After I wrote about the horrible Silverchair lyrics in my last post, I went and listened to the album. I did it while doing some work, so I managed to not let the lyrics get to me too much, but once in a while a line would come through that was so bad I had to put my head in my hands and groan. Now I can’t get those songs out of my head. So why suffer alone when I can share my misery with you all?
Looking on the bright side, it’s good to know that the lead singer, Daniel Johns, never fantasized about committing suicide. I know this because he wrote a song in which he fantasized about committing suicide and there’s no hint of honesty in it.
Suicidal Dream
I dream about how it’s going to end
Approaching me quickly
Leaving a life of fear
I only want my mind to be clear
People making fun of me
For no reason but jealousy
I fantasise about my death
I’ll kill myself from holding my breath
My suicidal dream
Voices telling me what to do
My suicidal dream
I’m sure you will get your’s too
Help me, comfort me
Stop me from feeling what I’m feeling now
The rope is here, now I’ll find a use
I’ll kill myself, I’ll put my head in a noose
[Chorus]
Dreamin’ about my death, dream…
Suicidal, suicidal, Suicidal dream
Voices telling you what to do? So you want to kill yourself because you’re schizophrenic and voices are telling you to? But you also talk about people are making fun of you. And if you know that they’re only doing it because they’re jealous then would you really be considering suicide?
In contrast, here’s a good suicide song by Blink 182. I don’t know if these guys really thought about suicide, but it sounds much more realistic. (Just in case this topic is too dreary for you, it has a happy ending. Sort of.)
Adam’s Song
I never thought I’d die alone
I laughed the loudest who’d have known?
I trace the cord back to the wall
no wonder it was never plugged in at all
I took my time, I hurried up
the choice was mine I didn’t think enough
I’m too depressed to go on
you’ll be sorry when I’m gone
I never conquered, rarely came
16 just held such better days
days when I still felt alive
we couldn’t wait to get outside
the world was wide, too late to try
the tour was over, we’d survived
I couldn’t wait till I got home
to pass the time in my room alone
I never thought I’d die alone
another six months I’ll be unknown
give all my things to all my friends
you’ll never step foot in my room again
you’ll close it off, board it up
remember the time that I spilled the cup
of apple juice in the hall
please tell mom this is not her fault
I never conquered, rarely came
16 just held such better days
days when I still felt alive
we couldn’t wait to get outside
the world was wide, too late to try
the tour was over, we’d survived
I couldn’t wait till I got home
to pass the time in my room alone
I never conquered, rarely came
tomorrow holds such better days
days when I can still feel alive
when I can’t wait to get outside
the world is wide, the time goes by
the tour is over, I’ve survived
I can’t wait till I get home
to pass the time in my room alone
I just read online that the lyrics “I took my time, I hurried up / the choice was mine” is a reference to the Nirvana song “Come As You Are”, which has the lyrics “Take your time / Hurry up / The choice is yours”. You’d think I would have made that connection at some point.
Another good suicide song is “I Think I’m Going To Kill Myself” by Elton John. The lyrics are by his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. Most of Taupin’s lyrics make no sense. Even he admits he doesn’t know what some of his songs mean. But this is one of his more straightforward songs.
I Think I’m Going To Kill Myself
I’m getting bored
Being part of mankind,
There’s not a lot to do no more,
This race is a waste of time.
People rushing everywhere,
Swarming round like flies,
Think I’ll buy a forty-four,
Give ‘em all a surprise.
Think I’m gonna kill myself,
Cause a little suicide,
Stick around for a couple of days,
What a scandal if I died.
Yeah, I’m gonna kill myself,
Get a little headline news,
I’d like to see what the papers say
On the state of teenage blues.
A rift in my family,
I can’t use the car,
I gotta be in by ten o’clock,
Who do they think they are?
I’d make an exception
If you want to save my life,
Brigitte Bardot gotta come
And see me every night.
At first glance, the lyrics may seem silly but that’s the point. He’s a petulant teenager who’s not seriously suicidal. He’s just pissed off at his parents and fantasizing about what it would be like if he could kill himself and stick around after his death to see all the commotion he caused. The music underscores the silliness of it because it’s an upbeat ragtime tune. It even has a tap dance solo in it. That whole Honky Chateau album is just great.
One more thing, not suicide-related. (I couldn’t end on that.) In my previous post, I mentioned that there was another artist I was going to discuss. That artist is Jewel. Now, I’m not saying her lyrics are bad. They’re okay. Just… okay. I mean it’s no Insane Clown Posse. Back when she came out with that collection of poems, A Night Without Armor, I thought “Wait a minute.. does she actually think her lyrics are good??!” I don’t know, I don’t read poetry and her book was a bestseller or something, so maybe it’s considered good. But doesn’t quite do it for me.
