Songs about Mental Health

Subject: Songs about Mental Health
From: TonyK
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 09:51 PM

I'm looking for songs containing lyrics about people with mental health issues. I'll be talking to some college counseling students about stigmas in Mental Health and would like to back it up with examples from the popular media. Psycho killer comes to mind, qu'est-ce que c'est? Any ideas are welcome.

Tony

[Some song titles in this thread have been converted to links by a Mudelf.]

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Effsee
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 10:00 PM

"I Don't Like Mondays" by the Boomtown Rats comes to mind.
Ralph McTell's "The Ballad of Dancing Doreen"...working from aged memory banks here!

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Melissa
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 10:18 PM

(Boom-Boom) Ain't It Great to Be Crazy
I Live in a Split Level Head (Napoleon XIV)
Twisted (didn't Joni Mitchell do a version of that one?)
They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! (Napoleon XIV)

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 10:36 PM

Phil Coulter's Scorn Not His Simplicity - A mentally handicapped child is the subject and its in the forum - Lots of stuff - put the Title in Search (NOT in DT yet )

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 10:38 PM

What about Suicide Is Painless from the movie "MASH?"

Richard Cory and A Most Peculiar Man, both by Simon and Garfunkel.

There's a list of thirty classic rock songs about mental illness .

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Beer
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 11:06 PM

David Massengill's "Jesus the Fugitive Prince".
John Prine's "Billy the Bum".
maybe John Prine's "Hello in There".

Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 11:29 PM

Buddy Tabor, a Juneau Alaska artist, has a song that I can hardly bear to listen to, about a kid in trouble in school before he is put on Ritalin, and now he has trouble sleeping and has bad dreams at night.

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Amos
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 11:30 PM

Oh, Doctor Freud
Oh, Doctor Freud!
How we wish you had been
Differently employed...


and Crazy...crazy for thinking you loved me...and I'm crazy--crazy for thinking you cared...

A

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Howard Kaplan
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 11:30 PM

Canadian songwriter James Gordon has a CD called "1 in 5", which he describes as "12 songs about mental health issues".

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Matt_R
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 11:33 PM

Isn't Steve Goodman's "The Dutchman" about a guy with mental problems? Or is it just Alzheimer's?

There's always The Kinks' "Schizophrenia"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPMYkITzxn0

Subject: Lyr Add: YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT TO LOOK AT ME (Finn)
From: Barry Finn
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 11:40 PM

For the young ones with neurological impairments.

"You Wouldn't Know It To Look At Me"
(Tune: Australian, Trad. "One Of The Has Beens")

"You're not listening to me are you deaf in both ears.
Don't you see what you've caused, have you been blind all these years.
Could you just give an answer, so I know you're not dumb.
For Christ's sake, you bird brain has a cat got your tongue"?

Chorus:
I'm as cute as any other kid, I can run, jump & shout.
You wouldn't know it to look at me, at times I can't work things out.
I'm not stupid, I'm not lazy, I try very hard.
With a little compassion I could go pretty far.

Well, school is a torture, the teasing won't quit.
My thoughts go off track and my aide has a fit.
There are some things I excel in, so much that I'm bored,
You wouldn't know it to look at me, it takes all that I'm worth.

The kids scorn & laugh at me, I don't have a friend.
You can feel my heart break, I wonder when this will end.
The mistreatment & abuse I take, it's really a crime,
But I'm told to ignore it, though it happens all of the time.

Chorus:

I know it's hard on my family, I can't change a thing.
The aunts & uncles blame it on my folks & say it's poor upbringing.
The love & affection others get all the time,
I only hear people yell at me, when I ask where is mine.

I never feel comfort, no shoulder, no hug.
My support system's gone, they' to me, was pulled out like a rug.
No one understands me, can't they just read the signs
Most choose to ignore them, it's as if they've gone blind

Chorus:

I may be mildly autistic or just plain O.C.D.
I may twitch with Tourette's, or have A.D.D.
If you see me cross my eyes, instead of my T's
You wouldn't know it to look at me that I have special needs.

Chorus:

Copyright Barry Finn

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: open mike
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 12:07 AM

"The Dutchman" was written by Michael Smith...yes, it is about Alzheimer's
"Crazy" was written by Willie Nelson.

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: open mike
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 12:12 AM

go to the search box and put in crazy and check the D.T. lists dozens..

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 12:21 AM

Barry, thanks for posting your song. I wanted to reference it, but couldn't find it.

Subject: Lyr Add: BEHIND GRAY WALLS (Richard Thompson)
From: GUEST,Bardford
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 12:23 AM

Richard Thompson's "Behind Grey Walls":


I took my darling down
I took my darling down
To that big grey house down the lane
And then the doctor said
He said it's in her head
She's never going to be right again
I kissed my love goodbye
She didn't blink an eye
They took her down the hall
She never looked back at all

CHORUS
Behind grey walls
Somewhere there's a soul
Behind grey walls
She's out of control
Crying out for help
No one can hear
O Lord have pity on her
O Lord have pity on her

My darling walks the floor
My darling walks the floor
She walks every minute that she can
I heard my darling say
I heard my darling say
She don't know who I am
Cigarette burns down her arm
Said she tried to do herself harm
Tied her arms in the back
Trussed her up like a sack

CHORUS

I saw my darling's face
I saw my darling's face
It looked so pale in the distance
She stared out from her room
Into the dying gloom
And I saw her poor tears glisten
Pills to keep her calm
More punctures than a
junkie in her arm
Tied her down on the bed
Seventy volts through her head
CHORUS

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Kent Davis
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 12:35 AM

For songs about people with mental health issues, it's hard to beat the Child ballads. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

#4 "The Six King's Daughters" - serial murder
#13 "Edward" - varies by version, but all with serious family issues
#75 "Lord Lovel" - narcissism, depression, maybe a hint of suicide
#84 "Barbara Allen" - ditto
#173 "Mary Hamilton" - infanticide
#200 "Gypsy Davy" - adultery, child abandonment
#243 "The House Carpenter" - ditto
#274 "The Drunk Husband" - alcohol abuse
#277 "Dandoo" - domestic violence

Kent

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Barry Finn
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 12:40 AM

Those aren't mental health issues, they're just disfunctional child rearing no-no's

Barry

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 12:51 AM

Oh Barry -- what a song...........what a song.....

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Escapee
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 01:03 AM

They're Coming To Take Me Away by Napoleon XIV

And one from an old issue of "Reprints From Sing Out" that started "O Doctor Freud O Doctor Freud, How I wish you had been otherwise employed"

A song about any human being is going to be about a person with mental health issues, n'est ce pas?

P.S."Factory Girls" by Flogging Molly

Fair winds, SKP

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 01:53 AM

Tom Lehrer gave us I Hold Your Hand In Mine, and The Masochism Tango.

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: eddie1
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 02:04 AM

Have a look at this. Crazy by Gnarls Barkley. Combination song and Rorschach test!

http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=bd2B6SjMh_w

Eddie

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Amergin
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 02:12 AM

Boys of Bedlam [Bedlam Boys]

Crazy was actually done by Patsy Cline...

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Amergin
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 02:30 AM

There is also Grit Laskin's Margins of My Neighbourhood....which Rick Fielding covered fabulously.

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 02:51 AM

Yes, glad someone nominated Boys of Bedlam. Back it up with Goya's painting of the madhouse.

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Muttley
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 03:09 AM

Off beat, maybe - and definitely not folk.

"Am I Going Insane" and "Paranoid" - both by Black Sabbath

Muttley

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: GUEST,Confrontation Viper
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 04:24 AM

Wot? No Crazy Man Michael?

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: GUEST,House on the hill
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 04:28 AM

House on the Hill by Kevin Coyne - in fact any number of his earlier songs where he was fresh from working as a psychiatric social worker - is a good example of non-stigamatising songwriting about mental illness. Also check out the UK organisation 'Mad Pride' and the compilation album they put out a few years back, 'Nutters With Attitude'.

Many (but by no means all of the songs) listed on this thread are using mental distress as a titillating, sensationalist or novelty topic and are in practice contributing to the stigmatisation and social exclusion of people with mental health needs, so should be just what Tony needs for his students. I'd suggest the Kevin Coyne and Mad Pride stuff as an antidote to this in order to cleanse the old mental palate at the end of the session!

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 04:37 AM

Richard Thompson's "Behind Grey Walls":
does it for me.
Now looking for the tune although I know I could never sing it, too close!

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: TonyK
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 07:41 AM

Thank you, all. Much appreciated. Several suggestions were most helpful, including the link th rhadish.com. The talk is Monday so I'll continue to check back.
Tony

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Marion
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 04:43 PM

Just to clarify, TonyK: are you only interested in songs that DO stigmatize mental illness, for the sake of the discussion? Or do you also want suggestions of songs with a respectful perspective?

If the latter, here are three more suggestions:

John Prine's "Sam Stone" is reasonably well-known and deals with PTSD and addiction.

If you count Alzheimer's as a mental health issue, there's "The Locket" by Mudcatter Jed Marum, who wrote it about his mother.

"Harry in the Hole" by James Gordon (on the CD mentioned above). It talks about a WWII vet with PTSD and delusions of still being pursued, and who is involuntarily hospitalized. It has some fantastic lyrics... "and when his capture finally came, it was not soldiers but his neighbours who took him from the safety he had found..." I could get the words off the CD for you tomorrow if you want them.

Thanks for the interesting thread, Marion

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Banjovey
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 07:41 PM

How about "Through Moorfields", a traditional song about Bedlam Hospital?

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: open mike
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 07:54 PM

Vincent by Don McLean

Starry, Starry Night,,,

Well, I could have told you Vincent
that the world was never meant for one
as (beautiful? sensitive? wonderful?)as you..

I'd say cutting off one's ear is indicative
of mental health issues.,.,.as Van Gough did.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MISTS OF TIME
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:12 PM

A song I wrote some time back:

The Mists of Time

I remember I once had a family
And I know that I was happy then
for I can see their bright little faces
But I don't know where. Or when

Memories lost in the mists of time
I don't know much anymore
The years, the days, the hours all run together
Memories lost in the mists of time

Yesterday - or was it just this morning?
They gathered 'round my rocking chair
I recall the scent of many candles
But I knew nobody there.

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: oldhippie
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:03 PM

"What's He Building In There?" Tom Waits (who's paranoid???)

Subject: Lyr Add: PSYCHO / LOCK ME UP (Elvis Costello)
From: oldhippie
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:14 PM

Psycho (aka "Lock Me Up") - Elvis Costello and others

Can Mary fry some fish, mama
I`m as hungry as can be
Oh lord, how I wish, mama
You could stop the baby cryin`
`Cause my head is killing me

I saw my ex again last night mama
She was at the dance at Miller`s store
She was with that Jackie White mama
I killed them both
And they`re buried under Jacob`s sycamore

You think I`m psycho don`t you mama
I didn`t mean to break your cup
You think I`m psycho don`t you mama
You better let `em lock me up

Oh, don`t hand me Johnny`s pup mama
As I might squeeze him too tight
I`m havin` crazy dreams again mama
So let me tell you `bout last night
I woke up in Johnny`s room mama
Standing right there by his bed
With my hands around his throat mama
Wishing both of us were dead

You think I`m psycho don`t you mama
I just killed Johnny`s pup
You think I`m psycho don`t you mama
You`d better let `em lock me up

Oh you recall that little girl mama
I believe her name was Betty Clark
Oh don`t tell me that she`s dead mama
`Cause I just saw her in the park
We were sitting on a bench mama
Thinking of a game to play
Seems I was holding a wrench mama
Then my mind just walked away

You think I`m psycho don`t you mama
I didn`t mean to break your cup
You think I`m psycho don`t you mama
Mama why don`t you get up?

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: oldhippie
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:20 PM

and there's also "Father Jones" by Rich Schroder

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:25 PM

Katie Lee recorded a whole album of psychoanalytic ditties, "Songs of Couch and Consultation."

"Chloe" has always seemed to me to be mood music for real and psychological danger....Dun da da da Chlooooooeeeee.   Spooky just writing it!

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:42 PM

One f the greatest and trues lines---and in all its simplicity comes from John Prine in his song--People Putting People Down---"...sometimes you have to lose your mind to keep your sanity".

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: alanabit
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 02:05 AM

Someone has already mentioned Kevin Coyne's output. I recall a fine Ralph MacTell song about a mentally handicapped boy. Was it called "Michael"?

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: jonm
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 03:10 AM

From Galway to Graceland, RT again.

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: sian, west wales
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 04:41 AM

Depending on how much you want to read into it, "Willie Moore". It certainly reflects on the grief that follows (what might be?) suicide. Mental illness affects whole families, even whole communities.

sian

Subject: Lyr Add: THE HOUSE OF LIES
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 06:11 AM

one of mine

The House of Lies

Johnny's got a problem
But he still don't seem to know it
Every time he gets his hands on a chunk of money
Poor Little Johnny's just seems to blow it
Here comes his free burger and coffee
With side order of fries
Oh yes Johnny gets the four star treatment
When he's sitting in the House of Lies

Oh come on in here, my friend John
Man! you're looking like ready for the session
Your favourite machine is free my friend
And man! you know you're always welcome
Alright! Forty in one pound coins my friend – that sound right for a start?
Eighty ? – I like your style, my man
I see, you're gonna tear us apart
But Johnny always loses
No matter how much he tries
And it's far too dark to see the truth
When you're sitting in this House of Lies

He watches the jackpot's come and go
Like flickering hopes of beauty
As Johnny stands expressionless and pours
All his money into that fruity
But Johnny never wins
No matter how he tries
But sadly he can't see the truth
Cos he's standing in this House of Lies

And then comes those companion thoughts Guilt, self-hate and remorse
Alreay he's got three cards maxed out
And there's a loan of course
Oh! his wife don't know about it
Nor his family either
Its so easy telling lies
To people who wanna believe you
He's on his way to losing folks who love hims
And,, he only reason he don't cry
He thinks he just might win them back
When he's sitting in this House of Lies

And the House of Lies is now on every main street
There in every town
They pay top dollar to be there
And no one's turns their money down.
But oh! the lives these people wreck
And oh the hearts they break
Just a load of rich and ruthless men
Who are simply on the make
And the clarion call is NO Nanny State
Enterprise can't be supressed
We must be allowed to exploit
The young and the depressed
The gullible, the poor, the stupid,
And, the hopelessly naïve
They say
At least we tell these people, they can be winners
What do YOU give them to believe?
What do WE give them to believe?
So that's how we keep on losing
We hold our heads too high
Walking mean streets of dishonesty
Past the shameful house of lies.
And somewhere out there, theres a Johnny
And Johnny always loses
No matter how much he tries
And it's far too dark to see the truth
When you're sitting in this House of Lies


©words and music by Alan Whittle27/08/2007 08:08

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Muttley
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 07:11 AM

Ozcatter Joybell once told me she believes "Waltzing With Bears" was a song alluding to Alzheimer's.

Oh - and 'open mike' your first choice was the correct one - - -

Well, I could have told you, Vincent,
that the world was never meant for one
as beautiful as you..

Great song too. Should've thought of this one myself - Van Gogh is my wife's favourite artist and our youngest son - an Autistic - has Vincent as his second name for that reason.

Muttley

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: topical tom
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 07:18 AM

There is a song entitled "Radio" about a mentally-challenged boy, but I don't recall who sang it (John Prine? David Massengill?) nor do I recall any of the lyrics. Probably some Mudcatter knows.

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: TonyK
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 07:19 AM

I'm hoping to highlight the stigma and other unhealthy ways society deals with MH but I'm interested in the good songs as well. Thank you for all the great lyrics. I think the CDs by James Gordon and Katie Lee are ones I need to buy.

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: GUEST,Ian cookieless
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 07:49 AM

Spencer the Rover. Any songs that mention Bedlam, tearing of hair, dying for love, etc.

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: bankley
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 08:43 AM

while hanging out in Arles, France..I wrote something called 'Van Gogh's Other Ear'


the bridge.. (reference to the institution in St. Remy de Provence where Vicent volutarily had himself committed for a year)


             'These bars on my window of the room with a view
             Do they keep the world out while they hold me in too?
             I shuffle through the meanings, pastels of the play
             In the ever-changing shadows of St Paul de Mausolay

chorus:   'Flowers have their auras, there's a halo 'round the moon
               A glow above that yellow house next to the Roman ruins
               There's music in the madness that so few ever hear
               It moves at the speed of colour....
                            to Van Gogh's other ear

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 09:05 AM

Well done, bankley!

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Midchuck
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 09:34 AM

Willie Nelson also did one called "Committed to Parkview," which is good. I don't recall whether he wrote it or not, but I would suspect he did.

On the other extreme was Homer and Jethro's "The Funny Farm."

Peter

Subject: RE: Songs about Mental Health
From: Stewie
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 10:22 AM

There is also Allan Taylor's 'The Madman' of which Al O'Donnell did a superlative rendition. As far as I recall, it was on Taylor's 'Roll On The Day' album.

--Stewie.