Hi All
You may find this interesting…
In anticipation of the song being sung and played at the May filming of “A Very Special Poetry Reading and Dance Party with Jimmy Broccoli”, I thought it would be fun to share the unexpected history of the song “Suicide is Painless” – better known as the theme to the hit TV series “M.A.S.H.”.
The links below connect you to the song (both the version with lyrics and the instrumental version). Regardless of your age, I suspect you’ll recognize the tune, even if you previously weren’t aware of the title and/or didn’t know the song has lyrics.
The song became the main theme for the movie version of “M.A.S.H.”, released two years before the TV series first aired. Director Robert Altman had two requirements for the song: 1. It had to be called “Suicide is Painless” and 2. It had to be the “stupidest song ever written”.
To increase the chances of the song being “stupid”, Altman gave the responsibility of writing the lyrics to his 14 year old son, Mike, who reportedly wrote the lyrics in 5 minutes.
“Suicide is Painless”, to the surprise of both Altmans (father and son), became a hit, became a #1 song in England (strangely, 10 years later), and has been covered by various popular artists throughout the years; to include, Marilyn Manson (whose haunting version is the third link below) and Manic Street Preachers. Robert Altman was paid $70,000 to direct the movie version of “M.A.S.H.”, whereas the theme song, to date, has garnished over $1 in royalties to Mike Altman for writing the lyrics.
“Suicide is Painless” – Lyrics:
Through early morning fog I see
Visions of the things to be
The pains that are withheld for me
I realize and I can see
That suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take or leave it if I please
I try to find a way to make
All our little joys relate
Without that ever-present hate
But now I know that it's too late, and
That suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take or leave it if I please
The game of life is hard to play
I'm gonna lose it anyway
The losing card I'll someday lay
So this is all I have to say
That suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take or leave it if I please
The only way to win is cheat
And lay it down before I'm beat
And to another give my seat
For that's the only painless feat
That suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take or leave it if I please
The sword of time will pierce our skins
It doesn't hurt when it begins
But as it works its way on in
The pain grows stronger watch it grin, but
That suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take or leave it if I please
A brave man once requested me
To answer questions that are key
Is it to be or not to be
And I replied 'Oh, why ask me?'
That suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take or leave it if I please
'Cause suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take or leave it if I please
And you can do the same thing if you please
Links:
Original Theme to “M.A.S.H.”, with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODV6mxVVRZk
Original Theme to “M.A.S.H.”, instrumental version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAY4CXH73GA
Marilyn Manson’s cover, with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbmgYimoUFo
