"Slippin' Into Darkness" (War)

"Slippin' into Darkness" from 1971's All Day Music was War's first hit after the departure of original frontman Eric Burdon, the ex-Animals singer who helped found the multi-ethnic, genre-blurring band in L.A. in 1969.
Lyrically, "Slippin' into Darkness" seems purposely obscure.  There are foggy allusions to alcoholism/drug abuse and even the siren of stardom.  But the general gist is: "don't let yourself slip over the edge"—the "edge" being obsession, addiction, fanaticism, or really any extreme state of mind that can ruin your life and relationships.
What isn't vague is the rhythm section, which is the anchor of the song.  The moment founding band member Harold Ray Brown's drums kick into action after the churchy intro, it's a vivid, syncopated ride to the finish.  
Thing is, if you attempt to count out the rhythm, it's easy to get lost pretty quickly because of the syncopation, even though it's essentially in common time.  The twist is that Brown puts the emphasis on the "and" of 4, which gives the track an almost New Orleans-y, second line kind of feel.  In fact, you kind of have to "feel" your way around the rhythm, letting your gut be your guide rather than your cerebrum.