get stoned?” Mayer wonders aloud over gently rolling instrumentation. “Turn off the lights and the telephone/Me in my house alone/Who says I can’t get stoned?”
I, for one, promise you that I will never say that you cannot get stoned, John Mayer. However, the singer might be facing a less rhetorical query soon — namely, will TV and radio stations say he can’t say “Who says I can’t get stoned”? Will they just bleep out the word “stoned” from the chorus? Might he have to release a separate clean version with reworked lyrics? (Idolator has suggested a few creative alternatives, including “who says I can’t get phoned” and “who says I can’t get cloned.” Somehow those don’t have quite the same ring to them as the original…)
Do you think the nation is ready for this song? Aside from the whole “stoned” issue, how do you like “Who Says,” anyway? Give it a listen after the jump and let us know.
More from EW’s Music Mix:
John Mayer’s pot song (live debut)
Natalie Imbruglia is back…Let the music (Cold)play
Is Lily Allen done with the music biz?
Paramore, brandneweyes: Full stream on MySpace
Photo credit: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.com
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Someone needs rehab! So sad
he needs to go to rehab because he gets stoned? wow. if that were the case then a good percentage of americans would be in rehab.
it’s called a metaphor. what else could he mean by “who says i can’t get stoned?”
look at the second verse: “who says i can’t be free”
think about it. it’s actually a surprisingly deep song.
If they can play Sheryl Crow’s “If It Makes You Happy” where she says that she “still gets stoned”, then why wouldn’t they play JM’s song!
I’m thinking they’ll go with “be alone”…
Great song, great licks! You go JM! Who says that getting stoned only means ’substance use’? Why can’t it be just by seeing beauty and feeling love? What about ‘A little help from my friends’? “I get high with a little help from my friends”….hmmmmm….radio stations play that one. I believe we are beyond the era of trying to ban The Doors from saying ‘higher’ on Ed Sullivan. Bottom line: great song, great music once again from JM.
Great little tune!
Can’t wait for the album.
Too bad… I have a 13 year old and I will have to have a heart to heart with him why his “Guitar Idol” is advocating something his mother and I harp about ad nausea… Another ego self stroke from a guy who’s twitters more than I breathe.
Then explain to him what a metaphor is. Try listening to the whole song instead just a line that catches your ear
Love the song and love him! Ready for the follow up to Continuum.
Good luck selling it. I think it takes away from the gift he was given.
It shows he’s willing to sing what he wants to sing, something that means something to him (and others), and not care about how it will effect his sales/radio play. An attitude sorely lacking these days
Right on! I love when multi-millionares buck the system.
Catchy…very catchy! John is so clever with lyrics. I like it.
Sweet Jesus!!! People listen to the lyrics. LISTEN!! Or if you don’t want to listen download lyrics and READ!! He is not talking about drugs but about things that make each and everyone happy!! I love music so I can get stoned on music. Understand??? LORD!!
Sounds like a remake of “I don’t want to grow up, I’m a toys-r-us kid”.
I have been looking forward to this album and I’m disappoited with this song. I hope the other songs are better.
This tune is an insult to musical pot references everywhere! If I was marijuana I would sue John Mayer for slander. He’s a clown who should shave and go home.
why is this even an issue? people have been writing songs about all sorts drugs for decades… did nobody listen to bob dylan growing up did your parents have to sit you down and tell you why he’s singing about it then get a life people