Cocaine was written by J. J. Cale and released in 1976, then popularised a year later by Eric Clapton on his album Slowhand, where the repeated she don't lie refrain became one of his signature hooks. Despite often being mistaken for a celebration, the song was intended as a warning about addiction. Decades later the short refrain was clipped for soundboards and meme edits, where its familiar classic rock delivery is reused ironically over modern chaotic, sleepless or over the top scenes online today.