A Song's Story #2: Suicide is Painless
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.
The most amazing thing to me about "Suicide is Painless" (actual title: "Song from M*A*S*H (Suicide is Painless)" is that the hard hitting lyrics were written by a 14 year-old, Mike Altman. A 14 year-old! He's the son of Robert Altman, who directed the 1970 movie M*A*S*H. Altman needed the "stupidest song ever written" for the scene in the movie where Walter "Painless Pole" Waldowski fakes his suicide after suffering a bout of impotence with a visiting nurse. Altman tried his hand at writing the lyrics but didn't think they were stupid enough, so he handed the job to his 14 year-old son. Johnny Mandel composed the music.
The result was anything but moronic: Suicide is Painless is one of my favorite TV/movie themes of all time, not because it's depressing but because it's so damn poetic and beautiful. If I ever get around to practicing my guitar again, this song is on my must-learn list. Since most people are accustomed to hearing the cheerful, instrumental version that was used on the series, I highly recommend checking out a cover where the words are sung. I know I included her in the last song's story post, but I really like Ania Dabrowska's version:
One other tidbit about this song to save for your next trivia competition: Robert Altman told Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show that his son received over a million dollars in royalties from writing the lyrics, while he received only $70,000 for directing M*A*S*H.
Wow! I love that you told this story.
ReplyDeleteI have always like that song too, played it on the piano when I was younger (when I had a piano) Interesting that his kid got $1million bucks - did he go on and continue to write?
Thanks, My Little Corner! Very impressive that you know how to play it on the piano. That's a great question about Altman's son. He's listed on IMDB.com and has worked as a producer, director, writer, and visual director among other gigs! Any TV series that used "Suicide is Painless" is listed in his bio.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as you hear it, you know where it's from.
ReplyDeleteI'm used to the version Stewie sang on Family Guy.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, now that you mention it, I think I'll need to pull up the tab sheets and learn this on the acoustic...