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Lyrics tend to not be understood by the DJs and publishers. Can you imagine Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds being broadcast while the DJ and publishers understood the lyrics?

For a more ontopic subject, think of heroin usage (Red Hot Chili Peppers) or songs describing automutilation (quite common in goth music). Examples like these make the term depression less abstract.

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Lucy in the Sky isn't about drug use.

If you consider the era, type of music, and the title (Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is the correct title) I'd say the evidence points in that direction.

Although Lennon denied this, he admitted he was inspired by LSD. However he has a good reason to deny this: to avoid the radio ban.

Perhaps we will never know for sure. We do know for sure it was perceived as such.

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_in_the_Sky_with_Diamond...

Lennon denied it on the Dick Cavett show in '71, years after it was released and would have been near radio. Maybe there was another reason to deny but I don't think radio is it.

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