Suicide is painless - Johnny Mandel

Suicide is painless the theme for mash, and the greatest song by Johnny Mandel
one of about 10

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...

[chorus]:

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...

[Chorus]

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.

[Chorus]

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.

[Chorus]

MASH
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...

[Chorus]

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?'

'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 choose.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• MASH
• Johnny
• Mandel

[DamoTheGripenasty]

Stewie brought me here :)

[barristerwolf]

The song is not about suicide, it's about the frustrations that come when things are out of your hands, and there is nothing you can do about it. The only sure thing in this life that you have complete control over is only your suicide if you choose, and sometimes even that is out of your control.

[JPH1138]

It's funny to see the debate over the meaning of the song's lyrics - Robert Altman got his teenaged son to write the lyrics while making the film as he figured the result would be something juvenile that the audience wouldn't take seriously. Kinda the opposite happened - they're simple lyrics but carry a lot of meaning for a lot of people..

[WRyanUSA]

Thumbs up if Stewie brought you here!

[EminemMusicBroadcast]

Suicide is not painless...I have lived with the pain of it for almost 7 yrs :((

[tmattrope]

Nice song but it's VERY VERY sad. : (

[terrorrname]

thumbs up if the search bar brought you here

[ILoveCurves88]

@ barristerwolf Actually, if you watch the movie, it's about The Painless Pole wanting to commit suicide cuz he couldn't get it up 1 night N thought he'd become a fairy. They sang it to him during his "funeral" while he was taking his "black capsule" N lying down in the coffin. LOL 1 of the best N funniest parts o the movie...

[TheSativalove]

i laugh at the ppl that say they nvr thought of the "easy way out" but how easy can it be

[WeWanTYouRSoLe]

im 15 right now....and i have only seen MASH like once or twice but this song is awsome