• Season of the Witch – Donovan
• A Beacon from Mars – Kaleidoscope
• Bass Strings – Country Joe and the Fish
• Piece of My Heart – Janis Joplin
• Legend of a Mind – The Moody Blues
• Venus in Furs – Velvet Underground 
• Incense and Peppermints – Strawberry Alarm Clock 
• The Red Telephone – Love 
• Translucent Carriages – Pearls Before Swine 
• Baby Night – Sweet Smoke 
• Baba O’Reily – The Who 
• In-A-Gadda-Davida – Iron Butterfly 
• Sunshine of Your Love – Cream 
• At the Mountains of Madness – H.P. Lovecraft 
• The American Metaphysical Circus – The United States of America 
• Interstellar Overdrive – Pink Floyd 
• Purple Haze – The Jimi Hendrix Experience 
• White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane 
• The End- The Doors; and Terrapin  
• Station Medley – The Grateful Dead 
• Tomorrow Never Knows – The Beatles 

Since the 60s, magic mushrooms and other psychedelics have been closely associated with music. When going on a psychedelic trip, music resonates with the mind and body to generate powerful emotions. Together they can alter your perception and create a spiritual awakening.

If you’re looking for the best songs to listen to when tripping, look no further! Featuring one work of art per artist, this list is filled with the best songs for tripping out.

Add these songs to your psychedelic playlist, dose up on some shrooms, and press play.

20. Season of the Witch – Donovan

The first entry in this list, Donovan’s “Season of the Witch” is one of the early samples in psychedelic rock. Donovan is known for his eclectic style that blends folk, jazz, pop, and world music into psychedelia. “Season of the Witch” was released in 1966 on the Sunshine Superman album and it continues to retain its popularity. Its trippy lyrics and haunting riffs will bring a Bacchic energy to shape your journey.

19. A Beacon from Mars – Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope is a pretty “out there” psychedelic experimental band in the late 60s. “A Beacon from Mars” is arguably their most underappreciated eclectic song. This number is a mix of country, folk and rock musical styles which take on a surreal vibe with magic shrooms.

18. Bass Strings – Country Joe and the Fish

One of the most influential groups in the San Francisco music scene in the 60s, Country Joe and the Fish meld psychedelia and electronic music. Their song “Bass Strings” is poignant for its innovative instrumentals. The distorted organ-driven song will make you feel at peace.

17. Piece of My Heart – Janis Joplin

When Janis Joplin covered Emma Franklin’s “Piece of My Heart” in 1968, Janis turned into a star. Her emotional rendition blends psychedelia, the blues, and rock and infused it with a manic energy that explodes with every chorus. The entire song is dripping, oozing and slipping in psychedelia thanks to its distorted loud guitar solos. It talks about detailed, visceral pain but lathers it in a beautiful, powerful rhythm.

16. Legend of a Mind – The Moody Blues

The Moody Blues are an English rock band who rose to prominence in the late 60s with their development of art rock and progressive rock. Their songs possess grace and beauty but “Legend of a Mind” is a standout. “Legend of a Mind” is an homage to Timothy Leary, the high priest of LSD, whose catchphrase is “turn on, tune in, and drop out.” This whimsical song’s flute solo takes you to the edges of the universe and brings you home in time for tea.

15. Venus in Furs – Velvet Underground

Released by The Velvet Underground in 1967, this song was inspired by the book of the same name. “Venus in Furs” may be one of the most radical songs in the history of music because of its themes of sadomasochism, bondage, and submission.

People laud “Venus” as one of the most sexually provocative songs. Its tambourine leads you into a decadent Marrakesh-inspired S&M opium den. It will send waves of pleasure to your body while placing you in a state of hypnosis.

14. Incense and Peppermints – Strawberry Alarm Clock

Strawberry Alarm Clock is a psychedelic rock band formed in 1967 in Los Angeles. They are best known for their hit single “Incense and Peppermints” which peaked at number 1 on the Billboard. This well-crafted psychedelic rock masterpiece boasts catchy melodies, intricate vocals, elaborate studio effects, exotic instrumentation and hints of jazz improvisation.

This is one of the forgotten gems of the 60s and is a fine example of progressive psychedelic rock. Incense’s many textures will bring you visions of the tie-dyed, love-beaded haze of times past.

13. The Red Telephone – Love

Love is an American rock group that rose to prominence in the late 60s to early 70s. Because of their racially diverse members, they drew inspiration from diverse sources such as psychedelia, folk, hard rock, blues, jazz, flamenco and orchestral pop. Their song “Red Telephone,” is praised as melancholy iconoclasm and tasteful romanticism. With every note infused with non-diminishing freshness, the lyrics give you a sense of freedom that goes perfectly with an out-of-body experience.

12. Translucent Carriages – Pearls Before Swine

Pearls Before Swine is an American psychedelic folk band formed in 1965 in what is now Melbourne, Florida. “Translucent Carriages” has a sincere and modest melody that opens up your soul. It highlights philosophical lines including “In peace, sons bury their fathers/in war, fathers bury their sons.” This song’s lyrics inspire deeper introspection and will awaken your inner peace-seeking self and surround you with a dreamy atmosphere.

11. Baby Night – Sweet Smoke

Formed in Brooklyn, New York in 1967, Sweet Smoke is a psychedelic band who fused elements of jazz and rock. “Baby Night” is one of their more blues-inspired pieces. It displays the band’s progressive jazz fusion style and has three main sections. The highlight is its instrumental section which lasts for several minutes and can be described as nothing less than a transformative journey.

10. Baba O’Reily – The Who

The Who formed in 1964 and are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20^th century. They are one of the pioneers of using synthesizer in rock and their song “Baba O’ Riley” is a testament to the success of their experiment. It’s lauded as one of the songs that shaped rock and roll.

When you listen to this song on magic shrooms, it builds up from a synth-infused intro and ends with a beautiful melding of repeated, overlapping and interlocking musical patterns. This avant-garde musical concept resulted into this song which can help bring you to an epiphany by the time it ends.

9. In-A-Gadda-Davida – Iron Butterfly

Iron Butterfly was formed in San Diego, California by band members who used to be “arch enemies” in the late 1960s. Their best-known hit “In-A-Gadda-Davida” marked the band’s transition into heavy metal yet still retained its psychedelic elements.

According to legend, the group was so stoned when they recorded this track that they could neither pronounce the title “In the Garden of Eden” nor end the track so they ended up rambling on for a full 17 minutes. Therein lies the song’s appeal as the poster child for psychedelic excess. This song has one of the best riffs in the history of rock and psychedelia. It will take your shroom-laced brain on a great trip.

8. Sunshine of Your Love – Cream

Cream is a 1960s British power trio and “Sunshine of Your Love” is one of their most popular songs. Its creation began as a bass riff which took a psychedelic direction and became a symbol of the brief, furiously burning era. This is an ideal song to blast in your ears as you enter a shroom-induced reality. Its effects have been described as making you feel like “you’re coming to life, bubbling up from the LeBrea tar pits.”

 

7. At the Mountains of Madness – H.P. Lovecraft

Named after the horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, the psychedelic band was formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1967. They combine elements of folk rock and psychedelia. Their song “At the Mountains of Madness” has a rich sonic palette that will lead you on an evocative adventure when you’re high on psilocybin. This musical piece has a haunting, eerie ambience and has macabre elements which will take you to scary heights.

6. The American Metaphysical Circus – The United States of America

The United States of America was an American experimental rock band whose works are among the early examples of the use of electronic devices in rock music. “The American Metaphysical Circus” is the epitome of their skill to incorporate Dixie-land jazz and avant-garde style in their music.

With some magic mushrooms, this unusual but beautiful track comes alive with its lyrics that speak of human mortality. It can bring you from the brink of despair and infuse you with optimism.

5. Interstellar Overdrive – Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd were an English rock band formed in London and gained attention for their use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, extended compositions and elaborate live shows. They are among the most successful and influential groups in the history of popular music.

“Interstellar Overdrive” is one of the very first psychedelic instrumental improvisations recorded by a rock band and is one of the greatest guitar songs of all time. Tripping out to “Interstellar Overdrive” heightens your sensations and takes you to the deepest recesses of the universe.

Listeners compare the experience to visiting the alien vistas on the last reel of 2001: A Space Odyssey. This 9-minute song is the perfect accompaniment to your peak.

4. Purple Haze – The Jimi Hendrix Experience

The Jimi Hendrix Experience is an American-English rock band that formed in in London. They were highly influential in the popularization of hard rock and psychedelic rock. However, the Experience is best-known for the skill, style and charisma of their front man Jimi Hendrix. As a fan of science fiction, Hendrix incorporated its imagery in writing “Purple Haze.”

Listening to Jimi Hendrix on magic shrooms opens up the ears. Psychonauts report feeling a spirit that flows through the body that makes you more in tune with the wavelength of the music.

3. White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane

Jefferson Airplane formed in San Francisco, California in 1965 and defined the San Francisco Sound. They pioneered psychedelic rock. “White Rabbit” rocketed the group to prominence and appears on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Its enigmatic lyrics allowed it to sneak drug references on the radio.

“White Rabbit” is about following your curiosity. Adding psilocybin to your body while listening to this song expands your mind or, as the lyrics repeatedly say, feeds your head. The song takes you on an adventure similar to Alice’s journey through Wonderland.

2. This one is a tie between:

(a) The End- The Doors; and

(b) Terrapin Station Medley – The Grateful Dead

The Doors and the Grateful Dead are both American bands which were formed in 1965. Both bands’ songs tie for second place because of the obvious power, storytelling, and hidden wisdom underneath these works of art.

The Doors’ “The End” is a psychedelic rock song starts out as a goodbye song but eventually takes shape into whatever you want it to be. “Terrapin Station Medley” is a 16-minute audio fest of evoking the senses. Although they take different routes, this pair of songs inspire the listener to get in touch with their inner persona. Both songs are powerful enough to induce your mind to create a place of your imagination, full of potential.

1. Tomorrow Never Knows – The Beatles

The Beatles need no introduction. They are the foremost and most influential act of the rock era. The group experimented with several musical styles including pop ballads, Indian music, psychedelia, hard rock, and unconventional recording techniques.

“Tomorrow Never Knows” is lauded as the most important psychedelic composition in the history of the genre. This song was written with lyrics adapted from the Tibetan Book of the Dead. The song is praised for drawing attention to consciousness-enhancing drugs and the ancient religious philosophies of the Orient. It was said that those who become confused by the lyrics are most likely unfamiliar with the effects of hallucinogenic drugs and Timothy Leary’s message.

Tripping out to “Tomorrow Never Knows” is said to bring one to a state beyond waking, sleeping, and dreaming. It showers the psychonauts with pure awareness.

Update your playlist with these songs and go on that psychedelic journey you’ve been holding off. Take a gram or two of high quality mushrooms and press play. Turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream.

What songs would you like to add to this list?