"Scream"

John Lennon tried primal scream therapy, and documented the effort on his Plastic Ono Band album. The album was a success, but I’m not so sure about the therapy. This song is my humorous take on screaming as the road to mental well-being. I guess the humor is subtle, but I enjoy the imager of someone diligently practicing screaming.

Current listening: Wham!, Make It Big

Scream

© 1987 Brian Hutzell

There have been times when I've freaked out
Moments when I've gone insane
My analyst recommends that if I want to stay alive
Everything I keep inside be allowed release
I've got my spells; there are bad times
Only fair to tell you now
You ask me if I am busy
I'm afraid to say I've had a lousy day
And I'm occupied

Not now
It's time for my screaming lessons
Correct my troubled adolescence
That is the therapy which was prescribed for me
When panic settles over me, just scream

You shouldn't ask about my past
Wouldn't tell you anyway
The memories come back to me
Things I never should have done - did 'em in the name of fun
But it did not last
You wish me well, and I thank you
Maybe I'll be better soon
But I refuse to guarantee
Anything above a smile
Cause it's been awhile since I last broke free

Not now
It's time for my screaming lessons
Correct my troubled adolescence
That is the therapy which was prescribed for me
When panic settles over me, just scream

When my life is out of order little nuisances seem yucky
Every accident is further proof that I am just unlucky
Periodically I have to stop and ask if what I'm doing
Is alleviating problems or if it could stand reviewing
Everything I keep inside, everything I try to hide
Every time I wonder why I bother staying alive
Just scream

“Stress”

Brian Hutzell

from A Fistful of Feet

"Unendurable Pain"

In high school, I wrote an angry poem called “All the World’s a Porno Movie.” At Northwestern, I turned the ugly poem into an ugly song. Still later, in Boston, that song turned into this slightly less ugly song.

Unendurable Pain

© 1989 Brian Hutzell

Take a look at this man's life:
Every night after work he beats his wife
And the funny thing is she never complains
And they both live in unendurable pain

Take a look at this girl's life:
She doesn't care to be a proper wife
She only thinks about getting laid
And she drifts along in unendurable pain

It hurts, it hurts
It hurts to be alone in the world
It hurts, it hurts
If it seems unendurable now, it'll just get worse

Take a look at this kid's life
From a tender age he's carried a knife
He likes his crack; he likes his gang
And they all live in unendurable pain

Raise your glass and drink a toast
To those who still find time to boast
About the goodness here on Earth
I'll take this life for what it's worth

It hurts, it hurts
It hurts to be alone in the world
It hurts, it hurts
If it seems unendurable now, it'll just get worse

Take a look at everyone
As they run to and fro, acting like their work is done
But in fact they can only run the length of their chains
And most of them live in unendurable pain
The world is full of unendurable pain
It's hard to avoid unendurable pain
We can't escape unendurable pain

"Stress"

Brian Hutzell