Cràzed Fooliosity

I think most people who listen to punk rock would agree that “Institutionalized” by Suicidal Tendencies is one of the true classics of the genre. The story of how the singer got put in an institution, but told from the tongue-in-cheek perspective of someone who hasn’t yet taken responsibility for his actions. Mike’s also presumed to be in the institution when writing the song. Sensing all those layers made it so much funnier. And of course if you were institutionalized in the 80s, as I was, this was it.

Sometimes I try to do things, and it just doesn’t work out the way I want it to, and I get real frustrated and I’m like, I try hard to do it, and I, like, take my time, and it doesn’t work out the way I want it to. It’s like, I concentrate on it real hard but it doesn’t work out. And everything I do and everything I try it never turns out. It’s like, I need time to figure these things out, but there’s always someone there going, “Hey, Mike, you know, we’ve been noticing you’ve been having a lot of problems lately, you know, you should, maybe, get away, and like, maybe you should talk about it, you’ll feel a lot better.” And I go, “No, it’s okay, you know, I’ll figure it out. Just leave me alone, I’ll figure it out. You know, I’m just working on myself.” And they go, “Well you know if you want to talk about it I’ll be here you know and you’ll probably feel a lot better if you talk about it, so why don’t you talk about it?” I go, “No, I don’t want to, I’m okay, I’ll figure it out myself.” But they just keep bugging me and they just keep bugging me and it builds up inside. You’re gonna be institutionalized. You’ll come out brainwashed with bloodshot eyes. You won’t have any say. They’ll brainwash you until you see their way. I’m not crazy! (Institutionalized!) You’re the one who’s crazy! (Institutionalized!) You’re driving me crazy! (Institutionalized!) They stick me in an institution, said it was the only solution to give me the needed professional help to protect me from the enemy, myself.

I was in my room and I was just like staring at the wall thinking about everything, but then again I was thinking about nothing, and then my mom came in and I didn’t even know she was there. She called my name and I didn’t even hear it and then she started screaming, “Mike! Mike!” And I go, “What, what’s the matter?” And she goes, “What’s the matter with you?” I go, “There’s nothing wrong, mom.” And she goes, “Don’t tell me that, you’re on drugs!” I go, “No, mom, I’m not on drugs, I’m okay. I was just thinking, you know, why don’t you get me a Pepsi?” And she goes, “No, you’re on drugs!” I go, “Mom, I’m okay, I’m just thinking.” She goes, “No, you’re not thinking, you’re on drugs. Normal people don’t act that way.” I go, “Mom just give me a Pepsi, please. All I want is a Pepsi.” And she wouldn’t give it to me. All I wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi. And she wouldn’t give it to me, just a Pepsi. They give you a white shirt with long sleeves tied around you’re back, you’re treated like thieves. Drug you up because they’re lazy. It’s too much work to help a crazy. I’m not crazy! (Institutionalized!) You’re the one who’s crazy! (Institutionalized!) You’re driving me crazy! (Institutionalized!) They stick me in an institution, said it was the only solution to give me the needed professional help to protect me from the enemy, myself.

I’m sitting in my room and my mom and my dad came in. They pulled up a chair and they sat down, they go, “Mike, we need to talk to you.” I go, “Okay, what’s the matter?” They go, “Me and your mom have been noticing lately that you’ve been having a lot of problems. You’ve been going off for no reason, and we’re afraid you’re gonna hurt somebody. We’re afraid you’re gonna hurt yourself. So we decided that it would be in your best interest if we put you somewhere where you could get the help that you need.” And I go, “Wait, what are you talking about? We decided? My best interest? How do you know what my best interest is? How can you say what my best interest is? What are you trying to say? I’m crazy? When I went to your schools, I went to your churches, I went to your institutional learning facilities? So how can you say I’m crazy?” They say they’re gonna fix my brain, alleviate my suffering and my pain, but by the time they fix my head, mentally, I’ll be dead. I’m not crazy! (Institutionalized!) You’re the one who’s crazy! (Institutionalized!) You’re driving me crazy! (Institutionalized!) They stick me in an institution, said it was the only solution to give me the needed professional help to protect me from the enemy, myself.

It doesn’t matter, I’ll probably get hit by a car anyway.

Amanda Palmer, as part of Dresden Dolls, pioneered the genre of punk cabaret. This is a perfect example. She does sound like she knows of what she screams.