Green Grass & High Tides - The Outlaws
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""Green Grass and High Tides" is a tribute to fallen rock legends of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Despite common misconceptions at the time, the song is not about marijuana.
The song was written by Hughie Thomasson, the band’s lead singer and guitarist, while he was at a cookout on a beach in St. Augustine, Florida. According to Thomasson, the lyrics describe a dream-like vision of his favorite deceased musicians coming back to life to perform one final show just for him.
Key Meanings and Symbols
The Rock Legends: The "kings and queens" mentioned in the lyrics refer specifically to stars like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison, who had all passed away shortly before the song was written (1975).
The Title: The title was inspired by a 1966 Rolling Stones greatest hits album titled Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass). Thomasson simply reversed the words for his song.
The Vibe: Band member Henry Paul has described the lyrics as having an "Alice in Wonderland" or "White Rabbit" quality—meant to be mystical and surreal rather than a literal narrative.
Musical Significance
While the lyrics are a tribute to the dead, the song is famous for its massive, 10-minute-long guitar "marathon." It features a three-guitar attack (often called the "Florida Guitar Army"
that builds into an incredibly fast, dual-lead solo. Because of its length and intensity, it is often compared to Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" as one of the ultimate southern rock anthems."
The solo was much longer than 10 minutes when we saw the in Providence. It was more like 30 or 40. They kept rotating in guitarists.