Monday's Poetry: "Suicide Is Painless"

by Pa Rock
Poetry Appreciator

I have spent the past three days packing, box after box, pile after pile.  It is a monotonous and tiring exercise that must be completed before this Thursday.  The house has stuff stacked everywhere, and I am sick of looking at it.

The television has served as background noise during this latest burst of packing.  Yesterday I happened to notice that the old movie, MASH, was playing.   I sat down for a brief breather, and while I was anchored to the couch, the suicide-attempt scene came up - along with the mournful song on the dark topic - the song that later became the theme song of the MASH television show:  Suicide Is Painless.  I knew the refrain, but had forgotten how beautiful the lyrics were.

Here are the fine words of Johnny Mandel.  Feel free to hum along as you read!


Suicide Is Painless
by Johnny Mandel


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