Incense and Peppermints

Song Meaning

The song "Incense and Peppermints" by Strawberry Alarm Clock is a psychedelic exploration of societal disillusionment and the search for individual meaning. The nonsensical opening syllables and repeated phrases like "Incense and peppermints" create a dreamy, detached atmosphere, mirroring the altered states of consciousness often associated with the 1960s counterculture. The lyrics critique conventional values ("Good sense, innocence, cripplin' mankind") and question established authority ("Dead kings"). The line "Turn on, tune in, turn your eyes around" echoes Timothy Leary's famous countercultural mantra, urging listeners to embrace self-discovery and question the status quo. The phrase "color of time" suggests synesthesia, a blending of senses common in psychedelic experiences. The lyrics also touch upon the futility of societal divisions and political strife ("To divide the cockeyed world in two"), suggesting that "nothin' is new" and that these conflicts are ultimately meaningless. The repeated question "Who cares what games we choose? Little to win, but nothin' to lose" conveys a sense of apathy towards societal expectations and a willingness to explore alternative paths, even if they seem unconventional or pointless. Overall, the song captures the spirit of the era, characterized by a rejection of traditional norms and a quest for personal enlightenment through introspection and altered states of consciousness.